Know what the job is really worth.
Current pay scales, take-home calculators, pension modelling and practical career guidance for serving firefighters, on-call crews, control staff and candidates.
Salary & take-home
Model tax, NI and firefighter pension contributions by role.
Overtime calculator
Convert salary to hourly pay and estimate gross or net overtime.
Pension modeller
Estimate CARE accrual, contribution bands and retirement scenarios.
On-call pay
Combine retainer, activity hours and disturbance payments.
Plan beyond this month’s payslip.
Free, private browser tools for the choices that connect pay with career and life.
More useful than a salary table.
Firefighter Pay connects the questions that affect real decisions: what lands in your bank, how on-call availability pays, what promotion changes, how pension contributions work, and whether the career fits your life.
Start with the questions people actually ask.
Firefighter pay rise 2026: every new rate explained
The national award, role-by-role tables and what happens to overtime and retainers.
On-call · 10 minHow retained firefighter pay really works
Retainers, activity hours, disturbance payments and the local details to check.
Pension · 12 minFPS 2015 in plain English
CARE accrual, current contribution bands, retirement ages and tax relief.
Joining · 9 minFirefighter fitness tests and level 8.8
What services assess, where standards vary and how to prepare sensibly.
Firefighter pay FAQs
How much does a UK firefighter earn in 2026?
From 1 July 2026, the national NJC basic salary is £31,539 for a development firefighter and £40,358 for a competent firefighter. Local arrangements and role-related payments can change actual earnings.
What is the firefighter overtime rate in 2026?
The published NJC overtime rate is £21.60 per hour for a development firefighter and £27.65 per hour for a competent firefighter from 1 July 2026. Managers up to station manager also have published rates.
How is on-call firefighter pay calculated?
On-call pay usually combines an annual retainer, hourly work activity and a disturbance payment. The 2026 full retainer is 15% of the relevant annual basic salary; day-crewing cover is 5%. Local contracts can add or vary payments.
Is Firefighter Pay an official fire service website?
No. Firefighter Pay is an independent information and calculation service. We cite primary sources and explain where local payroll or pension administrators may differ.