Future opportunities

Where your experience could take you next: the jobs that value what you did, what they typically pay, and what it takes to get there. A map to explore, not a list of answers.

How to read this page

For each area we show typical pay and three ways in:

Open to you nowJobs where adverts and leavers' experience suggest service experience usually meets the main requirements, sometimes with a qualification you may already hold.

After a short courseJobs where a course of days or weeks, often affordable and sometimes paid for by the employer, makes you a strong candidate.

After further trainingJobs that need a formal qualification or training programme, usually months rather than weeks. Several are paid, so you earn while you train.

These are patterns drawn from job adverts and research with people who have left, not promises. Pay is a guide from real adverts and National Careers Service ranges, and varies by region and employer. Every employer is different, so read each advert closely.

There is no official record of where people go when they leave the emergency services. In a 2025 national survey of police leavers, most were in work, but fewer than half were in the role or industry they had aimed for, and about one in six had gone back into policing in a civilian or contracted role. Choosing a direction early makes a difference.

National survey of police leavers, 2025 (163 people). Pay from individual job adverts and National Careers Service ranges, October 2026. A guide only. Sources

You may not be starting from scratch

Many people already run a business or a second job alongside the service: building, plumbing, electrical work, window cleaning, gardening and more. For some, leaving means growing that rather than starting again. Others prepare a few years ahead, with qualifications in fire safety, fire risk assessment or health and safety. The areas of work below can sit alongside either.

How pay compares

Many people assume nothing outside will match what they earn now. For entry roles that is often true. With experience, a number of the areas below pay as much as, or more than, many people earn at the top of their scale in the service. Choose your service to compare against your own pay.

These figures are a snapshot, not a live feed. Pay scales and adverts were checked in October 2026 and are reviewed twice a year. Always check current adverts.

Compare with:

£30k£50k£70k£90kTop constable to top sergeant

Constablepolice, from September 2026

£32k to £52k

Sergeantpolice, from September 2026

£55k to £58k

Inspectorpolice, from September 2026

£66k to £71k

Firefighterfire, from July 2026

£31k to £40k

Crew managerfire, from July 2026

£42k to £44k

Watch managerfire, from July 2026

£45k to £50k

Station managerfire, from July 2026

£52k to £57k

Band 4: technician, associate practitionerambulance, from April 2026

£28k to £31k

Band 5: newly qualified paramedicambulance, from April 2026

£32k to £39k

Band 6: paramedicambulance, from April 2026

£39k to £48k

Band 7: specialist paramedicambulance, from April 2026

£49k to £56k

GP practice paramedicHealthcare

£40k to £45k

University lecturer, paramedic scienceTraining and teaching

£38k to £43k

Air ambulance critical care paramedicHealthcare

£55k to £60k

Breathing apparatus trainerTraining and teaching

£43k to £44k

Fire risk assessor, experiencedFire safety

£40k to £65k

NHS counter fraud specialistInvestigations

£49k to £56k

Senior inspector, Martyn's LawSecurity

£49k to £58k

Corporate investigator, LondonInvestigations, three to five years

£50k to £70k

Local Authority Designated OfficerSafeguarding, London

£58k to £61k

NHS emergency preparedness managerEmergency planning

£57k to £64k

Business continuity managerEmergency planning

£56k to £72k

Building safety managerFire safety, housing

£65k to £75k

Financial crime manager, LondonCompliance and risk

£68k to £95k

Police figures are our calculation: published scales for England and Wales from September 2025, plus the 3.5 percent award from 1 September 2026. Fire figures are the national rates from 1 July 2026, from development to competent. Ambulance figures are NHS Agenda for Change bands in England from April 2026; some trusts place roles in different bands. All exclude overtime and allowances. Other figures are from job adverts and salary guides in 2026; London roles usually pay more. Salary is only part of the picture: see Thinking about money. Sources

Areas of work

Choose an area to see what it pays, what it values from the job and three ways in, each with a first step you could take this week.

