Competent Firefighter Salary
£38,881
Effective 1 July 2025 — NJC Grey Book, England & Wales (Wholetime)
Calculate Your Take-Home Pay
Firefighter Pay (Wholetime, NJC Grey Book)
| Role / Pay Point | Annual (1 July 2025) | Monthly |
|---|---|---|
| Firefighter (Development) | £30,384 | £2,532.00 |
| Firefighter (Competent) | £38,881 | £3,240.08 |
The Competent firefighter is the substantive rate paid to operational firefighters once they complete their Development phase (typically after two years and on confirmation of competence). It's the basic annual salary on which pension, tax and NI deductions are calculated.
On top of basic pay, competent firefighters in England & Wales receive a CPD (Continual Professional Development) payment of £425/year, and may receive Pre-Arranged Overtime (PAO) at 1.5× basic hourly rate for hours worked beyond the standard 42-hour week.
Most firefighters joining since April 2015 are in the FFPS 2015 (CARE) pension scheme, with tiered employee contributions of 11% (up to £27k pensionable pay), 12.9% (£27k–£60k) or 14% (above £60k).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Competent firefighter salary?
In England & Wales, the NJC Grey Book competent firefighter salary is £38,881 per year (effective 1 July 2025). This is the basic salary; CPD adds £425/year and PAO adds 1.5× basic hourly rate for any pre-arranged overtime worked.
How long does it take to reach Competent?
Most firefighters move from Development to Competent after around two years of operational service, subject to assessment and confirmation of competence by their Fire and Rescue Service.
Is CPD pensionable?
Yes. CPD counts as pensionable pay under FPS rules — the £425/year is included in your pensionable salary and pension contributions are deducted from it.
What pension scheme am I in?
Most firefighters joining since 1 April 2015 are in FFPS 2015 (CARE). Firefighters with prior service may have legacy 1992 or 2006 scheme benefits protected — use the pension dropdown in the calculator to model each scheme.