The figures below are the published 2026 NJC basic annual rates for Firefighter Development and Firefighter Competent. Higher ranks and retained duty system rates are available on the FBU pay rates page.
If your gross pay is £31,539 a year, after income tax, National Insurance and this pension contribution your take-home is about £23,402 a year — that’s £1,950 a month, £450 a week.
| Year | Month | Week | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | £31,539 | £2,628 | £607 |
| Income tax | −£3,087 | −£257 | −£59 |
| National Insurance | −£1,518 | −£126 | −£29 |
| Pension contribution | −£3,532 | −£294 | −£68 |
| Take-home pay | £23,402 | £1,950 | £450 |
Effective deduction rate: 26% of gross, leaving 74p in every pound. Marginal rate: 37%, so an extra £100 pay rise or overtime puts about £63 in your pocket.
Your firefighters’ pension contribution is taken off your pay before income tax is worked out — what HMRC calls a net pay arrangement. Relief is automatic at your top rate and there is nothing to claim back. So the £3,532 contribution above cuts your tax bill by £706, and its real cost to your take-home is £2,826 a year. Calculators that tax your whole salary and then subtract the pension understate your take-home by that £706.
Figures based on the FBU NJC pay settlement 2026, 1 July 2026. Actual take-home depends on your exact tax code, Scottish or Welsh rates, student loan plan, and whether you actually pay into this pension scheme. Source: https://www.fbu.org.uk/pay-rates/pay-settlement-2026
Your actual take-home may differ because of your tax code, student loan, bonus, overtime or whether you opt out of this pension. Put your real numbers into our free salary calculator — nothing is recorded.
Firefighter (England) pay points
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Firefighter (England) – Increment 2
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