Firefighter Pay Scales 2026/27: Every NJC Role and Take-Home
NJC firefighter pay from 1 July 2026 - every Grey Book role after the 3.8% rise, retained and control rates, and take-home after tax, NI and FPS 2015 pension.
What was agreed for 2026
Firefighter pay is not set by a review body. It is negotiated in the National Joint Council for Local Authority Fire and Rescue Services, and the agreement is published in the Grey Book. That changes how you should read the numbers: there is no minister still to decide.
- 3.8% on all NJC basic pay rates with effect from 1 July 2026, issued in circular NJC/2/26 dated 3 July 2026.
- Accepted in a ballot - Fire Brigades Union members voted 54% to accept on a 68% turnout.
- Continual Professional Development payments rose 3.8% too, under a separate circular. CPD is paid on top of basic pay and varies by service.
The pay year runs from July, not April, so a rise takes effect part-way through the tax year. The take-home figures below apply 2026/27 tax rules to the rates in force now.
What that is after tax
Wholetime roles, for a member of the Firefighters' Pension Scheme 2015 living in England. The contribution rate steps up three times across the ladder: 11.09% to 12.59% between Firefighter development and Firefighter competent; 12.59% to 14.09% between Crew Manager competent and Watch Manager development; 14.09% to 15.59% between Group Manager competent B and Area Manager development. Take-home flattens most between Crew Manager competent and Watch Manager development, where £969 more gross pay buys £52 more take-home.
| Role | Level | Gross | Pension | Take-home / year | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Firefighter | Development | £31,539 | 11.09% | £23,430 | £1,952 |
| Firefighter | Competent | £40,358 | 12.59% | £28,513 | £2,376 |
| Crew Manager | Development | £42,892 | 12.59% | £30,082 | £2,507 |
| Crew Manager | Competent | £44,742 | 12.59% | £31,227 | £2,602 |
| Watch Manager | Development | £45,711 | 14.09% | £31,279 | £2,607 |
| Watch Manager | Competent A | £46,980 | 14.09% | £32,050 | £2,671 |
| Watch Manager | Competent B | £50,034 | 14.09% | £33,904 | £2,825 |
| Station Manager | Development | £52,040 | 14.09% | £35,229 | £2,936 |
| Station Manager | Competent A | £53,604 | 14.09% | £36,272 | £3,023 |
| Station Manager | Competent B | £57,402 | 14.09% | £38,807 | £3,234 |
| Group Manager | Development | £59,937 | 14.09% | £40,254 | £3,354 |
| Group Manager | Competent A | £61,736 | 14.09% | £41,145 | £3,429 |
| Group Manager | Competent B | £66,445 | 14.09% | £43,478 | £3,623 |
| Area Manager | Development | £70,368 | 15.59% | £44,789 | £3,732 |
| Area Manager | Competent A | £72,476 | 15.59% | £45,814 | £3,818 |
| Area Manager | Competent B | £77,186 | 15.59% | £48,105 | £4,009 |
Basic pay only. Excludes overtime, CPD payments, London and other local allowances, and student loan repayments. Firefighters resident in Scotland pay Scottish Income Tax rates on the same gross.
Every role and pay point
Appendix A of circular NJC/2/26, effective 1 July 2026. Hourly rates are the annual figure divided by 52.143 and then by 42, as the circular specifies. Overtime is not applicable from group manager upwards.
| Role | Level | Basic annual | Hourly | Overtime |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Junior firefighters are paid separately: aged 16 £27,756, aged 17 £27,756, aged 18 £30,277. Some junior and control-equivalent rates in Appendix D were uplifted beyond the headline award to stay compliant with the National Living Wage.
Retained duty system (on-call)
On-call firefighters are paid an annual retainer for availability, plus hourly pay for work activity and a disturbance payment of £5.31 per call-out. The retainer is a fixed percentage of the equivalent wholetime salary, so it moved with the 3.8% award as well.
| Role | Level | Retainer (15%) | Day crewing (5%) | Hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Firefighter | Development | £4,731 | £1,577 | £14.40 |
| Firefighter | Competent | £6,054 | £2,018 | £18.43 |
| Crew Manager | Development | £6,434 | £2,145 | £19.59 |
| Crew Manager | Competent | £6,711 | £2,237 | £20.43 |
| Watch Manager | Development | £6,857 | £2,286 | £20.87 |
| Watch Manager | Competent A | £7,047 | £2,349 | £21.45 |
| Watch Manager | Competent B | £7,505 | £2,502 | £22.85 |
| Station Manager | Development | £7,806 | £2,602 | £23.76 |
| Station Manager | Competent A | £8,041 | £2,680 | £24.48 |
| Station Manager | Competent B | £8,610 | £2,870 | £26.21 |
| Group Manager | Development | £8,991 | £2,997 | £27.37 |
| Group Manager | Competent A | £9,260 | £3,087 | £28.19 |
| Group Manager | Competent B | £9,967 | £3,322 | £30.34 |
| Area Manager | Development | £10,555 | £3,518 | £32.13 |
| Area Manager | Competent A | £10,871 | £3,624 | £33.09 |
| Area Manager | Competent B | £11,578 | £3,859 | £35.24 |
On-call earnings are usually a second income alongside another job. Both employments run through PAYE, so the tax code on the second job typically collects tax at your marginal rate from the first pound, and the two salaries stack for the higher-rate threshold. National Insurance, unlike Income Tax, is worked out separately on each employment.
