Pay in the Northern Ireland Civil Service - Year Ending March 2024

The Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) today published a report providing an overview of pay statistics for the Northern Ireland Civil Service (NICS).

The statistics relate to basic pay, and the emphasis is on 2024, though some trend information covering the period 2014-2024 is also presented.

In considering the findings, it should be noted that any increases in pay can be due to normal progression up a pay scale (for those who are not at the maximum of their scale) and changes to pay scales. Differences in median pay do not mean one group is paid less than another group, differences are a result of the staffing profile of the NICS. All staff in the NICS are paid the same according to grade.

The key findings are as follows:

• The overall pay award for the NICS for 2023 was an increase of 5% to the majority of NICS pay scales. In addition, AA and Industrial 1 staff were revalorised to £23,177.
• The average (median full-time equivalent) basic pay of NICS staff is £31,037, which is a 6.1% increase on the median pay in 2023. If salaries were ranked from the lowest to the highest, the median would be the middle value. 
• The majority of staff received an increase in pay of 4% to 5.9% between 2023 and 2024. Increases in pay can be attributed to normal progression up a pay scale (for those who are not at the maximum of their scale) and changes to pay scales.
• There continues to be a gap between male and female pay in the NICS – the median pay for females is 2.0% lower than the median pay for males. The primary reason for the gender pay gap is because a higher proportion of females are in lower paid grades.
• However, at individual grade level in the NICS, the gender pay gap is less pronounced. The median pay of males and females from AA to Permanent Secretary, for example, is the same.
• With regard to community background, there is a gap between Protestant and Catholic pay in the NICS. The median pay for Catholic staff is 1.8% lower than the median pay for Protestant staff. Just as for gender, so for community background, the primary reason for the community background pay gap is because a higher proportion of Catholic staff are in lower paid grades.

The report is available on the NISRA website at: https://www.nisra.gov.uk/statistics/ni-civil-service-human-resource-statistics/pay-statistics

Notes to editors: 

1. The reference date of this Pay Statistics report is March 2024.
2. If salaries were ranked from the lowest to the highest, the median would be the middle value.  A brief explanation of why we use the median is available at www.nisra.gov.uk/statistics/ni-civil-service-human-resource-statistics/pay-statistics
3. In the case of a part-time member of staff, full-time equivalent pay is the pay they would have if they worked full-time.
4. Media enquiries should be addressed to the Department of Finance Press Office Tel: 028 9081 6724 or email dof.pressoffice@finance-ni.gov.uk. 
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