Firefighter Salary in Atlanta, GA
Firefighters in the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA metro area earn a median $47,300 a year — 20% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $38,353 take-home, or $3,196 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median firefighter salary in Atlanta, GA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,496
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,933
- Medicare (1.45%)$686
- Georgia income tax$1,832
- Take-home pay$38,353
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.19% state
Firefighter pay by experience in Atlanta, GA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,920 | $17.75 | $30,552 | $2,546 |
| 25th percentile | $39,830 | $19.15 | $32,739 | $2,728 |
| Median (50th) | $47,300 | $22.74 | $38,353 | $3,196 |
| 75th percentile | $57,670 | $27.73 | $46,148 | $3,846 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $68,680 | $33.02 | $54,205 | $4,517 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Georgia resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $47,300 buys in Atlanta, GA
Prices in Atlanta, GA are 0.1% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.11× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median firefighter's $38,353 take-home pay has the buying power of $38,331 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 Atlanta, GA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.99).
Best-paying cities for firefighters, adjusted for cost of living
Atlanta, GA ranks #108 of 133 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $152,100 | $103,333 | $93,580 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $101,090 | $79,947 | $71,938 |
| 3 | San Francisco, CA | $113,700 | $80,995 | $70,057 |
| 4 | New York, NY | $106,420 | $78,458 | $69,701 |
| 5 | Rochester, NY | $89,120 | $67,308 | $69,365 |
| 6 | Spokane, WA | $83,310 | $67,439 | $67,206 |
| 7 | Reno, NV | $81,360 | $66,067 | $65,404 |
| 8 | Sacramento, CA | $94,080 | $69,272 | $64,941 |
| 108 | Atlanta, GA | $47,300 | $38,353 | $38,331 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 133 metros →
Firefighter salaries elsewhere in Georgia
- Columbus, GA — $48,770
- Savannah, GA — $50,470
- Macon, GA — $45,660
- Augusta, GA — $47,540
- Gainesville, GA — $46,870
Frequently asked questions
How much does a firefighter make in Atlanta, GA?
The median firefighter salary in the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA metro area is $47,300 a year, or about $22.74 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $39,830 and $57,670.
What is a firefighter’s take-home pay in Atlanta, GA?
On the median $47,300 salary, a single filer living in Georgia takes home about $38,353 a year ($3,196 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,832 in Georgia taxes in 2026.
Is Atlanta, GA a good place to work as a firefighter?
Pay here is 20% below the national median of $59,280. Local prices are 0.1% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $38,331 would in a typical U.S. city. Atlanta, GA ranks #108 of 133 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a firefighter afford rent in Atlanta, GA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Atlanta, GA is $1,646 a month ($1,806 for two bedrooms) — 51% of a median firefighter’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Atlanta, GA
- First-Line Supervisor of Police and Detectives — $81,860
- First-Line Supervisor of Firefighting and Prevention Workers — $76,490
- Detective and Criminal Investigator — $69,900
- Transportation Security Screener — $66,770
- First-Line Supervisor of Correctional Officers — $61,580
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer — $60,910
- Correctional Officer and Jailer — $49,380
- First-Line Supervisor of Security Workers — $49,230
- Protective Service Workers, All Other — $45,950
- Private Detective and Investigator — $45,080
- Security Guard — $35,150
- Crossing Guard and Flagger — $34,990