Fire control salary 2026/27
What fire control room staff earn from 1 July 2026. Control roles are paid 95% of the matching firefighting role.
Control pay by role
| Role and stage | Salary | Take-home a month |
|---|---|---|
| Firefighter (Control), development | £29,962 | £1,870 |
| Firefighter (Control), competent | £38,340 | £2,272 |
| Crew Manager (Control), development | £40,747 | £2,396 |
| Crew Manager (Control), competent | £42,505 | £2,487 |
| Watch Manager (Control), development | £43,425 | £2,534 |
| Watch Manager (Control), competent a | £44,631 | £2,597 |
| Watch Manager (Control), competent b | £47,532 | £2,699 |
| Station Manager (Control), development | £49,438 | £2,795 |
| Station Manager (Control), competent a | £50,924 | £2,874 |
| Station Manager (Control), competent b | £54,532 | £3,074 |
Rates are 95% of the firefighting role, rounded to the nearest pound. Full time, 2015 fire pension, tax code 1257L. Control staff are usually in the Firefighters’ Pension Scheme, although some services put them in the Local Government Pension Scheme.
What fire control staff do
Fire control is the room that answers 999 calls for the fire service. Operators find out what is happening and where, send the right fire engines and specialist teams, and support crews by radio throughout the incident. Some calls mean talking a caller through escaping a fire while crews are on the way.
Hours and shifts
Control rooms run 24 hours a day, so staff work days and nights on a rota, including weekends and public holidays.
How to join
Services recruit for control separately from firefighters. There are no physical tests, but you will usually sit tests on listening, typing, map reading and handling information under pressure, then an interview.
Common questions
How much does a fire control operator earn?
A firefighter (control) earns £29,962 in development and £38,340 once competent, from 1 July 2026. That is 95% of the firefighting rate.
Do fire control staff get the same pension as firefighters?
Usually, yes. Most control staff are in the Firefighters’ Pension Scheme and pay the same rates. Some are in the Local Government Pension Scheme instead.