In my post summarising police workforce strength, I reported how officers are leaving policing in record numbers, despite the Home Office spin at the time. Lots of reasons have been put forward by the Police Federation and others. Salary, unacceptable conditions, workload pressures, wellbeing, and even the new police degrees were among the top.
But one little-reported reason has been the international pull factors. Like others in the wider community and other industries, cops sometimes take big actions in seeking a better life for themselves and their families (remember, the police are the public after all!). Australia has been a particular hotbed of this mass-exodus recently. In 2023, it was reported that 1,400 UK police officers had already left for the sunny climes of Down Under.
In this blog I explore the reasons why, with a particular focus on the Australia vs. UK police salary and relevant cost of living differences.
Sun, Sea, Sand and… Policing
Australia is renowned for British emigration. With expansive beaches, guaranteed sun, and so much space, it’s not a bad place to emigrate and police. To get a perspective of the sheer scale, take a look at the overlaid maps above; the area of the entire UK could fit 25 times into this vast landmass.
Australia is policed by around 65,000 officers, compared to the UK’s 186,000 or so. But taking the population into account, it has marginally fewer officers per 100,000 population, at 264 (vs. UK 274). The UK figure includes heavy skew from England and Wales forces at 242 per 100k, with Scotland, PSNI, and national forces bumping up the total.
The Australian forces have been bold in targeting the talent of British officers. This is at a time where many are dissatisfied and potentially disillusioned with the job. Western Australia’s Minister for Police Paul Papalia was perfectly open last year. In his ambition to poach officers from the UK last year, extolling the virtues of the move, he declared…
“The response to the Western Australian Government’s recruitment campaign has been extremely positive, meaning WA Police can handpick the best of the best as it unashamedly lures talented United Kingdom officers Down Under. Western Australia is a great place to live and work. Compared to the UK, we have higher wages, a lower cost of living and the perfect climate for year-round adventure.”
Of course, he didn’t mention some of the downsides, like all the dangerous crocodiles and creepy crawlies, the hundreds of miles of hot barren desert between communities, and a penchant for khaki shorts.
But there’s clearly much to like. With over 16,000 miles of coastlines and beaches, warm and clear waters, natural wonders, exotic wildlife, modern cities, and an endless supply of shrimp to throw on the barbie, it’s easy to understand the appeal. The recruitment websites seem appealing too, for example here’s Western Australia Police’s joining site.
But are those higher wages and lower costs of living claimed by the Australian politician really true? In the following sections I demonstrate it’s a case of ‘yes’ and ‘no’. Yes, wages are higher, particularly for new joiners. But even some cursory comparisons show the cost of living will be higher too…
Police Salary Comparison Australia vs. UK…
The main regional forces in Australia are aligned to the various states, with each covering huge areas. They are as follows:
- New South Wales Police Force (NSWPF)
- Northern Territory Police Force (NTPOL)
- Queensland Police Service (QPS)
- South Australia Police Service (SAPOL)
- Tasmania Police Service (TASPOL)
- Victoria Police (VICPOL)
- Western Australia Police Force (WAPOL)
The above chart summarises police constable salary information, comparing UK forces against two Australian forces. Western Australia and New South Wales were two main forces who had readily available and published salary information. They seem a good representation of all PC salary Down Under. South Australia seemed similar to these figures too.
I’ve normalised things into GBP at the current exchange rate of 0.52 pounds per Australian dollar, to aid comparison. While there are additional benefits and overtime potential in both countries, I’ve kept to the basic salary for simplicity.
The most noticeable difference for the basic salary of Australian police forces is the far higher starting salary. Officers go straight in at the GBP equivalent of over £40k per year. In contrast, British officers begin in the £27k – £30k bracket.
Of note, the delay with the PSNI planned 7% pay award (to follow the pay rise in England and Wales forces) has created a significant gap in salary vs. the rest of the UK. This might not help retention when 50 officers already applied from PSNI to transfer to Australia last year.