Investigations Compliance and risk Security Healthcare beyond the ambulance service Fire safety and investigation Safeguarding Emergency planning Training and teaching Project and operations Justice and support Data and intelligence

Investigations

Finding out what happened, fairly and on the evidence, for organisations other than the police.

What they value from the job: planning lines of enquiry, interviewing, statements, evidence handling, disclosure and giving evidence.

Starting out£31,000 to £38,000: IOPC and HMRC investigators, and police staff investigator roles through agencies.

With experience£49,000 to £70,000: NHS counter fraud specialists £49,400 to £56,500; investigators in financial services in London £50,000 to £70,000 after three years.

Open to you now

Police staff investigator roles, often through agencies, if you hold PIP1 or PIP2. Agency work pays around £17 to £19 an hour, roughly £34,000 to £37,000 a year: many people find it a useful stepping stone while they work towards better-paid roles, rather than where they settle. IOPC investigator roles, where PIP1 is essential. Insurance claims investigation and coroner's officer roles.First step: Search the IOPC vacancies site for investigator roles, and keep your PIP1 or PIP2 certificate and training records ready for any application. IOPC jobs

After a short course

NHS and public sector counter fraud: the Accredited Counter Fraud Specialist qualification is required for NHS counter fraud specialist roles. Workplace and HR investigations: an ACAS investigations course is well regarded.First step: Read the NHS Counter Fraud Authority guidance on why the Accredited Counter Fraud Specialist qualification is needed for NHS counter fraud roles. NHS Counter Fraud Authority guidance

After further training

Certified Fraud Examiner, which needs fraud-related experience to qualify. Regulators such as the FCA, which run their own competitive recruitment.First step: Check the Certified Fraud Examiner eligibility rules to see how your fraud-related service experience might count. ACFE: CFE eligibility

Compliance and risk

Helping organisations follow the rules, spot problems early and put things right, in banks, insurers, regulators and large companies.

What they value from the job: working within strict legal rules, records that stand up to scrutiny, applying policy fairly and noticing when something does not add up.

Starting out£32,000 to £52,000 for anti-money laundering and financial crime analysts.

With experience£48,000 to £68,000 for specialist financial crime analysts; £68,000 to £95,000 for financial crime managers. London figures; elsewhere often 20 to 35 percent lower.

Open to you now

Complaints and ombudsman caseworker roles. Financial crime investigation, if you were an accredited financial investigator.First step: Read what an investigator does at the Financial Ombudsman Service, then check current vacancies. Financial Ombudsman Service: investigators

After a short course

Anti-money laundering and "know your customer" analyst roles: a certificate from the International Compliance Association is often listed as desirable.First step: Read about the ICA Certificate in Anti Money Laundering, which is aimed at people new to anti-money laundering work. International Compliance Association: certificate

After further training

Compliance officer and risk roles, which often ask for an ICA diploma or the CAMS qualification. A Level 4 regulatory compliance apprenticeship is a paid route in.First step: Look through the ICA diplomas to see which one matches the compliance or risk roles you have seen advertised. International Compliance Association: diplomas

Security

Keeping people, buildings, events and organisations safe, from running security for a company to protecting individuals. A growing field: Martyn's Law, the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025, will require many venues to plan for a terrorist attack, with enforcement expected from 2027.

What they value from the job: threat and risk assessment, managing incidents, calming situations down and working with police and partners.

Starting out£25,000 to £46,000 for security managers; close protection is often paid by the day, around £180 to £350.

With experience£49,000 to £58,500 for senior inspectors at the Security Industry Authority, plus a civil service pension; more for heads of security in large organisations.

