Will I get paid?
If you’re thinking about standing as a councillor in Scotland, it’s natural to wonder what the role pays and how the system works. Councillor pay is set nationally, not by individual councils, which means everyone starts with the same basic salary no matter which council they are elected to.
From 1 April 2025, the basic annual salary for a councillor was set at £25,982. This is the amount every councillor received that year.
Councillors can also join the Local Government Pension Scheme and claim expenses for travel, subsistence and other costs that arise directly from council duties.
Some councillors take on senior roles, which come with extra pay. The amounts depend on which “band” your council is placed in. This banding system groups councils based on factors such as their size and budget.
The most senior role in any council is the Leader of the Council, with 2025 salaries ranging from:
- £50,063 in Band B councils
- £60,791 in Band C councils
- £71,519 in Band D councils
Other key roles such as the Civic Head and Committee Conveners/Chairs also receive a larger salary. This can be no greater than 75% of the Leader of the Council’s salary. In 2025 this ranged from:
- £37,548 in Band B councils
- £45,594 in Band C councils
- £53,640 in Band D councils
Councils have some flexibility in how they distribute this money. For example, they can pay all senior councillors the same or vary pay depending on workload, so long as they stay within the national limits.
The pay system has been shaped by the Scottish Local Authorities Remuneration Committee (SLARC), which reviews how the job of a modern councillor has changed and recommends pay levels that reflect the growing responsibilities of the role.
For anyone considering standing for election, the key point is this: councillor pay is structured, predictable, and designed to support people from all backgrounds to take part in local democracy. While it may not match a full‑time salary, it aims to fairly compensate the time, commitment, and public service that the role requires.
Sources: https://www.gov.scot/policies/local-government/councillors-roles-conduct-pay/ and https://www.gov.scot/publications/recommendations-councillors-remuneration-expenses/pages/1/