The Australian forces have additional pay steps for the most experienced Constables, going beyond the standard £47k – £48k after 5 years’ service. For example, WAPOL advertise for a ‘First Class Constable’; an experience level on nearly £50k per year, with a further step of ‘Senior Constable’ attaining £53k after 9 years’ service and achieving certain qualifications. The yellow line on the above bar chart denotes £53k on the WAPOL bar. SAPOL advertise these enhanced posts too.
Some forces seem to also offer enhanced salary for international joiners, such as Queensland Police.
Beyond Constable, promotion to Sergeant offers the Australian dollar equivalent of between £58k – £65k in WAPOL. This compares to around £50k for Sergeant salary around the UK.
So the salary seems a little better, especially at first, but also the prospects look good with extended experience at the rank of Constable. So how far will that salary go towards the cost of living in this unfamiliar country, for those making the big move?
Cost of Living is Higher in Australia
While the salary may seem more appealing, it comes with increased cost of living costs overall.
The first and biggest costs people will face is housing In Australia, people are far more compressed in city areas given its largely barren central expanse, while 85% of the population live within 50km of the coast. Given the expansive nature of Australia, property in and around the cities is more expensive than the UK, be that renting or buying.
Of course, that depends on the particular city and area of comparison respectively in the two countries. This is where it’s useful to compare the overall average property prices. In Autumn 2023, the average in Australia was around £450,000 (using current/approx. exchange rate), compared to the £284,000 in the UK. That’s nearly 60% more Down Under, more than offsetting the 10-20% salary difference for the most experienced cops at base rank.
So unless you’re in a fortunate position in the UK, or are fortunate to find a more affordable rural property in Australia, buying or renting will be more expensive Down Under. So how far will the rest of your salary go? As always, it depends on what you spend it on and where you shop!
But before you get to spend anything, taxes for middle-earners like cops seem a little higher. You must also file a tax return (in the UK it’s sorted for you via PAYE). But on the plus side, if you’re thinking of leaving a legacy behind to loved ones, there’s no such thing as inheritance tax in Australia.
For the other costs in Australia vs. the UK, and as I summarise in the infographic above:
- Groceries, healthcare, broadband, mobile, alcohol, entertainment, and clothing costs are higher in Australia.
- Eating out, childcare, and utilities are comparably similar between both countries.
- Travel costs, both petrol and public transport, are lower Down Under.
Police in the Sun?
So in summary, without working out all the finer details, it seems the financial side of things won’t be the determining factor. If anything, the cost of housing and living certainly outweighs salary in the longer term or for police officers at the top of their pay scale for the rank.
The decision would clearly hinge on a more personal level, as it is for other expatriates who make this move. For example, the draw of a spectacular landscape, warm climate, the great outdoors, khaki shorts, or maybe simply the sense of a fresh start and enhanced quality of life.
Once settled, if you are thinking of career progression in policing, all my leadership and promotion support is transferrable Down Under. This will help you gain an edge against the competition. Consider for example David’s story below, who explains he was in the dark until discovering Rank Success to steer his future preparation.
“I am a detective sergeant in Australia and I was looking for support in my promotion aspirations to Inspector and I came across your YouTube channel and podcasts. I was very impressed and so I purchased your Inspector package as I believe there is transferrable knowledge to our processes. I am really looking forward to working through your products and enhancing my potential for success. I have been searching for similar assistance in Australia, however there is a distinct void. In the last process over 350+ people applied, 60 were interviewed and only 20 being successful. I was really in the dark about where to go until I came across your products.” – David
Whether the future of your career is here or abroad, remember that Rank Success can help you each step of the way. My tried and tested leadership materials are well-established in the UK.
If you are reading this and you’ve already applied, been accepted or you transferred to sunnier climes in previous Australian police recruitment campaigns, please share your experience. Does my research on this ring true? What challenges and benefits did you encounter? You can either comment below or contact me directly. I’m also happy to share my platform with a guest blog if you’re willing to share your story of ‘Policing in the Sun’!
Kind Regards, Steve
Want to go further right now? Hit the ground running with your promotion preparation. Get your personal digital promotion toolkit, and/or my Police Promotion Masterclass. You can also contact me to arrange personal coaching support.
Post updated – Corrected UK officers per 100k population figure (was previously comparing just the E&W officer rate)