Open to you now

Security manager and corporate security roles; the National Careers Service notes that managing teams in the police can help with entry. Inspector roles at the Security Industry Authority, the regulator for Martyn's Law, which ask for experience of inspections, evidence gathering, interviewing and risk assessment. Event and venue security management.First step: Read the National Careers Service security manager profile, which notes that managing teams in the police can help. National Careers Service: security manager

After a short course

Front-line licensed roles such as door supervision or close protection need SIA licence training. Service experience does not exempt you from it.First step: Check which training you need for the SIA licence you want, including the first aid qualification it asks for. GOV.UK: SIA licence training

After further training

Security Institute qualifications or Chartered Security Professional status, for senior roles.First step: Read the Security Institute's page on Chartered Security Professional status and the areas applicants are assessed against. Security Institute: chartership

Healthcare beyond the ambulance service

Using clinical experience outside the ambulance service: in GP practices, urgent care, NHS 111, custody and prison healthcare, health assessments, events and education.

What they value from the job: patient assessment, clinical decision-making, calm under pressure, and registration where you hold it.

Starting out£39,000 to £46,500: GP practice paramedics, police custody healthcare and health assessment roles.

With experience£52,000 to £60,500: advanced paramedics in urgent care, and critical care paramedics in air ambulance.

Open to you now

GP practice and primary care paramedic roles, NHS 111 clinical advisor roles, police custody and prison healthcare, and health assessment work, for registered paramedics. PIP functional assessor roles, which ask for HCPC registration and a year's experience after registering. Emergency department and community practitioner roles at Band 7, usually after experience as a Band 6 paramedic. NHS 111 health advisor roles for anyone with call handling experience.First step: Search NHS Jobs for 'paramedic', 'NHS 111' or 'health advisor' to see which roles near you match your registration and experience. NHS Jobs

After a short course

Event medical work, where FREC or a paramedic registration is asked for. Occupational health technician roles, which name technicians and associate practitioners as suitable. First aid trainer roles, which need a first aid instructor qualification.First step: Look at the awarding body's list of First Response Emergency Care qualifications to see which level suits event medical work. Qualsafe Awards: prehospital care

After further training

Research paramedic roles, which ask for research experience and Good Clinical Practice training. Advanced practice, which needs master's level study and often prescribing. Lecturing in paramedic science, which usually asks for practice educator experience. Keeping your HCPC registration open keeps many of these routes available.First step: Complete the free Good Clinical Practice course on NIHR Learn, which NHS research roles ask for. NIHR: Good Clinical Practice

Fire safety and investigation

Assessing, inspecting and investigating fire risk in buildings. A growing field since the Grenfell Tower fire, as new laws, including the Building Safety Act 2022 and the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022, placed new duties on building owners.

What they value from the job: scene management, investigation and evidence, risk assessment, knowledge of legislation and enforcement, and calm decision-making.

Starting out£40,000 to £55,000 for fire risk assessors, fire door inspectors and fire surveyors; contract rates of £350 to £600 a day.

With experience£65,000 to £75,000 for building safety managers at housing associations, which ask for a professional qualification in fire, construction or health and safety.

Open to you now

If you did this work in the service: as a fire safety inspecting officer with the Level 4 Diploma in Fire Safety, fire risk assessor, fire safety adviser and building safety roles; as a fire investigator with a fire investigation award, specialist fire investigation for insurers and forensic firms. Police scene, arson and major investigation experience can also help.First step: Read what the Institution of Fire Engineers asks for to join its fire risk assessor register, and gather examples of your inspection work. Institution of Fire Engineers: fire risk

After a short course

Fire door inspection, through a certified inspector scheme. A Level 3 fire risk assessment qualification is the usual first step towards fire risk assessor roles, with registration through a professional body such as the Institution of Fire Engineers. Employers and registration bodies also look for supervised assessment experience; a qualification on its own does not make you competent to assess independently.First step: Look through the Institution of Fire Engineers qualifications for the Level 3 Award in Fire Risk Assessment. Institution of Fire Engineers: qualifications

After further training

Specialist fire investigation, for most firefighters: a Level 5 fire investigation award and investigation experience. Senior fire risk and building safety roles, including higher-risk buildings, which often ask for a Level 4 qualification in fire safety or fire risk management and several years of assessment experience.First step: Read the National Fire Chiefs Council competency framework to see the Level 5 standard expected of experienced fire investigators. NFCC: fire investigation framework (PDF)

Safeguarding

Protecting children and adults at risk in schools, councils, the NHS, charities and sport.

