$ PaycheckDecoded

Firefighter Salary

Firefighters earn a median $59,280 a year nationally. Protective Service Occupations

U.S. median
$59,280
$28.50 per hour
Range
$34,910 – $101,040
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
345,990
across the U.S.

Firefighter take-home pay calculator

Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.

Firefighter
Deductions, kids & local tax

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

Your take-home pay
$49,811
per year · effective tax rate 16.0%
$4,151Monthly
$2,075Twice a month
$1,916Every 2 weeks
$23.95Hourly
  • Federal income tax$4,934
  • Social Security (6.2%)$3,675
  • Medicare (1.45%)$860
  • Texas income tax$0
  • Take-home pay$49,811

Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state

Pay by experience

PercentileSalaryHourlyTake-home (no state tax)
10th percentile (entry level)$34,910$16.78$30,230
25th percentile$44,490$21.39$37,928
Median (50th)$59,280$28.50$49,811
75th percentile$77,250$37.14$63,175
90th percentile (top earners)$101,040$48.58$79,912

Best cities for firefighters (after tax & cost of living)

#Metro areaMedianTake-homeReal value*Jobs
1San Jose, CA$152,100$103,333$93,5801,330
2Seattle, WA$101,090$79,947$71,9383,760
3San Francisco, CA$113,700$80,995$70,0573,450
4New York, NY$106,420$78,458$69,70114,960
5Rochester, NY$89,120$67,308$69,365730
6Spokane, WA$83,310$67,439$67,206750
7Reno, NV$81,360$66,067$65,404780
8Sacramento, CA$94,080$69,272$64,9412,590
9Denver, CO$87,980$67,561$63,8683,010
10Los Angeles, CA$98,050$71,644$63,0867,200
11Peoria, IL$73,670$57,155$62,649490
12Chicago, IL$82,820$63,139$60,94814,560
13Pittsburgh, PA$72,230$57,426$60,659950
14Boise City, ID$76,280$59,558$60,532740
15Buffalo, NY$74,470$57,795$60,301820
16Port St. Lucie, FL$72,760$60,017$59,880600
17Philadelphia, PA$78,050$61,342$59,8143,970
18Bridgeport, CT$81,680$63,374$59,304840
19New Haven, CT$79,380$61,883$59,185570
20Fresno, CA$79,160$60,358$59,083770
21Barnstable Town, MA$74,870$57,978$58,950490
22Portland, OR$85,170$62,124$58,9301,730
23Hartford, CT$75,990$59,685$58,089930
24St. Louis, MO$68,970$55,046$57,8902,680
25Indianapolis, IN$68,480$55,015$57,4893,740

*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).

Highest-paying cities

Firefighter salary by state

StateMedianTake-homeRangeJobs
New York $100,960$74,939 $56,390 – $106,44012,950
Washington $94,520$75,325 $47,640 – $123,9807,560
California $85,120$63,919 $52,390 – $136,15031,470
New Jersey $84,130$64,846 $47,920 – $123,9407,500
Illinois $78,380$60,235 $38,900 – $106,06018,400
Connecticut $77,630$60,748 $51,320 – $85,5002,970
District of Columbia $75,870$58,719 $61,050 – $99,7601,480
Colorado $74,170$58,454 $47,000 – $114,1706,510
Maryland $73,810$57,613 $48,030 – $98,7705,340
Pennsylvania $73,460$58,254 $48,620 – $89,1905,020
Massachusetts $72,800$56,625 $49,730 – $98,13011,940
Oregon $70,900$53,334 $38,800 – $104,0703,790
Rhode Island $67,380$54,322 $56,110 – $76,6201,620
Nevada $66,570$55,662 $47,600 – $101,4502,640
Indiana $62,780$50,801 $38,460 – $81,8908,530
Nebraska $61,040$49,328 $46,660 – $69,4601,070
Texas $60,180$50,535 $40,020 – $77,17028,170
Ohio $59,370$49,033 $34,420 – $84,01018,100
Montana $59,310$47,805 $32,810 – $76,6201,010
Arizona $59,280$48,538 $36,700 – $88,2207,500
Alaska $58,830$49,450 $35,520 – $82,3601,040
Virginia $58,670$46,762 $38,310 – $77,31011,160
Florida $58,550$49,225 $37,260 – $93,31024,570
Wyoming $58,090$48,855 $39,550 – $78,760680
New Hampshire $56,620$47,674 $35,450 – $78,5702,700
Iowa $55,810$45,554 $32,240 – $87,7202,170
North Dakota $55,080$46,437 $39,700 – $77,530820
Michigan $54,640$44,012 $37,190 – $78,5506,610
Oklahoma $49,710$40,431 $31,620 – $77,5604,150
Tennessee $49,300$41,793 $33,910 – $70,4607,020
Missouri $49,080$40,246 $31,140 – $79,3606,580
Utah $48,310$39,789 $27,660 – $80,3202,870
Maine $48,290$38,903 $35,740 – $63,7402,480
South Dakota $48,160$40,877 $39,240 – $61,420610
Alabama $47,600$38,312 $29,770 – $76,1907,260
Idaho $47,320$38,802 $30,280 – $81,1902,240
Wisconsin $46,850$38,544 $29,390 – $77,0508,120
Delaware $46,710$37,796 $41,960 – $72,160560
Georgia $46,550$37,790 $33,000 – $61,51012,700
Vermont $46,430$38,365 $29,790 – $77,200—
Kansas $45,900$37,299 $32,810 – $76,1103,360
South Carolina $42,570$34,988 $29,130 – $62,1507,780
New Mexico $41,590$34,776 $31,200 – $57,7802,420
Arkansas $39,690$32,736 $28,680 – $60,8602,480
Minnesota $38,110$31,581 $27,510 – $70,3805,810
North Carolina $37,940$31,660 $29,360 – $61,94019,410
West Virginia $37,350$31,180 $29,020 – $51,390900
Kentucky $37,150$30,847 $27,870 – $60,7205,150
Mississippi $35,880$30,306 $26,850 – $51,3102,920
Louisiana $33,120$28,185 $22,510 – $56,6705,230

Frequently asked questions

How much does a firefighter make?

The national median salary for firefighters is $59,280 a year ($28.50 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $34,910 and the top 10% earn over $101,040. Source: BLS, May 2025.

Which state pays firefighters the most?

New York has the highest median pay at $100,960. After taxes and local prices, San Jose, CA offers the best real take-home pay of any metro area.

How many firefighters are there in the U.S.?

About 345,990 people work as firefighters nationwide.

All 133 cities