Firefighter Overtime Calculator UK
Work out your pre-arranged overtime, disturbance, public holiday and recall pay against the 2026 NJC firefighter pay grades — instantly, without spreadsheets.
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Enter your pay scale point. We do the time-and-a-third maths plus tax estimate.
Open the firefighter overtime calculator →How firefighter overtime is paid in 2026
UK firefighter overtime is governed by the Grey Book (NJC for Local Authority Fire and Rescue Services). The headline rate for pre-arranged overtime is time and a half (1.5x) your standard hourly rate. Recall to duty (off-duty, called in) attracts a minimum 4-hour payment plus the time-and-a-half rate. Bank holidays are separately compensated under your service's local agreement, typically at double time.
Retained / on-call firefighters work under different rules: a fixed annual retainer plus a turnout fee per call plus an hourly rate for active duty.
Here is the quick reference. Use it alongside the firefighter overtime calculator to work the numbers exactly.
| When you work | Multiplier | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-arranged overtime (wholetime) | 1.5x | Time and a half — agreed in advance with the watch manager |
| Recall from off-duty | 1.5x | Minimum 4 hours' pay even if called back early |
| Bank holiday (most services) | 2.0x | Double time — check local agreement |
| Disturbance allowance | Flat rate per hour | For shift-swap disruption / short-notice changes |
| Retained turnout fee | Flat per call | Plus hourly rate for time on incident |
| Retained annual retainer | ~10-15% of wholetime salary | For agreed availability hours |
How to calculate firefighter overtime in 60 seconds
- Find your annual pay. Look up your role on the 2026 NJC firefighter pay grade. A competent firefighter (post-development) earns £37,675/year from July 2026 (after the agreed pay award).
- Get your hourly rate. Annual pay ÷ 2,184 hours (42 hr/wk × 52) = hourly rate. £37,675 ÷ 2,184 = £17.25/hr.
- Pick your multiplier. Pre-arranged or recall overtime = 1.5x. Bank holiday = 2x. Disturbance pay is flat-rate per local agreement.
- Multiply. £17.25 × 1.5 = £25.88/hr in overtime. £25.88 × 4 hours = £103.50 gross.
- Estimate take-home. Subtract income tax + NI + Firefighters' Pension Scheme contributions (12.44% Tier 5 default — adjustable). The overtime calculator does steps 2-5 automatically.
Firefighter pay grades 2026 — key points
The 2026 NJC pay agreement takes effect from July 2026. Quick reference (wholetime, England & Wales — Scotland and NI broadly aligned):
- Trainee firefighter: £28,488 starting
- Firefighter (development): £29,711 → £36,232 (after 4 years)
- Firefighter (competent): £37,675 (post-development)
- Crew Manager: £41,506 → £43,294
- Watch Manager A: £45,082 → £47,113
- Station Manager A: £52,008 → £57,475
Retained firefighters earn the same hourly rate as wholetime competent firefighters when on duty, plus a percentage of wholetime salary as an annual retainer. For the broader pay context see the UK Overtime Law 2026 guide.
Frequently asked questions
What's the firefighter overtime rate in the UK?
Pre-arranged overtime and recall-to-duty are paid at time and a half (1.5x) your standard hourly rate under the NJC Grey Book. Bank holiday overtime is typically double time (2x) per local fire and rescue service agreement.
What is the minimum payment for being recalled?
If you're recalled from off-duty, you're entitled to a minimum of 4 hours' pay at the overtime rate — even if you're only on the incident for 30 minutes. This is a national NJC rule.
Do retained / on-call firefighters get overtime?
Retained firefighters earn the same hourly rate as wholetime competent firefighters when actively responding, plus a turnout fee per call and an annual retainer. There's no separate "overtime" — every hour spent on duty is paid at the standard rate, with bank holiday and unsocial premiums layered on per local agreement.
What is firefighter disturbance pay?
A flat-rate hourly payment when your shift is changed at short notice (typically less than 7 days). The exact amount varies by service but is usually £8-£15/hour on top of your basic rate. Check your local NJC agreement.
Does the calculator deduct tax, NI, and pension?
Yes. It estimates 20% income tax (basic rate), National Insurance, and 12.44% Firefighters' Pension Scheme 2015 contributions (Tier 5 default — adjustable up or down). Higher-rate earners can adjust the tax band manually.
Can I track my shifts alongside the calculator?
Yes — the Overtime Live app tracks your live shift earnings on your iPhone or Android lock screen, supports time-and-a-half, double time, and custom multipliers (so retained turnout fees work too), and gives you a running total without opening the app. Free on App Store and Google Play.
Calculate now
Free. No sign-up. UK 2025/26 tax bands baked in.
Open the firefighter overtime calculator →Related
Track your shifts on Overtime Live
The calculator above is great for one-off questions. For tracking every wholetime shift, recall, and bank holiday turnout through your watch rota with the right multiplier applied automatically, download the free Overtime Live app: