Firefighter Salary in Houston, TX
Firefighters in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area earn a median $59,120 a year — 0% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $49,683 take-home, or $4,140 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median firefighter salary in Houston, TX. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$4,914
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,665
- Medicare (1.45%)$857
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$49,683
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Firefighter pay by experience in Houston, TX
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $44,600 | $21.44 | $38,016 | $3,168 |
| 25th percentile | $48,910 | $23.51 | $41,479 | $3,457 |
| Median (50th) | $59,120 | $28.42 | $49,683 | $4,140 |
| 75th percentile | $72,970 | $35.08 | $60,164 | $5,014 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $72,970 | $35.08 | $60,164 | $5,014 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Texas resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $59,120 buys in Houston, TX
Prices in Houston, TX are 1.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.05× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median firefighter's $49,683 take-home pay has the buying power of $50,374 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 less concentrated in Houston, TX than nationally (location quotient 0.79), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for firefighters, adjusted for cost of living
Houston, TX ranks #57 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 |
| 57 | Houston, TX | $59,120 | $49,683 | $50,374 |
*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 Texas
- San Antonio, TX — $63,360
- Killeen, TX — $57,660
- Dallas, TX — $64,900
- Austin, TX — $58,830
- El Paso, TX — $50,300
- Corpus Christi, TX — $48,700
Frequently asked questions
How much does a firefighter make in Houston, TX?
The median firefighter salary in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area is $59,120 a year, or about $28.42 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $48,910 and $72,970.
What is a firefighter’s take-home pay in Houston, TX?
On the median $59,120 salary, a single filer living in Texas takes home about $49,683 a year ($4,140 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Houston, TX a good place to work as a firefighter?
Pay here is 0% below the national median of $59,280. Local prices are 1.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $50,374 would in a typical U.S. city. Houston, TX ranks #57 of 133 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a firefighter afford rent in Houston, TX?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Houston, TX is $1,316 a month ($1,558 for two bedrooms) — 32% of a median firefighter’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Houston, TX
- First-Line Supervisor of Police and Detectives — $108,740
- Detective and Criminal Investigator — $86,390
- First-Line Supervisor of Firefighting and Prevention Workers — $81,710
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer — $74,570
- First-Line Supervisor of Correctional Officers — $62,590
- Correctional Officer and Jailer — $53,810
- First-Line Supervisor of Security Workers — $46,490
- Private Detective and Investigator — $46,110
- Security Guard — $35,460
- Protective Service Workers, All Other — $33,500
- Crossing Guard and Flagger — $33,350
- School Bus Monitor — $29,660