Question 1

What is council worker take-home pay in 2026-27?

Accepted Answer

On NJC SCP 2 (£24,294), take-home is £19,942/year (£1,662/month) after income tax, NI and 5.5% LGPS pension. SCP 25 (£34,314): £26,167/year. SCP 43 senior officer (£54,589): £38,759/year. London councils add a London Weighting supplement (typically £5,199–£7,000/year).

Question 2

How much is the LGPS council pension contribution?

Accepted Answer

LGPS contributions are tiered: 5.5% on earnings up to £18,200, rising progressively to 12.5% on earnings above £78,100. Most SCP 2–25 workers pay 5.5%–7.5%. The employer contributes approximately 19% of payroll — making the LGPS a highly valuable defined benefit pension.

Question 3

Do council workers in London get extra pay?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Most London local authorities pay London Weighting of £5,199–£7,000+/year (depending on inner/outer London tier) on top of NJC Green Book spinal column points. This increases both gross pay and LGPS pension contributions proportionally.

Question 4

Is NJC pay the same for all councils?

Accepted Answer

The NJC Green Book sets national pay points (SPCs). However, individual councils can pay above the NJC minimum, and many do — particularly larger London and metropolitan councils. Some councils also have separate pay frameworks for some roles.

Question 5

Can council workers increase their LGPS pension?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Council workers can pay Additional Voluntary Contributions (AVCs) into the LGPS to increase their pension. AVCs benefit from income tax and NI relief on contributions. Some councils also offer salary sacrifice arrangements for AVCs, providing additional NI savings.

Grade/Rank	Gross	Take-Home/Year	Monthly Net	Pension	Role
SCP 2 (Entry)	£24,294	£19,942	£1,662.00	5.5%	Admin / support roles — NJC entry
SCP 6	£25,584	£20,814	£1,735.00	5.5%	Junior officer — clerical / technical
SCP 12	£27,711	£22,252	£1,854.00	5.5%	Technical / professional support
SCP 18	£30,296	£24,000	£2,000.00	5.5%	Senior technician / specialist support
SCP 25	£34,314	£26,167	£2,181.00	7.5%	Team leader / professional officer
SCP 31	£40,221	£29,744	£2,479.00	8.5%	Senior officer / specialist
SCP 38	£48,474	£34,582	£2,882.00	9.9%	Principal officer / service manager
SCP 43 (Senior)	£54,589	£38,759	£3,230.00	9.9%	Head of service / senior manager

Council Workers Pay Guide 2026-27

Pay Scale — Take-Home Pay 2026-27

Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Pay Guides