Choose your civil service grade — from Administrative Assistant up to the Senior Civil Service — to see your gross salary and take-home pay after Income Tax, National Insurance and your alpha pension contribution.
National (non-London) · pension included
The Civil Service uses a common grade structure — from Administrative Assistant (AA) and Administrative Officer (AO) up through Executive Officer (EO), Higher and Senior Executive Officer (HEO/SEO), Grade 7 and 6, and the Senior Civil Service (SCS). Each department sets its own pay ranges within Cabinet Office limits, so two people on the same grade in different departments can earn different amounts. London-based roles attract higher pay ranges than national ones.
| Grade | Approx. national gross 2026/27 |
|---|---|
| AA / AO | £24,000–£28,000 |
| EO | £30,000–£35,000 |
| HEO | £36,000–£42,000 |
| SEO | £44,000–£52,000 |
| Grade 7 | £55,000–£66,000 |
| Grade 6 | £68,000–£80,000 |
Contributions to the alpha scheme are tiered by salary, from 5.45% on the lowest band to 8.05% on the highest, with most staff paying 7.35%. They are deducted before tax, reducing your taxable pay. Compare the rest of your deductions on the salary calculator or check your marginal rate on the income tax calculator.
A national (non-London) Executive Officer typically earns between roughly £30,000 and £35,000 in 2026/27, with London-based roles paying more. Exact pay depends on the department, since each sets its own ranges within Cabinet Office limits.
alpha contributions are tiered by salary from 5.45% to 8.05%, with most staff paying 7.35%. They are taken before Income Tax, so a basic-rate taxpayer's real cost is lower than the headline rate.
Yes — London and inner-London roles have higher pay ranges than national ones, effectively building a London premium into the salary band rather than paying a separate weighting on top of national pay.
Each government department sets its own pay ranges within central Cabinet Office controls, so the same grade can pay different amounts depending on which department you work for and whether the post is national or London-based.
