Public sector pay rises cluster around 3.5%
The 2026 pay round for public sector workers covered by the eight independent pay review bodies (PRBs) is complete. However, not all recommendations were accepted in full. Confirmed increases to basic pay effective this year range between 3.3% for NHS staff in England to 3.8% for staff at the National Crime Agency. The table below summarises the outcomes for each group, expressed in terms of the increase in basic pay.
Police officers received an uplift to basic pay of 3.5% at the start of this month, while the 3.8% pay rise for staff working for the National Crime Agency was effective from 1 August. These are both below the recommended increases made by the respective review bodies of 3.9% and 4.7%. Elsewhere, the Prison Service Review Body (PSRB) recommended a temporary increase for operational support grades of 25.0% of base pay. This short-term rise is in place until the 2027 PSRB report is published, during which time the panel will continue to work on a permanent approach to unsocial hours working for these staff.
All of the increases to pay are above the current level of CPIH inflation, which is the Office for National Statistics’ most comprehensive measure of inflation since it includes an estimate of the costs associated with owning, maintaining and living in one's own home. The CPIH was 3.1% in the year to July 2026 (up from 2.8% in June).
The role of the pay review bodies
The eight pay review bodies (PRBs) make recommendations to governments on pay for the public sector workers covered by their specific remit group. These bodies collate and submit an evidence report (typically once a year) to support any proposals on the level of pay rises. Increases to allowances, such as those for unsocial hours, may also be put forward. Together, the PRBs set pay rises for some 3 million public sector staff. Pay for other public sector groups, such as firefighters, local government and police support staff, is set by collective bargaining.
How does private sector pay compare?
The median pay award in the private sector for the three months to July 2026 is 3.0%, according to our latest analysis. The impact of public sector pay policy has provided for ‘catch-up’ pay increases after a period in which these lagged behind those in the private sector.
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