Firefighter Salary in Huntsville, AL
Firefighters in the Huntsville, AL metro area earn a median $48,010 a year — 19% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $38,621 take-home, or $3,218 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median firefighter salary in Huntsville, AL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,581
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,977
- Medicare (1.45%)$696
- Alabama income tax$2,136
- Take-home pay$38,621
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.00% state
Firefighter pay by experience in Huntsville, AL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,360 | $17.48 | $29,842 | $2,487 |
| 25th percentile | $47,600 | $22.88 | $38,312 | $3,193 |
| Median (50th) | $48,010 | $23.08 | $38,621 | $3,218 |
| 75th percentile | $57,520 | $27.65 | $45,786 | $3,816 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $62,580 | $30.09 | $49,599 | $4,133 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Alabama resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $48,010 buys in Huntsville, AL
Prices in Huntsville, AL are 6.9% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 22% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median firefighter's $38,621 take-home pay has the buying power of $41,495 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 Huntsville, AL as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.89).
Best-paying cities for firefighters, adjusted for cost of living
Huntsville, AL ranks #94 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 |
| 94 | Huntsville, AL | $48,010 | $38,621 | $41,495 |
*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 Alabama
- Tuscaloosa, AL — $58,400
- Birmingham, AL — $51,050
- Montgomery, AL — $48,780
- Mobile, AL — $46,770
Frequently asked questions
How much does a firefighter make in Huntsville, AL?
The median firefighter salary in the Huntsville, AL metro area is $48,010 a year, or about $23.08 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $47,600 and $57,520.
What is a firefighter’s take-home pay in Huntsville, AL?
On the median $48,010 salary, a single filer living in Alabama takes home about $38,621 a year ($3,218 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,136 in Alabama taxes in 2026.
Is Huntsville, AL a good place to work as a firefighter?
Pay here is 19% below the national median of $59,280. Local prices are 6.9% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $41,495 would in a typical U.S. city. Huntsville, AL ranks #94 of 133 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a firefighter afford rent in Huntsville, AL?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Huntsville, AL is $1,136 a month ($1,310 for two bedrooms) — 35% of a median firefighter’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Huntsville, AL
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer — $64,550
- Security Guard — $36,210