Firefighter Salary in Columbus, OH
Firefighters in the Columbus, OH metro area earn a median $61,780 a year — 4% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $50,904 take-home, or $4,242 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median firefighter salary in Columbus, OH. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$5,234
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,830
- Medicare (1.45%)$896
- Ohio income tax$917
- Take-home pay$50,904
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 2.75% state
Living in Columbus? City residents also pay Columbus’s city income tax — about $1,545 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $49,359 ($4,113 a month). Choose “Columbus” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Firefighter pay by experience in Columbus, OH
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,720 | $17.17 | $30,681 | $2,557 |
| 25th percentile | $46,240 | $22.23 | $38,845 | $3,237 |
| Median (50th) | $61,780 | $29.70 | $50,904 | $4,242 |
| 75th percentile | $96,530 | $46.41 | $74,867 | $6,239 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $96,530 | $46.41 | $74,867 | $6,239 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Ohio resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $61,780 buys in Columbus, OH
Prices in Columbus, OH are 4.5% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 12% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median firefighter's $50,904 take-home pay has the buying power of $53,320 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Columbus, OH has 1.7× the national concentration of firefighter jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for firefighters, adjusted for cost of living
Columbus, OH ranks #16 of 34 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $101,090 | $79,947 | $71,938 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $113,700 | $80,995 | $70,057 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $106,420 | $78,458 | $69,701 |
| 4 | Sacramento, CA | $94,080 | $69,272 | $64,941 |
| 5 | Denver, CO | $87,980 | $67,561 | $63,868 |
| 6 | Los Angeles, CA | $98,050 | $71,644 | $63,086 |
| 7 | Chicago, IL | $82,820 | $63,139 | $60,948 |
| 8 | Philadelphia, PA | $78,050 | $61,342 | $59,814 |
| 16 | Columbus, OH | $61,780 | $50,904 | $53,320 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 34 metros →
About the job: firefighters
Control and extinguish fires or respond to emergency situations where life, property, or the environment is at risk. Duties may include fire prevention, emergency medical service, hazardous material response, search and rescue, and disaster assistance.
- Typical education
- Postsecondary nondegree award
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Long-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +3.7% (about average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Firefighter salaries elsewhere in Ohio
- Cleveland, OH — $62,720
- Cincinnati, OH — $58,570
Frequently asked questions
How much does a firefighter make in Columbus, OH?
The median firefighter salary in the Columbus, OH metro area is $61,780 a year, or about $29.70 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $46,240 and $96,530.
What is a firefighter’s take-home pay in Columbus, OH?
On the median $61,780 salary, a single filer living in Ohio takes home about $50,904 a year ($4,242 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $917 in Ohio taxes in 2026.
Is Columbus, OH a good place to work as a firefighter?
Pay here is 4% above the national median of $59,280. Local prices are 4.5% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $53,320 would in a typical U.S. city. Columbus, OH ranks #16 of 34 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a firefighter afford rent in Columbus, OH?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Columbus, OH is $1,179 a month ($1,416 for two bedrooms) — 28% of a median firefighter’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Columbus, OH
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer — $100,890
- Correctional Officer and Jailer — $58,040
- Security Guard — $35,800