Why the 42-hour figure matters
The 2026 circular takes the annual figure, divides by 52.143 and then by 42 to derive the hourly rate, with rounding at each stated stage. It is a national pay calculation as well as a reference to ordinary weekly hours.
Common roster designs
Services may use combinations of day and night shifts, day-crewing, close-call or other locally designed systems. Names can conceal important differences in start times, standby expectations and leave booking.
A vacancy or transfer decision should be based on the actual roster supplied by the service rather than an online description of a 'standard' fire shift.
Fatigue and second work
Safety-critical work and night shifts make recovery important. Any secondary employment must comply with service policy and working-time obligations. Availability commitments in an on-call role create a different but equally real fatigue calculation.
Frequently asked questions
Do all UK firefighters work four on, four off?
No. Some services use a version of that pattern, while others use different locally agreed systems.
Why does the pay circular use 52.143 weeks?
The NJC circular states the calculation and rounding method used to derive hourly rates from annual salary.