Updated · 2026 tax rules · Data: IRS, BLS, BEA, HUD · How we calculate

Firefighter Salary in Orlando, FL

Firefighters in the Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL metro area earn a median $45,520 a year — 23% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $38,755 take-home, or $3,230 a month.

Median salary
$45,520
$21.88 per hour
Typical range
$36,870 – $75,390
10th to 90th percentile
Jobs in Orlando, FL
3,580
1.14× national concentration
▼2.2%
Pay trend: The median for firefighters in Orlando, FL fell from $46,540 (May 2024) to $45,520 (May 2025). That trailed inflation (2.4%), so buying power slipped about 4.6%.

Take-home pay calculator

Pre-filled with the median firefighter salary in Orlando, FL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.

Firefighter in Orlando, FL
Deductions, kids & local tax

2026 tax year. Federal brackets from IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32.

Your take-home pay
$38,755
per year · effective tax rate 14.9%
$3,230Monthly
$1,615Twice a month
$1,491Every 2 weeks
$18.63Hourly
  • Federal income tax$3,282
  • Social Security (6.2%)$2,822
  • Medicare (1.45%)$660
  • Florida income tax$0
  • Take-home pay$38,755

Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state

Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →

Firefighter pay by experience in Orlando, FL

PercentileSalaryHourlyTake-home / yrPer month
10th percentile (entry level)$36,870$17.73$31,805$2,650
25th percentile$40,280$19.37$34,545$2,879
Median (50th)$45,520$21.88$38,755$3,230
75th percentile$58,640$28.19$49,297$4,108
90th percentile (top earners)$75,390$36.25$61,867$5,156

Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Florida resident, 2026 tax rules.

What $45,520 buys in Orlando, FL

Prices in Orlando, FL are 1.4% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.23× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median firefighter's $38,755 take-home pay has the buying power of $38,213 in a typical American city.

1-bedroom rent
$1,731
54% of monthly take-home
2-bedroom rent
$1,972
61% of monthly take-home
Left after 1-BR rent
$1,499
per month for everything else

Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.

Firefighter jobs are about as common in Orlando, FL as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.14).

Best-paying cities for firefighters, adjusted for cost of living

Orlando, FL ranks #32 of 34 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.

#Metro areaMedian salaryTake-homeReal value*
1Seattle, WA $101,090$79,947$71,938
2San Francisco, CA $113,700$80,995$70,057
3New York, NY $106,420$78,458$69,701
4Sacramento, CA $94,080$69,272$64,941
5Denver, CO $87,980$67,561$63,868
6Los Angeles, CA $98,050$71,644$63,086
7Chicago, IL $82,820$63,139$60,948
8Philadelphia, PA $78,050$61,342$59,814
32Orlando, FL$45,520$38,755$38,213

*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 Florida

Frequently asked questions

How much does a firefighter make in Orlando, FL?

The median firefighter salary in the Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL metro area is $45,520 a year, or about $21.88 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $40,280 and $58,640.

What is a firefighter’s take-home pay in Orlando, FL?

On the median $45,520 salary, a single filer living in Florida takes home about $38,755 a year ($3,230 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.

Is Orlando, FL a good place to work as a firefighter?

Pay here is 23% below the national median of $59,280. Local prices are 1.4% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $38,213 would in a typical U.S. city. Orlando, FL ranks #32 of 34 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.

Can a firefighter afford rent in Orlando, FL?

HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Orlando, FL is $1,731 a month ($1,972 for two bedrooms) — 54% of a median firefighter’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.

Related jobs in Orlando, FL

Cost of living & all salaries in Orlando, FL →