The Firefighters' Pension Scheme Explained
Quick answer
Wholetime firefighters in England are members of the Firefighters' Pension Scheme 2015, a career-average (CARE) scheme. You build up a portion of your pensionable pay as pension each year, contributions are deducted from salary at a banded rate, and the normal pension age is 60. It's one of the most valuable parts of the overall firefighter reward package.
Salary is only half the story when it comes to firefighter pay — the pension is one of the most valuable benefits of the career, and it's worth understanding before you join. While the detail can get technical and rules differ across the UK's nations, this guide explains the essentials of the main scheme in plain terms. For exact figures always check official scheme documents, as contribution rates and thresholds are reviewed periodically.
Applying to a fire service? Try a free practice testWorking with Numbers sample · about 5 minutes · no sign-upStart →A career-average scheme
The Firefighters' Pension Scheme 2015 is a 'career average revalued earnings' (CARE) scheme. Rather than basing your pension on your final salary, it builds up a slice of each year's pensionable pay and revalues it over time. Every year you're an active member, you earn a defined fraction of that year's pay as pension, and those amounts accumulate across your career.
This is a defined-benefit arrangement, meaning the pension you receive is based on a set formula rather than on investment performance — a significant advantage over the defined-contribution pensions common in the private sector.
Contributions and pension age
You contribute to your pension through deductions from your salary, set at banded rates that depend on how much you earn — higher earners pay a higher percentage. Your employer also contributes a substantial amount on top, which is part of what makes the scheme so valuable.
The normal pension age in the 2015 scheme is 60, with options that can affect when and how you draw benefits. Taking the pension earlier is generally possible from a minimum age but usually reduces the amount, while continuing to build benefits for longer increases them.
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Why the pension matters to your decision
When people compare the firefighter salary to other careers, they often overlook the pension — but a strong defined-benefit scheme with significant employer contributions is effectively a large, guaranteed addition to your total reward. Over a full career it can be worth a very substantial sum.
If pensions feel distant when you're just trying to get in, that's understandable — but factoring the full package, not just the headline salary, gives a truer picture of what the job offers. Read our firefighter salary guide alongside this for the complete pay picture.
Frequently asked questions
What pension do firefighters get?
Wholetime firefighters in England are members of the Firefighters' Pension Scheme 2015, a career-average defined-benefit scheme. You build up a set fraction of each year's pensionable pay as pension, with a normal pension age of 60. Schemes differ slightly across the UK's nations.
What is the normal pension age for firefighters?
In the Firefighters' Pension Scheme 2015 the normal pension age is 60. You can usually take benefits earlier from a minimum age, but doing so generally reduces the amount you receive.
How much do firefighters pay into their pension?
Contributions are taken from salary at banded rates that rise with earnings, so higher earners contribute a larger percentage. Employers also pay a substantial contribution on top, which is a major part of the scheme's value. Check current official rates for exact figures.
Is the firefighter pension worth it?
For most members, yes. A defined-benefit, career-average scheme with significant employer contributions provides a guaranteed retirement income that can be worth a very large sum over a full career — making it one of the most valuable elements of firefighter reward beyond salary.