Firefighter Salary in Charlotte, NC
Firefighters in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area earn a median $38,700 a year — 35% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $32,240 take-home, or $2,687 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median firefighter salary in Charlotte, NC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,464
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,399
- Medicare (1.45%)$561
- North Carolina income tax$1,035
- Take-home pay$32,240
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.99% state
The Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro spans North Carolina, South Carolina. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Firefighter pay by experience in Charlotte, NC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $30,410 | $14.62 | $25,910 | $2,159 |
| 25th percentile | $34,900 | $16.78 | $29,338 | $2,445 |
| Median (50th) | $38,700 | $18.61 | $32,240 | $2,687 |
| 75th percentile | $57,950 | $27.86 | $46,939 | $3,912 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $79,960 | $38.44 | $62,400 | $5,200 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, North Carolina resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $38,700 buys in Charlotte, NC
Prices in Charlotte, NC are 2.7% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 2% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median firefighter's $32,240 take-home pay has the buying power of $33,118 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Charlotte, NC has 1.6× the national concentration of firefighter jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for firefighters, adjusted for cost of living
Charlotte, NC ranks #124 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 |
| 124 | Charlotte, NC | $38,700 | $32,240 | $33,118 |
*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 North Carolina
- Greensboro, NC — $46,600
- Raleigh, NC — $45,640
- Hickory, NC — $36,340
- Fayetteville, NC — $36,820
- Durham, NC — $38,350
- Winston, NC — $35,730
- Asheville, NC — $37,450
- Wilmington, NC — $35,580
Frequently asked questions
How much does a firefighter make in Charlotte, NC?
The median firefighter salary in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area is $38,700 a year, or about $18.61 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $34,900 and $57,950.
What is a firefighter’s take-home pay in Charlotte, NC?
On the median $38,700 salary, a single filer living in North Carolina takes home about $32,240 a year ($2,687 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,035 in North Carolina taxes in 2026.
Is Charlotte, NC a good place to work as a firefighter?
Pay here is 35% below the national median of $59,280. Local prices are 2.7% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $33,118 would in a typical U.S. city. Charlotte, NC ranks #124 of 133 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a firefighter afford rent in Charlotte, NC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Charlotte, NC is $1,428 a month ($1,577 for two bedrooms) — 53% of a median firefighter’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Charlotte, NC
- First-Line Supervisor of Police and Detectives — $107,150
- Private Detective and Investigator — $73,430
- Detective and Criminal Investigator — $71,460
- First-Line Supervisor of Firefighting and Prevention Workers — $65,960
- Transportation Security Screener — $64,540
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer — $63,190
- Correctional Officer and Jailer — $54,600
- First-Line Supervisor of Security Workers — $49,550
- Security Guard — $35,010
- Crossing Guard and Flagger — $34,690
- Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers — $28,740