Firefighter Salary in Baltimore, MD
Firefighters in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD metro area earn a median $73,810 a year — 25% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $57,613 take-home, or $4,801 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median firefighter salary in Baltimore, MD. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$7,408
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,576
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,070
- Maryland income tax$3,142
- Take-home pay$57,613
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 4.75% state
Firefighter pay by experience in Baltimore, MD
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $48,500 | $23.32 | $39,210 | $3,267 |
| 25th percentile | $57,470 | $27.63 | $45,991 | $3,833 |
| Median (50th) | $73,810 | $35.49 | $57,613 | $4,801 |
| 75th percentile | $97,520 | $46.88 | $73,167 | $6,097 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $98,210 | $47.22 | $73,619 | $6,135 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Maryland resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $73,810 buys in Baltimore, MD
Prices in Baltimore, MD are 4.5% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.18× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median firefighter's $57,613 take-home pay has the buying power of $55,139 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 Baltimore, MD as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.83).
Best-paying cities for firefighters, adjusted for cost of living
Baltimore, MD ranks #32 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 |
| 32 | Baltimore, MD | $73,810 | $57,613 | $55,139 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 133 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a firefighter make in Baltimore, MD?
The median firefighter salary in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD metro area is $73,810 a year, or about $35.49 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $57,470 and $97,520.
What is a firefighter’s take-home pay in Baltimore, MD?
On the median $73,810 salary, a single filer living in Maryland takes home about $57,613 a year ($4,801 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,142 in Maryland taxes in 2026.
Is Baltimore, MD a good place to work as a firefighter?
Pay here is 25% above the national median of $59,280. Local prices are 4.5% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $55,139 would in a typical U.S. city. Baltimore, MD ranks #32 of 133 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a firefighter afford rent in Baltimore, MD?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Baltimore, MD is $1,511 a month ($1,857 for two bedrooms) — 31% of a median firefighter’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Baltimore, MD
- Detective and Criminal Investigator — $128,440
- First-Line Supervisor of Police and Detectives — $124,660
- First-Line Supervisor of Firefighting and Prevention Workers — $110,060
- First-Line Supervisor of Correctional Officers — $79,150
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer — $76,530
- Transportation Security Screener — $72,240
- Correctional Officer and Jailer — $64,250
- First-Line Supervisor of Security Workers — $60,770
- School Bus Monitor — $38,590
- Security Guard — $36,970
- Crossing Guard and Flagger — $35,850
- Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers — $34,080