What they value from the job: multi-agency working, risk assessment, referrals and thresholds, sharing information safely and staying calm with people in crisis.

Starting out£28,000 to £45,000, depending on the employer and level of responsibility.

With experienceAround £58,000 to £62,000 for Local Authority Designated Officers in London; requirements vary, so check each advert.

Open to you now

Safeguarding adviser, domestic abuse coordinator and Local Authority Designated Officer roles. Public protection or MASH experience usually counts as safeguarding experience.First step: Read the National Careers Service child protection officer profile, which notes that police officers move into this work. National Careers Service: child protection officer

After a short course

Designated Safeguarding Lead roles in schools and colleges, which ask for Level 3 safeguarding lead training and safer recruitment training.First step: Read Keeping Children Safe in Education, the guidance that sets out what schools and colleges expect from a designated safeguarding lead. GOV.UK: Keeping children safe in education

After further training

Some NHS safeguarding roles, which need a clinical background. Social work, through Step Up to Social Work, which pays a tax-free bursary while you train.First step: Sign up for email updates on the Step Up to Social Work page, as it only takes applications every two years. GOV.UK: Step Up to Social Work

Emergency planning

Getting organisations ready for floods, major incidents and disruption, and helping them recover.

What they value from the job: JESIP, command experience, event planning, running exercises, multi-agency coordination and debriefs.

Starting out£33,000 to £47,000 for emergency planning and resilience officers.

With experience£56,000 to £73,000: NHS emergency preparedness managers £57,500 to £64,750; business continuity manager at London Fire Brigade £56,000 to £72,800.

Open to you now

Emergency planning and resilience officer roles in councils and the NHS. Adverts commonly accept equivalent experience in place of formal qualifications.First step: Search NHS Jobs for 'emergency planning' or 'resilience' to see how adverts describe the experience they accept. NHS Jobs

After a short course

Emergency Planning College courses, or the Business Continuity Institute certificate for business continuity roles.First step: Read about the Business Continuity Institute's online certificate course: what it covers and how long it takes. Business Continuity Institute: CBCI

After further training

A Level 6 qualification or master's degree in emergency planning or disaster management, for senior roles.First step: Read about the Level 6 resilience and emergencies professional apprenticeship, a degree-level route into emergency planning. GOV.UK: Level 6 apprenticeship

Training and teaching

Passing on what you know, in a company, a college or a school.

What they value from the job: tutoring new colleagues, delivering briefings, coaching, life-saving and safety training, and real-world credibility with learners.

Typical pay£34,000 to £42,000 for further education lecturers; trainers vary widely, and many work freelance.

Open to you now

Trainer roles in conflict management, investigative interviewing or safeguarding, if you trained others in the service.First step: Read the National Careers Service training officer profile and note down the training you delivered in the service. National Careers Service: training officer

After a short course

First aid trainer roles, which need your own First Aid at Work certificate and a recognised teaching and assessing qualification. If you were a first aid or Emergency Life Saving (ELS) instructor, you may already hold First Aid at Work; some forces, including the Met, require it. Certificates last three years, so check the expiry date. Police first aid training on its own does not count. The Level 3 Award in Education and Training is a common first step for any training role. The Skills Translator can help you check what you may already hold.First step: Check the expiry date on your First Aid at Work certificate, then read HSE guidance on recognised first aid training. HSE: first aid training

After further training

Lecturing in public services at a further education college, which needs neither a degree nor qualified teacher status and often supports a teaching qualification in post. Teaching in schools, which needs qualified teacher status through a PGCE or a salaried training route.First step: Read about teaching in further education, where you can often start without a degree or teaching qualification. Get Into Teaching: further education

Project and operations

Making things run: planning work, managing people and resources, and delivering change.

What they value from the job: running shifts and operations, planning resources, managing risk and deadlines, and leading teams under pressure.

Typical payVaries widely by sector and size of organisation; supervisory and management experience, such as sergeant, watch manager or team leader, often maps to middle management pay.

Open to you now

Operations manager, service delivery and contact centre manager roles, especially with supervisory or management experience, such as sergeant, watch manager or team leader.

After a short course

PRINCE2 Foundation, APM Project Fundamentals or Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt, for project roles.First step: Read about the APM Project Fundamentals Qualification, which needs no previous experience and is a one-hour online exam. APM: Project Fundamentals

After further training

The APM Project Management Qualification, or Chartered Management Institute qualifications at Level 5 or 7.First step: Read about the APM Project Management Qualification and check whether your service projects add up to the experience it expects. APM: Project Management Qualification

Justice and support

Staying close to the justice system, often on the side of rehabilitation or victims.

What they value from the job: working with vulnerable people, assessing risk, multi-agency public protection, and knowing how the system works from the inside.

Typical payProbation officers £35,000 to £45,000; youth justice officers £26,000 to £39,000.

Open to you now

Victim caseworker and witness care roles.First step: Read the National Careers Service victim care officer profile, which covers witness care work. National Careers Service: victim care officer

After further training

Probation officer, through the Professional Qualification in Probation, which is paid and takes 15 to 30 months, depending on the qualifications you already hold. Youth justice, through a paid Level 5 apprenticeship. Social work, through Step Up to Social Work, which needs a degree at 2:2 or above.First step: Watch the recorded webinar on the official trainee probation officer page to learn about the role, the training and how to apply. Prison and Probation Jobs: PQiP

Data and intelligence

Turning information into something people can act on, in government, banks, tech companies and security firms.

What they value from the job: intelligence handling, spotting patterns, briefing, online investigation, and vetting already held.

Typical pay£27,000 to £55,000 for intelligence analysts.

Open to you now

Intelligence analyst roles, particularly where current or recent vetting is valued. Trust and safety investigation at technology companies.First step: Search Civil Service Jobs for 'intelligence analyst' and set up an email alert while your vetting is still current. Civil Service Jobs

After a short course

Training in analysis software such as i2 Analyst's Notebook, or open source investigation courses.First step: Read the National Careers Service criminal intelligence analyst profile to see what employers look for before paying for any software course. National Careers Service: intelligence analyst

After further training

The paid Level 4 Intelligence Analyst apprenticeship. Technical cyber security roles, which usually need retraining and certifications such as CompTIA Security+.First step: Read about the Level 4 intelligence analyst apprenticeship, which takes about 18 months and is paid. GOV.UK: Level 4 apprenticeship

Leaving after a misconduct process

If you are leaving during or after a misconduct process, you may be wondering whether any of this is open to you. For most of it, the answer is yes. The facts are clearer than many people fear, and they differ by service. If you are going through a process, you have the right to representation; ask your union, staff association or representative for advice early, before any meeting if you can.

Showing:

Police

The barred list

Officers and staff dismissed after a misconduct or performance process are placed on the police barred list. While on it, you cannot be employed by a police force, a Police and Crime Commissioner's office, His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services or the Independent Office for Police Conduct. On this page, that closes the IOPC and police staff investigator routes. Entries last indefinitely, with a review possible after a number of years.

The advisory list

If you resign or retire during an investigation, you are placed on the advisory list instead. It is not public. The same policing bodies take it into account when they vet applicants.

Everywhere else

Neither list stops you working outside policing, so most of the areas on this page stay open. Some employers, particularly in security and government, will ask about your reasons for leaving. A short, honest answer usually serves you best; our Gaps and difficult questions guide will help.

From the College of Policing's guidance on the barred and advisory lists.

Fire and rescue

No national barred list, yet

Unlike the police, the fire and rescue service has no national barred list. Discipline is handled by each service. A 2026 government consultation on a new College of Fire and Rescue asked whether there should be a barred or advisory list, and the outcome is still awaited.

