Fire service officers (watch manager and below) roles in the UK earn a median of £43,500 per year, equivalent to £18.92 per hour as of 2025. Pay increased 6.7% compared to the previous year. Regionally, pay ranges from £37,000 in Yorkshire and The Humber to £51,500 in North West. Pay has risen over the past 5 years. The ONS national median for this occupation is £44,033/yr (1% below our computed national average).
Median Annual Pay
£43,500
as of 2025
High confidenceMedian Hourly Pay
£18.92
per hour
Year-on-Year Change
+6.7%
vs 2024
Annual Pay Range
£35,500 – £50,500
25th – 75th percentile
There is currently not sufficient data available for this occupation to say anything about the labour market.
Median annual pay for Fire service officers (watch manager and below) across UK regions.
Source: ONS ASHE. Based on broad UK regions (NUTS1).
| Region | Median Pay |
|---|---|
| North West | £51,500 |
| London | £50,000 |
| North East | £46,500 |
| Scotland | £44,500 |
| South West | £42,000 |
| West Midlands | £41,000 |
| Wales | £40,000 |
| South East | £40,000 |
| East Midlands | £39,500 |
| East | £39,500 |
| Yorkshire and The Humber | £37,000 |
| UK | £43,500 |
Annual pay grew by +6.7% from 2024 to 2025.
National average (NUTS1 actuals) based on ONS ASHE April snapshot.
Annual percentage change in median pay for Fire service officers (watch manager and below).
Percentage change from the prior year's April figure.
The median salary for a Fire service officers (watch manager and below) in the UK is £43,500 per year (about £18.92 per hour), based on official ONS data for 2025.
Most Fire service officers (watch manager and below) earn between £35,500 and £50,500 a year (the 25th to 75th percentile of UK pay).
Fire service officers (watch manager and below) pay rose by 6.7% from 2024 to 2025.
The highest median pay for Fire service officers (watch manager and below) is in North West, at £51,500 per year.
For job seekers
Check your salary against official UK data for Fire service officers (watch manager and below) roles — broken down by region and seniority level. Free, instant, no sign-up required.
For employers & recruiters
Fire service officers (watch manager and below) co-ordinate and participate in firefighting activities, provide emergency services in the event of accidents or bomb alerts, and advise on fire prevention.
There are no formal academic requirements, although applicants to fire control roles must demonstrate basic literacy and numeracy, keyboard and communication skills. Applicants to fire-fighter roles must pass psychological, physical and medical tests. Some Fire and Rescue Services operate direct entry recruitment processes to managerial operational roles. There is a minimum age limit of 18 years for entry to fire-fighter and control operator roles and DBS checks can be required.
Salary data is sourced from official UK pay datasets and updated periodically.