Control room roles
Appendix C: fire control staff are paid 95% of the corresponding firefighting role.
| Role | Level | Basic annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Firefighter (Control) | Development | £29,962 | £13.68 |
| Firefighter (Control) | Competent | £38,340 | £17.51 |
| Crew Manager (Control) | Development | £40,747 | £18.61 |
| Crew Manager (Control) | Competent | £42,505 | £19.41 |
| Watch Manager (Control) | Development | £43,425 | £19.83 |
| Watch Manager (Control) | Competent A | £44,631 | £20.38 |
| Watch Manager (Control) | Competent B | £47,532 | £21.70 |
| Station Manager (Control) | Development | £49,438 | £22.57 |
| Station Manager (Control) | Competent A | £50,924 | £23.25 |
| Station Manager (Control) | Competent B | £54,532 | £24.90 |
| Group Manager (Control) | Development | £56,940 | £26.00 |
| Group Manager (Control) | Competent A | £58,649 | £26.78 |
| Group Manager (Control) | Competent B | £63,123 | £28.82 |
FPS 2015 contributions
The contribution structure changed on 1 April 2026: five bands instead of four, assessed on actual pensionable pay rather than the whole-time equivalent, and from April 2027 the thresholds rise each year with CPI.
| Actual pensionable pay | Member contribution |
|---|---|
| £0 to £36,130 | 11.09% |
| £36,131 to £45,407 | 12.59% |
| £45,408 to £66,908 | 14.09% |
| £66,909 to £190,691 | 15.59% |
| £190,692 and above | 17.09% |
Moving to actual pay matters most for on-call and part-time firefighters, who were previously banded on what they would have earned whole-time and so could pay a rate well above their real earnings. The employer contributes 37.6% of pay under the 2020 valuation.
Because this is a net pay arrangement rather than salary sacrifice, the contribution reduces taxable pay but not NIable pay. HMRC states it plainly: National Insurance "must be assessed on the gross earnings before deduction of any pension contributions. There is no equivalent NICs relief."
Related
Frequently asked questions
What is the firefighter pay rise for 2026?
3.8% on all NJC basic pay rates and Continual Professional Development payments, with effect from 1 July 2026. It is an agreed settlement rather than a recommendation: Fire Brigades Union members voted to accept by 54% on a 68% turnout, and the NJC issued the revised rates in circular NJC/2/26.
What does a competent firefighter earn after tax?
A competent wholetime firefighter is on £40,358 from 1 July 2026. After Income Tax, National Insurance and a 12.59% FPS 2015 contribution, take-home is about £28,513 a year, or £2,376 a month. That is basic pay only, before overtime, CPD payments or any local allowance.
How much do firefighters pay into their pension?
From 1 April 2026 the FPS 2015 has five contribution bands running from 11.09% to 17.09% of actual pensionable pay, replacing the previous four-band structure. A development firefighter pays 11.09% and a competent firefighter 12.59%. The employer contributes 37.6% on top.
Does the pension contribution reduce National Insurance?
No. The scheme is a net pay arrangement, so the contribution is taken before Income Tax and gets relief at your marginal rate, but National Insurance is still charged on your full gross pay. HMRC is explicit that there is no NIC relief for pension contributions deducted from earnings, which is why a generic salary calculator with a pension percentage will overstate firefighter take-home.
How is on-call (retained) firefighter pay worked out?
Retained duty system pay has three parts: an annual retainer set at 15% of the equivalent wholetime salary (5% on the day crewing duty system), an hourly rate for work activity at the same rate as wholetime, and a disturbance payment of £5.31 per call-out. A competent RDS firefighter's full retainer is £6,054 before any activity pay.
Do these rates apply across the UK?
The NJC covers all uniformed employees of fire and rescue services in the United Kingdom from firefighter to area manager, so the Grey Book pay rates are a national framework applied locally. Take-home differs by nation though: firefighters resident in Scotland pay Scottish Income Tax rates, and the pension scheme regulations are made separately for each nation.