Firefighter Salary in St. Louis, MO
Firefighters in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area earn a median $68,970 a year — 16% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $55,046 take-home, or $4,587 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median firefighter salary in St. Louis, MO. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$6,343
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,276
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,000
- Missouri income tax$2,304
- Take-home pay$55,046
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 4.70% state
Living in St. Louis? City residents also pay St. Louis’s Earnings Tax — about $690 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $54,356 ($4,530 a month). Choose “St. Louis” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
The St. Louis, MO-IL metro spans Missouri, Illinois. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Firefighter pay by experience in St. Louis, MO
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $39,220 | $18.86 | $32,787 | $2,732 |
| 25th percentile | $47,770 | $22.97 | $39,255 | $3,271 |
| Median (50th) | $68,970 | $33.16 | $55,046 | $4,587 |
| 75th percentile | $75,090 | $36.10 | $59,064 | $4,922 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $102,010 | $49.04 | $76,737 | $6,395 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Missouri resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $68,970 buys in St. Louis, MO
Prices in St. Louis, MO are 4.9% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 21% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median firefighter's $55,046 take-home pay has the buying power of $57,890 in a typical American city.
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 St. Louis, MO as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.90).
Best-paying cities for firefighters, adjusted for cost of living
St. Louis, MO ranks #9 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 |
| 9 | St. Louis, MO | $68,970 | $55,046 | $57,890 |
*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 Missouri
- Kansas City, MO — $60,770
Frequently asked questions
How much does a firefighter make in St. Louis, MO?
The median firefighter salary in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area is $68,970 a year, or about $33.16 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $47,770 and $75,090.
What is a firefighter’s take-home pay in St. Louis, MO?
On the median $68,970 salary, a single filer living in Missouri takes home about $55,046 a year ($4,587 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,304 in Missouri taxes in 2026.
Is St. Louis, MO a good place to work as a firefighter?
Pay here is 16% above the national median of $59,280. Local prices are 4.9% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $57,890 would in a typical U.S. city. St. Louis, MO ranks #9 of 34 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a firefighter afford rent in St. Louis, MO?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in St. Louis, MO is $989 a month ($1,211 for two bedrooms) — 22% of a median firefighter’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in St. Louis, MO
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer — $73,240
- Security Guard — $42,600