Civil Service Grades Explained: From AA to the Senior Civil Service
The UK Civil Service has seven broad grades, from Administrative Assistant to the Senior Civil Service. The grade sets the level of responsibility, the pay range and which online tests and behaviour standards apply when you apply.
Roles and average starting salaries come from Civil Service Careers, checked 1 November 2026; pay also varies by role and department, so the advert is the final word.
Civil Service Grades and Starting Salaries
| Grade | Average starting salary | Similar role outside |
|---|---|---|
| AA / AOAdministrative Assistant and Administrative Officer | £23,000 | Office administrator, executive assistant |
| EOExecutive Officer | £27,000 | Senior administrator, supervisor |
| HEOHigher Executive Officer | £32,000 | Office manager, team leader |
| SEOSenior Executive Officer | £39,000 | Senior team leader, senior supervisor |
| G7Grade 7 | £49,000 | Deputy operations manager, deputy head of department |
| G6Grade 6 | £59,000 | Operations manager, head of department |
| SCSSenior Civil Service | £76,000 | Deputy director, director |
Administrative Assistant and Administrative Officer (AA / AO)
Entry-level or junior roles, usually in administrative support or operational delivery: handling enquiries, keeping records and systems up to date, and referring complex work to an Executive Officer.
- Average starting salary
- £23,000
- Entry routes
- Direct applications or apprenticeships
- Online tests that can be used at this grade
- Judgement, Work Strengths (AA–EO band), Customer Service Skills, Casework Skills (AO only), Verbal, Numerical, Styles Assessment
Executive Officer (EO)
Junior management under a team leader (an HEO or SEO). Line management is unlikely, but EOs may take on more responsibility for specific tasks or complex casework.
- Average starting salary
- £27,000
- Entry routes
- Direct applications and apprenticeships
- Online tests that can be used at this grade
- Judgement, Management Judgement, Work Strengths (AA–EO band), Customer Service Skills, Casework Skills, Verbal, Numerical, Styles Assessment
Higher Executive Officer (HEO)
Middle management: project managers and team leaders who manage teams of AOs and EOs, analyse data and present reports, support junior staff, manage budgets and help draft policy.
- Average starting salary
- £32,000
- Entry routes
- Direct applications and the Fast Stream
- Online tests that can be used at this grade
- Judgement, Management Judgement, Work Strengths (HEO–SCS 1 band), Verbal, Numerical, Styles Assessment
Senior Executive Officer (SEO)
Mid-level managers of teams and projects: leading work on policies, products or services, drafting briefings for senior colleagues and ministers, managing risks, contracts and resources.
- Average starting salary
- £39,000
- Entry routes
- Direct applications and completing the Fast Stream
- Online tests that can be used at this grade
- Judgement, Management Judgement, Work Strengths (HEO–SCS 1 band), Verbal, Numerical, Styles Assessment
Grade 7 (G7)
Senior managers with expertise in their area or profession, who line manage HEOs and SEOs, handle highly complex work and give expert advice. Several years of relevant experience are expected.
- Average starting salary
- £49,000
- Entry routes
- Direct applications
- Online tests that can be used at this grade
- Judgement, Work Strengths (HEO–SCS 1 band), Verbal, Numerical, Styles Assessment
Grade 6 (G6)
Very senior managers who give expert advice and are accountable for a programme of work, leading teams through large pieces of work or change.
- Average starting salary
- £59,000
- Entry routes
- Direct applications
- Online tests that can be used at this grade
- Work Strengths (HEO–SCS 1 band), Verbal, Numerical, Styles Assessment
Senior Civil Service (SCS)
The most senior leadership roles, in four grades: SCS1 deputy director, SCS2 director, SCS3 director general and SCS4 permanent secretary. They work closely with ministers and lead major areas of government.
- Average starting salary
- £76,000
- Entry routes
- Direct applications
- Online tests that can be used at this grade
- Verbal (SCS 1), Numerical (SCS 1), Styles Assessment (SCS 1), Work Strengths (SCS 1, HEO–SCS 1 band)
What the Grade Changes When You Apply
- Behaviours. GOV.UK describes each behaviour separately for each grade group, so a Leadership example at HEO needs more than one at EO. See the Civil Service Behaviours by grade.
- Online tests. The job advert says which tests apply, and the scenarios match the job level. The tests listed above are those GOV.UK's guidance for recruiters allows at each grade.
- Banked results. For most tests a pass is banked for six months and reused for jobs in the same grade grouping: AA and AO; EO; HEO and SEO; Grade 7, Grade 6 and SCS 1.
- Your application. Pitch your personal statement at the grade you are applying for.
To practise the tests at your grade band, see our Civil Service practice tests; the online tests guide explains each one.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the Civil Service grades in order?
From the most junior: Administrative Assistant and Administrative Officer (AA/AO), Executive Officer (EO), Higher Executive Officer (HEO), Senior Executive Officer (SEO), Grade 7, Grade 6 and the Senior Civil Service (SCS), which has four levels from deputy director (SCS1) to permanent secretary (SCS4).
How much does each Civil Service grade pay?
Civil Service Careers gives average starting salaries of £23,000 for AA/AO, £27,000 for EO, £32,000 for HEO, £39,000 for SEO, £49,000 for Grade 7, £59,000 for Grade 6 and £76,000 for the SCS. Pay also depends on the role and the department, so check the salary in each advert.
Which grade is a graduate entry level?
It depends on the route. Civil Service Careers lists the Fast Stream as an entry route at HEO, and SEO roles as open to those who complete it; direct applications are open at every grade, and apprenticeships at AA/AO and EO.
Do online tests depend on the grade?
Yes. The scenarios match the job level, the Judgement Test is used up to Grade 7, the Management Judgement Test from EO to SEO, and the Work Strengths Test has one band from AA to EO and another from HEO to SCS 1. A banked pass is reused only within the same grade grouping.
Sources: Civil Service Careers, Civil Service grades and salaries; GOV.UK's guidance on selecting online tests, Civil Service online tests and Success Profiles: Civil Service Behaviours; checked 1 November 2026. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Candidate Falcon is independent and is not affiliated with the UK Civil Service, Civil Service Jobs or the Government People Group.