GMFRS pay from 1 July 2026 at a glance
Unlike London Fire Brigade, Greater Manchester does not publish its own firefighter scale. GMCA's pay policy statement (the 2020/21 edition is the latest we could open) says operational roles in the fire and rescue service are maintained under the Grey Book, the national terms set by the National Joint Council. The 2026 award under circular NJC/2/26 was 3.8% from 1 July 2026, and the FBU's settlement page confirms the same figure and date.
GMFRS's careers pages currently give £31,539 for a Trainee Firefighter and £40,358 for a Competent Firefighter. Those match the site's national figures for Firefighter Development and Firefighter Competent from 1 July 2026. The national trainee rate was removed from the pay tables from 1 July 2025, so new entrants now start on the development rate; GMFRS's page simply calls that starting point 'trainee'. See trainee firefighter pay for how that change works.
Everything in this guide is basic annual salary unless stated. Local payments such as CPD, the MTA skills payment and the day crewing allowance sit on top, and overtime and acting-up pay come on top again, so a GMFRS payslip can be higher than the table.
| Stage | Annual basic | Hourly | Overtime x1.5 | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trainee / Development Firefighter | £31,539 | £14.40 | £21.60 | GMFRS careers page; NJC/2/26 |
| Competent Firefighter | £40,358 | £18.43 | £27.65 | GMFRS careers page; NJC/2/26 |
Hourly rate is annual salary divided by 52.143 then by 42, per the NJC circular. Figures from the site's NJC data (circular NJC/2/26).
Every NJC role and rate GMFRS pays from 1 July 2026
Because GMFRS follows the Grey Book, the national table applies role by role: Firefighter, Crew Manager, Watch Manager, Station Manager, Group Manager and Area Manager, each with a development rate and one or two competent rates. Watch Managers and above have A and B competent rates depending on the post. The table below is the full national scale from 1 July 2026, as used across this site, so it matches our national pay scales.
The jumps that matter for planning are between roles. Competent Firefighter to Crew Manager development is £2,534, Crew Manager competent to Watch Manager development £969, and Watch Manager competent B to Station Manager development £2,006. Station Managers and above normally work the flexible duty system and receive a flexible duty allowance on top of basic pay, which the flexi duty allowance guide explains. We did not find a GMFRS document stating its current flexible duty percentage, so the table shows basic pay only.
Overtime is not given for Group Manager and Area Manager in the national data, because flexible duty officers are not normally paid overtime in the same way. The promotion calculator models what a move between these roles is worth after tax and pension.
| Role and stage | Annual basic | Hourly | Overtime x1.5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Firefighter, development | £31,539 | £14.40 | £21.60 |
| Firefighter, competent | £40,358 | £18.43 | £27.65 |
| Crew Manager, development | £42,892 | £19.59 | £29.39 |
| Crew Manager, competent | £44,742 | £20.43 | £30.65 |
| Watch Manager, development | £45,711 | £20.87 | £31.31 |
| Watch Manager, competent A | £46,980 | £21.45 | £32.18 |
| Watch Manager, competent B | £50,034 | £22.85 | £34.28 |
| Station Manager, development | £52,040 | £23.76 | £35.64 |
| Station Manager, competent A | £53,604 | £24.48 | £36.72 |
| Station Manager, competent B | £57,402 | £26.21 | £39.32 |
| Group Manager, development | £59,937 | £27.37 | n/a |
| Group Manager, competent A | £61,736 | £28.19 | n/a |
| Group Manager, competent B | £66,445 | £30.34 | n/a |
| Area Manager, development | £70,368 | £32.13 | n/a |
| Area Manager, competent A | £72,476 | £33.09 | n/a |
| Area Manager, competent B | £77,186 | £35.24 | n/a |
Source: NJC circular NJC/2/26 via the site's pay data. Basic pay only; flexible duty allowance, CPD and local payments are extra.
Starting pay, training and the old 'training rate'
New GMFRS firefighters join through a Level 3 Operational Firefighter Apprenticeship. GMFRS says the full recruits course is currently 18 weeks, and the apprenticeship typically takes 24 to 30 months for wholetime apprentices new to the sector, ending in an external end-point assessment. Training is funded through the apprenticeship levy, so there is no cost to the apprentice. The careers pages quote £31,539 as the trainee figure, and the national competent rate of £40,358 follows once you are assessed as competent.
Older GMFRS documents describe a lower starting rate, which is why search results vary. GMCA's 2020/21 pay policy statement said trainee (apprentice) firefighters were paid a 'training rate' during phase 1 of the recruits course, then £23,833, before moving to the development rate in phase 2 and the competent rate after that. The national trainee rate was removed from 1 July 2025, and GMFRS's current pages quote the development figure as the trainee salary. If you see a separate, lower GMFRS trainee rate on another site, check the date.
