Firefighter Salary in Denver, CO
Firefighters in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area earn a median $87,980 a year — 48% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $67,561 take-home, or $5,630 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median firefighter salary in Denver, CO. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$10,526
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,455
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,276
- Colorado income tax$3,163
- Take-home pay$67,561
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 4.40% state
Firefighter pay by experience in Denver, CO
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $60,980 | $29.32 | $49,203 | $4,100 |
| 25th percentile | $73,020 | $35.11 | $57,695 | $4,808 |
| Median (50th) | $87,980 | $42.30 | $67,561 | $5,630 |
| 75th percentile | $103,930 | $49.97 | $78,080 | $6,507 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $122,750 | $59.01 | $90,473 | $7,539 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Colorado resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $87,980 buys in Denver, CO
Prices in Denver, CO are 5.8% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.47× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median firefighter's $67,561 take-home pay has the buying power of $63,868 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 Denver, CO as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.84).
Best-paying cities for firefighters, adjusted for cost of living
Denver, CO ranks #9 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 |
| 9 | Denver, CO | $87,980 | $67,561 | $63,868 |
*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 Colorado
- Colorado Springs, CO — $63,110
- Greeley, CO — $62,640
Frequently asked questions
How much does a firefighter make in Denver, CO?
The median firefighter salary in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area is $87,980 a year, or about $42.30 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $73,020 and $103,930.
What is a firefighter’s take-home pay in Denver, CO?
On the median $87,980 salary, a single filer living in Colorado takes home about $67,561 a year ($5,630 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,163 in Colorado taxes in 2026.
Is Denver, CO a good place to work as a firefighter?
Pay here is 48% above the national median of $59,280. Local prices are 5.8% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $63,868 would in a typical U.S. city. Denver, CO ranks #9 of 133 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a firefighter afford rent in Denver, CO?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Denver, CO is $1,754 a month ($2,089 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 Denver, CO
- First-Line Supervisor of Police and Detectives — $127,250
- First-Line Supervisor of Firefighting and Prevention Workers — $119,500
- Detective and Criminal Investigator — $113,340
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer — $101,970
- Transportation Security Screener — $71,530
- Correctional Officer and Jailer — $65,660
- First-Line Supervisor of Security Workers — $56,200
- Security Guard — $45,420
- Protective Service Workers, All Other — $43,720
- Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers — $36,620
- Crossing Guard and Flagger — $35,620