Salary guide · Emergency Services & Defence
Emergency Services & Defence: what the jobs pay
23 jobs, lowest paid first. Yearly ranges seen in real UK adverts in 2026, and the hourly rate on a 40 hour week.
| Job | A year | An hour, 40 hour week | Tickets or qualifications |
|---|---|---|---|
| Emergency call handler | £24,800 to £31,000 | about £11.92 to £14.90 | Training given, shifts round the clock |
| Emergency care assistant | £24,800 to £30,000 | about £11.92 to £14.42 | C1 on your licence, training given by the ambulance service |
| Police staff | £24,800 to £35,000 | about £11.92 to £16.83 | Police vetting |
| Coastguard officer | £26,000 to £33,000 | about £12.50 to £15.87 | Training given by HM Coastguard |
| Crime scene investigator | £26,000 to £36,000 | about £12.50 to £17.31 | A science degree is common, enhanced police vetting |
| Fire control operator | £26,000 to £33,000 | about £12.50 to £15.87 | Training given, shifts round the clock |
| Police community support officer | £26,000 to £31,000 | about £12.50 to £14.90 | Vetting and training by the force |
| RAF aviator | £26,000 to £30,000 after training | about £12.50 to £14.42 | Recruited through the RAF's own careers process |
| Royal Navy rating | £26,000 to £30,000 after training | about £12.50 to £14.42 | Recruited through the Royal Navy's own careers process |
| Soldier (British Army) | £26,000 to £30,000 after training | about £12.50 to £14.42 | Recruited through the Army's own careers process: fitness, medical and security checks |
| Traffic officer | £26,000 to £32,000 | about £12.50 to £15.38 | Full UK driving licence, held at least 2 years |
| Border Force officer | £28,000 to £35,000 | about £13.46 to £16.83 | Civil service vetting, training given |
| Firefighter | £28,000 to £37,000 | about £13.46 to £17.79 | Fitness tests and training given by the fire service |
| Police intelligence analyst | £28,000 to £38,000 | about £13.46 to £18.27 | None generally, enhanced police vetting |
| Police staff investigator | £28,000 to £36,000 | about £13.46 to £17.31 | PIP Level 2 accreditation (College of Policing), enhanced vetting |
| Police officer | £30,000 to £48,000 | about £14.42 to £23.08 | Recruited by each force: fitness, vetting, a degree or a funded degree route |
| Paramedic | £31,000 to £47,000 (Agenda for Change) | about £14.90 to £22.60 | Paramedic degree and HCPC registration, C1 on your licence |
| Emergency planning officer | £32,000 to £45,000 | about £15.38 to £21.63 | None generally, Emergency Planning Society membership helps |
| Police dog handler | £32,000 to £48,000 | about £15.38 to £23.08 | Serving police constable, College of Policing dog handler course |
| Prison officer | £32,000 to £38,000 | about £15.38 to £18.27 | Vetting, fitness and a training course |
| Armed forces officer | £34,000 to £45,000 after training | about £16.35 to £21.63 | Officer selection (AOSB, AIB or OASC), then Sandhurst, Dartmouth or Cranwell |
| Watch manager | £38,000 to £45,000 | about £18.27 to £21.63 | Serving firefighter, Skills for Justice incident command award |
| Police sergeant | £52,000 to £56,000 | about £25.00 to £26.92 | Serving police constable who has passed the sergeant exam |
Advertised ranges, not a survey of take home pay, and the same job pays differently by region. The National Living Wage for anybody 21 and over is £12.71 an hour. Wrong for your area? Tell us.
Live emergency services & defence jobs All sectors Take home pay calculator