Your exact time on development pay depends on how quickly you complete your development and assessments, so the date of moving to £40,358 is personal. Our firefighter pay progression guide explains how competence and the manager A and B rates work.
CPD payments in Greater Manchester
Continual professional development (CPD) payments are set per fire authority, not nationally. The NJC's 2026 CPD table, reproduced on the FBU's 2026 settlement page, lists Greater Manchester at £1,203 a year from 1 July 2026, after the same 3.8% increase as basic pay. The 2025 figure was £1,159, and £1,159 x 1.038 is £1,203, so the numbers line up. Across the UK the 2026 range runs from £400 (Cornwall) to £1,346 (South Yorkshire), so Greater Manchester is towards the top.
There is a local twist. In its January 2022 revised offer on the MTA skills payment, GMFRS agreed to apply a 2% uplift to the NJC CPD rate paid in Greater Manchester, after the FBU pointed out that London's MTA payment effectively applied to CPD. If that still applies, 2% of £1,203 would add about £24, but we have not seen GMFRS state the current uplifted CPD figure, so check your payslip. GMFRS declined at that time to consolidate CPD into basic salary.
Eligibility for CPD is set by local schemes under national guidance, and we did not find GMFRS's current eligibility rules published. Our CPD payments explainer covers how to find and check the CPD line on your payslip.
| Payment | Amount | Who | Source and date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CPD | £1,203 a year from 1 July 2026 | Eligible staff under the local scheme | NJC 2026 CPD table via FBU settlement page |
| CPD uplift | 2% added to the NJC CPD rate | Greater Manchester members | FBU circular on GMFRS offer, January 2022 |
| MTA skills payment | 2% of basic salary (plus CPD, FDA or day crewing payment where they apply) | All staff Firefighter to Area Manager | FBU circulars, January and February 2022 |
| Day crewing on-call element | 17.5% pensionable allowance | Firefighters at the six day-crewed stations | GMFRS day crewing page (current) |
| Day crewing housing | Allowances toward utility bills and mortgage or rent where housing is not provided; relocation support | Day crewing staff | GMFRS day crewing page (current) |
We could not verify current GMFRS rules or cash values beyond those shown. Enhanced Rescue Unit pay: see the next section.
The 2% MTA skills payment and other local additions
In 2021 and 2022 the FBU negotiated with London Fire Brigade and GMFRS over payment for responding to marauding terrorist attacks (MTA). GMFRS's improved revised offer of 11 January 2022 was a skills-based payment of 2% for all staff from Firefighter to Area Manager, from 1 April 2022. For firefighters, crew and watch managers it was 2% of basic salary including CPD where it applies; for station, group and area managers it also included the flexi duty allowance; and for day crewing staff it included the consolidated day crewing payment. On 25 February 2022 the FBU reported that Greater Manchester members had voted to accept, 411 to 241 (63%).
What we could not confirm is how the payment appears today. The FBU's ballot circular said the collective agreement would be signed once the documentation matched the agreed terms; we did not find the signed agreement or a later GMFRS statement of the payment. On a competent firefighter with CPD, 2% would be about £831 a year (2% of £41,561), but treat that as an estimate and check your payslip.
One more item is often mentioned. A June 2025 GMFRS Enhanced Rescue Unit transfer advert is indexed by search engines as offering ERU crews a 3% pensionable uplift. The page had expired and we could not open it, so we do not include an ERU uplift in any figure here. If you are applying for an Enhanced Rescue role at Leigh or Ashton, ask GMFRS for the current terms in writing. Our firefighter allowances guide covers the national allowances.
Day crewing pay: the 17.5% allowance
GMFRS's day crewing page says the on-call element of the system attracts a 17.5% pensionable allowance, paid for being available on call and attending emergency calls during standby hours. Day crewing staff also receive allowances toward utility bills and mortgage or rent where GMFRS housing is not provided, and support with relocation, including days off and moving costs. The FBU's 2022 circular refers to the consolidated payment under the Day Crewing Collective Agreement of 8 July 2021.
GMFRS does not state in the page we read exactly what the 17.5% is calculated on. If it is 17.5% of basic salary, a competent firefighter would receive about £7,063 a year on top of £40,358, giving £47,421, and a development firefighter about £5,519 on top of £31,539. Those are our arithmetic, not GMFRS figures. Ask for the calculation in writing if you are considering a move to one of the six day-crewed stations.
