NCA salary 2026/27
The National Crime Agency leads the UK's response to serious and organised crime. It runs its own pay arrangements, and these figures are the medians it publishes from AO to SCS.
National Crime Agency salaries by grade
| Grade | Median | Take-home a month | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| AO | £31,140 | £2,066 | 14 of 73 |
| EO | £43,280 | £2,733 | 1 of 92 |
| HEO | £49,570* | £3,087 | 1 of 93 |
| SEO | £57,680* | £3,456 | 5 of 93 |
| Grade 7 | £73,040* | £4,142 | 15 of 91 |
| Grade 6 | £86,440* | £4,740 | 18 of 84 |
| SCS | £103,140 | £5,486 | 15 of 58 |
Median full-time salary at 31 March 2026 from Cabinet Office Civil Service Statistics. * Our estimate from the official 2026 figure for the combined level and the 2025 figure for the grade. Rank compares NCA with every department and agency that publishes a figure for that grade. Take-home is full time, alpha member, tax code 1257L, no student loan.
The highest-paying employer at EO and HEO
The NCA is 1st of 92 at EO, with a median of £43,280, and 1st of 93 at HEO, at £49,570. That puts its EO figure 33% above the typical department's EO median.
Its officers are paid under their own NCA grading and allowances, so these figures are best read as a measure of the agency's overall pay level, not a like-for-like grade comparison. The step from EO to HEO adds about £355 a month.
Against the typical department
| Grade | NCA median | Typical department | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| AO | £31,140 | £28,100 | +£3,040 |
| EO | £43,280 | £32,460 | +£10,820 |
| HEO | £49,570 | £39,440 | +£10,130 |
| SEO | £57,680 | £48,220 | +£9,460 |
| Grade 7 | £73,040 | £63,110 | +£9,930 |
| Grade 6 | £86,440 | £78,270 | +£8,170 |
| SCS | £103,140 | £94,930 | +£8,210 |
The typical department is the middle one when every department and agency that publishes a figure for that grade is put in order, at 31 March 2026.
What each step up is worth
| Move | Extra gross a year | Extra take-home a month |
|---|---|---|
| AO to EO | £12,140 | £667 |
| EO to HEO | £6,290 | £355 |
| HEO to SEO | £8,110 | £368 |
| SEO to Grade 7 | £15,360 | £686 |
| Grade 7 to Grade 6 | £13,400 | £598 |
| Grade 6 to SCS | £16,700 | £746 |
Extra take-home is smaller than the extra gross pay because of tax, National Insurance and the higher alpha contribution rate that applies as pay rises.
Grades with too few staff to publish a figure are left out. NCA may also pay more in London and for specialist roles, and most departments have paid a 2026/27 award since 31 March 2026.
Common questions
How much does an AO earn at NCA?
The median AO salary at National Crime Agency was £31,140 at 31 March 2026, which is about £2,066 a month after tax, NI and alpha at 2026/27 rates.
How much does an EO earn at NCA?
The median EO salary at National Crime Agency was £43,280 at 31 March 2026, which is about £2,733 a month after tax, NI and alpha at 2026/27 rates.
How much does a HEO earn at NCA?
The median HEO salary at National Crime Agency was about £49,570 at 31 March 2026 (our estimate from official figures), which is about £3,087 a month after tax, NI and alpha at 2026/27 rates.
Does NCA pay more than other departments?
It depends on the grade. At HEO, NCA ranks 1 of 93 departments that publish a figure. At SCS it ranks 15 of 58.
What pension do NCA staff get?
Civil servants join the alpha pension scheme. You pay 4.6% to 8.05% of your pay depending on what you earn, and build 2.32% of your pensionable pay as pension each year.