Checks you may meet

Since July 2023, fire services can carry out standard criminal record checks on their staff. A misconduct finding is not a criminal conviction, but it may come up through references, application questions or vetting for security-cleared roles.

Everywhere else

Most of the areas on this page stay open. If you are asked why you left, a short, honest answer usually serves you best; our Gaps and difficult questions guide will help.

From government and inspectorate publications. We will update this when the outcome of the consultation is known.

Ambulance

If you are a registered paramedic

Concerns about paramedics are handled by the HCPC. Outcomes range from no further action to a caution, conditions, suspension or striking off, and they are shown on the public register for their duration. Striking off means you can no longer work as a paramedic, but many roles that do not need registration stay open.

If you are not registered

Call handlers, transport crews, emergency care assistants and technicians have no professional register. NHS employers check references, which usually cover the last three years and give factual details, including any recent disciplinary action.

Everywhere else

Most of the areas on this page stay open. If you are asked why you left, a short, honest answer usually serves you best; our Gaps and difficult questions guide will help.

From HCPC and NHS Employers guidance.

This is not legal advice; your union, staff association, the College of Paramedics or a solicitor can advise on your own situation. Sources

Thinking about money

For most people, the deciding question is whether a move is financially possible. A few things worth weighing up, before any decision:

Compare like with like

Look at what you take home, not just the headline salary: overtime, shift allowances and London weighting in the job, against bonuses, flexibility and travel costs outside it.

Count the whole package

Police, fire and NHS pensions are among the most valuable anywhere, and most employers contribute far less. Civil service and NHS roles come closest. Weigh the pension, leave and job security, not just the salary.

Earn while you train

Several routes pay you while you qualify: probation officer training, paid apprenticeships, and HMRC investigator training. Others, such as Step Up to Social Work, pay a bursary.

Bridge the gap

Plan for notice periods, recruitment that can take months, and a first role that may pay less than the one you aim for in a year or two.

Pension

Showing:

Police

If you leave before you can retire, your police pension is usually kept for you but paid much later. In the 2015 scheme that is normally your State Pension age; taking it earlier means a permanent reduction. The older 1987 and 2006 schemes have different rules. Check your own position with your Federation, union or scheme administrator, or an independent financial adviser, before you resign.

Fire and rescue

With three months or more in the scheme, your firefighter pension is kept for you if you leave, and paid later: from State Pension age in the 2015 scheme, or from 55 with a permanent reduction. The 1992 and 2006 schemes have different rules. Check your own position with your scheme administrator, union or an independent financial adviser before you resign.

Ambulance

With two years or more in the scheme, your NHS pension is kept for you if you leave, and paid later: from State Pension age in the 2015 scheme, or earlier with a permanent reduction. The 1995 and 2008 sections have different rules. Check your own position with NHS Pensions, your union or an independent financial adviser before you resign.

Your summary helps

The Skills Translator summary shows which areas fit you best, so you can focus on the pay ranges that matter. Start it here.

Not financial advice. MoneyHelper offers free, impartial guidance.

Still serving?

Skills worth building now

You do not need to be planning to leave to invest in the skills that travel best. These make you stronger in the job and open doors outside it, whenever the time comes.

Leading change and projects

Put yourself forward for a project, a new system or a change programme. Delivering change is one of the most sought-after skills outside the service.

Writing for decision-makers

Reports, business cases and briefings for senior leaders. Clear writing is valued in almost every role.

Working with data

Use performance data, demand analysis and digital tools in your role. Employers increasingly expect it.

Coaching and training others

Tutor, train or mentor. It builds evidence for training, management and HR roles.

Partnership working

Represent your team with councils, the NHS, schools or businesses. Influencing people you do not manage is a skill employers prize.

Recognised qualifications

Take up management qualifications through promotion, accredited courses and any learning your force, service or trust funds, and keep the certificates.

Keep a simple record as you go: what you did, the result, and the numbers. It will make your CV far easier to write, whenever you need it.