The allowance comes with conditions that matter as much as the money: you must live within a four-minute response area of the station, and GMFRS provides housing at Irlam and Ramsbottom. The GMFRS shift pattern guide sets out the day crewing hours.
What a GMFRS firefighter takes home
The figures below use the site's 2026/27 model: England and Wales income tax with a 1257L code, employee National Insurance at 8% between £12,570 and £50,270, and FPS 2015 pension contributions by pay band (11.09% up to £36,130, 12.59% up to £45,407, 14.09% up to £66,908). Pension comes off before tax but not before National Insurance. There is no student loan, salary sacrifice or overtime, and every payment shown is treated as pensionable. Change any of those and the numbers move.
A competent firefighter on basic pay of £40,358 pays £5,081.07 pension, £4,541.39 income tax and £2,223.04 National Insurance, leaving £28,512.50 a year, or £2,376.04 a month. Adding the £1,203 CPD payment and a 2% skills payment on basic plus CPD gives a gross of £42,392.22 and take-home of £29,772.25, about £2,481 a month. The illustrative day crewing line assumes the 17.5% allowance is calculated on basic pay, which pushes pensionable pay into the 14.09% band.
The take-home pay guide has the national table for every role, and the pay calculator below lets you enter your own allowances.
| Scenario | Gross | Pension | Income tax | NI | Take-home a year | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trainee / development, basic only | £31,539 | £3,497.68 | £3,094.26 | £1,517.52 | £23,429.54 | £1,952.46 |
| Competent, basic only | £40,358 | £5,081.07 | £4,541.39 | £2,223.04 | £28,512.50 | £2,376.04 |
| Competent + CPD £1,203 | £41,561 | £5,232.53 | £4,751.69 | £2,319.28 | £29,257.50 | £2,438.13 |
| Competent + CPD + 2% skills payment (estimate) | £42,392.22 | £5,337.18 | £4,897.01 | £2,385.78 | £29,772.25 | £2,481.02 |
| Competent, day crewing 17.5% on basic (assumption) | £47,420.65 | £6,681.57 | £5,633.82 | £2,788.05 | £32,317.21 | £2,693.10 |
Illustration from the site's 2026/27 model. The 2% skills payment and the basis of the day crewing allowance are not confirmed by a current GMFRS document. Excludes overtime, union subscriptions, student loan and salary sacrifice.
Senior officer pay: what GMCA has published
GMFRS is part of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, so its senior pay appears in GMCA's annual pay policy statement, which the Localism Act 2011 requires. We could not find a 2026/27 or 2025/26 GMCA pay policy statement online, so we cannot give current figures for the Chief Fire Officer or other brigade managers. The most recent edition we could open, for 2020/21, says senior officers are employed on either the JNC for Chief Officers terms or the NJC Gold Book for brigade managers, and listed the Chief Fire Officer at £164,020.63 a year. That is a 2020/21 figure and has been uprated since.
The nearest recent number comes from recruitment. A GMFRS Deputy Chief Fire Officer advert posted on the government's Find a Job site in January 2025 gave a salary of £153k to £170k. That is an advertised range for one post in 2025, not a published scale. For roles below brigade manager level, Station, Group and Area Managers are on the NJC rates in the table above plus any flexible duty allowance.
If you want the current figure, GMCA's annual statement of accounts discloses senior officer remuneration, and the chief fire officer salary guide compares published figures across services.
| Role | Figure | Date | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chief Fire Officer | £164,020.63 a year | 2020/21 | GMCA Pay Policy Statement 2020/21 |
| Deputy Chief Fire Officer (advertised range) | £153k to £170k | January 2025 | DWP Find a Job advert (expired) |
| Station Manager to Area Manager | NJC rates £52,040 to £77,186 basic | From 1 July 2026 | NJC/2/26 |
No 2026/27 GMCA pay policy statement could be found. Do not treat dated figures as current salaries.
Recruitment status and how to join
GMFRS's FAQs say the process takes around six months from expression of interest to start, the service runs three recruits courses a year, and there is no upper age limit (applicants must be 18 or over). Candidates register interest on Greater.Jobs, attend a virtual 'Ignite Your Potential' session, complete a readiness assessment for each campaign, and then go through a recruitment day, online tests, an application form, the national physical tests, an assessment centre with functional skills, and pre-employment checks. GMFRS says the bleep test minimum is level 8.8 but successful candidates should be aiming for level 10 before training.
We could not confirm an open wholetime campaign on 11 October 2026. A readiness assessment listing for a Winter 2026 intake, dated February 2026 with a 12 March 2026 closing date, appears in search results but had expired. GMFRS's recruitment pages do not show campaign dates, so register interest on Greater.Jobs to be told when the next one opens. Our when are fire services recruiting guide and selection process guide cover the stages in more detail.
Wholetime candidates apply to work anywhere in Greater Manchester and are placed according to organisational need, although GMFRS says it will try to place you close to home.
How to check your GMFRS payslip
Start with basic pay. From July 2026 a competent firefighter should show £40,358 a year (about £3,363.17 a month before deductions) and a development firefighter £31,539. If the July 2026 award has not been applied, back pay to 1 July should follow; our back pay guide explains how arrears work.
Then check the local lines: CPD at the 2026 Greater Manchester rate (£1,203 a year, possibly with a 2% uplift), the skills or MTA payment, the 17.5% day crewing allowance if you are at a day-crewed station, and any flexible duty allowance for Station Manager and above. Also check that your pension contribution rate matches your pensionable pay band. The free payslip checker compares your entries with the national rates.
If something looks wrong, raise it with GMFRS payroll and your FBU representative. The pay report below turns your figures into a full gross-to-net breakdown you can take to payroll.
Free toolFirefighter pay reportFree gross-to-net summary for your GMFRS role and allowances; the full Personal Pay Report with scenarios and a payslip checklist is £7.99, one payment.Open the pay report →Frequently asked questions
How much does a GMFRS firefighter earn in 2026?
GMFRS's careers pages quote £31,539 a year for a trainee and £40,358 for a competent firefighter. These are the national NJC development and competent rates from 1 July 2026, after the 3.8% award. CPD, local payments and overtime come on top.
Does GMFRS pay more than the national rate?
Basic pay is the national NJC rate. Greater Manchester's CPD payment is £1,203 a year at the 2026 rate, towards the top of the UK range, and members accepted a 2% skills payment in 2022. Day-crewed staff get a 17.5% pensionable allowance.
What is the GMFRS CPD payment?
The NJC's 2026 CPD table, published on the FBU's settlement page, lists Greater Manchester at £1,203 a year from 1 July 2026. In 2022 GMFRS also agreed to apply a 2% uplift to the CPD rate. Eligibility is set by the local scheme.
What is the GMFRS day crewing allowance?
GMFRS says day crewing firefighters receive a 17.5% pensionable allowance for the on-call element, plus allowances towards bills and rent or mortgage where housing is not provided. The page does not state what the 17.5% is calculated on.
How much does a GMFRS firefighter take home a month?
On the site's 2026/27 England model a competent firefighter on £40,358 takes home about £2,376 a month after tax, NI and 12.59% pension. With £1,203 CPD and a 2% skills payment, about £2,481. Your payslip will differ.
What is the GMFRS trainee firefighter salary?
GMFRS's current careers pages give £31,539 for a trainee firefighter, the national development rate from 1 July 2026. Older figures such as £28,265 come from years when a separate national trainee rate existed; it was removed from 1 July 2025.
What does the Greater Manchester Chief Fire Officer earn?
We could not find a 2026/27 GMCA pay policy statement. The 2020/21 statement listed the Chief Fire Officer at £164,020.63, and a January 2025 Deputy Chief Fire Officer advert gave £153k to £170k. Both are dated.
Is GMFRS recruiting firefighters now?
We could not confirm an open wholetime campaign on 11 October 2026. GMFRS runs three recruits courses a year; register interest on Greater.Jobs to be told when the next readiness assessment opens.
Primary sources
- Greater Manchester FRS — Careers at GMFRS (2 days, 2 nights, 4 off; 42 hours; pay and leave)
- Greater Manchester FRS — A career as a firefighter
- NJC Circular NJC/2/26: pay award 2026 (rates from 1 July 2026)
- FBU — pay settlement 2026 (including CPD by authority)
- FBU circular 2022HOC0011AD — GMFRS MTA improved revised offer, 11 January 2022 (2% skills payment, CPD uplift)
- FBU circular 2022HOC0118AD — MTA Greater Manchester and London ballot outcomes (25 February 2022)
- Greater Manchester FRS — Day Crewing (hours, on-call element, stations)
- Greater Manchester FRS — Level 3 Operational Firefighter Apprenticeship
- GMCA — Pay Policy Statement 2020/21
- DWP Find a Job — GMFRS Deputy Chief Fire Officer advert (January 2025, expired)
- Greater Manchester FRS — Recruitment frequently asked questions
- Greater Manchester FRS — Recruitment process
- Greater.Jobs — Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service employer page
- DWP Find a Job — GMFRS Enhanced Rescue Unit inter-service transfer advert (June 2025, expired; page could not be opened)