Firefighter Salary in Kansas City, MO
Firefighters in the Kansas City, MO-KS metro area earn a median $60,770 a year — 3% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $49,090 take-home, or $4,091 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median firefighter salary in Kansas City, MO. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$5,112
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,768
- Medicare (1.45%)$881
- Missouri income tax$1,919
- Take-home pay$49,090
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.70% state
Living in Kansas City, MO? City residents also pay Kansas City, MO’s Earnings Tax — about $608 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $48,482 ($4,040 a month). Choose “Kansas City, MO” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
The Kansas City, MO-KS metro spans Missouri, Kansas. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Firefighter pay by experience in Kansas City, MO
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $38,740 | $18.63 | $32,424 | $2,702 |
| 25th percentile | $46,490 | $22.35 | $38,287 | $3,191 |
| Median (50th) | $60,770 | $29.22 | $49,090 | $4,091 |
| 75th percentile | $64,170 | $30.85 | $51,662 | $4,305 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $84,220 | $40.49 | $65,058 | $5,421 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Missouri resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $60,770 buys in Kansas City, MO
Prices in Kansas City, MO are 7.5% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 13% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median firefighter's $49,090 take-home pay has the buying power of $53,045 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Kansas City, MO has 1.2× the national concentration of firefighter jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for firefighters, adjusted for cost of living
Kansas City, MO ranks #17 of 34 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $101,090 | $79,947 | $71,938 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $113,700 | $80,995 | $70,057 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $106,420 | $78,458 | $69,701 |
| 4 | Sacramento, CA | $94,080 | $69,272 | $64,941 |
| 5 | Denver, CO | $87,980 | $67,561 | $63,868 |
| 6 | Los Angeles, CA | $98,050 | $71,644 | $63,086 |
| 7 | Chicago, IL | $82,820 | $63,139 | $60,948 |
| 8 | Philadelphia, PA | $78,050 | $61,342 | $59,814 |
| 17 | Kansas City, MO | $60,770 | $49,090 | $53,045 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 34 metros →
About the job: firefighters
Control and extinguish fires or respond to emergency situations where life, property, or the environment is at risk. Duties may include fire prevention, emergency medical service, hazardous material response, search and rescue, and disaster assistance.
- Typical education
- Postsecondary nondegree award
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Long-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +3.7% (about average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Firefighter salaries elsewhere in Missouri
- St. Louis, MO — $68,970
Frequently asked questions
How much does a firefighter make in Kansas City, MO?
The median firefighter salary in the Kansas City, MO-KS metro area is $60,770 a year, or about $29.22 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $46,490 and $64,170.
What is a firefighter’s take-home pay in Kansas City, MO?
On the median $60,770 salary, a single filer living in Missouri takes home about $49,090 a year ($4,091 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,919 in Missouri taxes in 2026.
Is Kansas City, MO a good place to work as a firefighter?
Pay here is 3% above the national median of $59,280. Local prices are 7.5% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $53,045 would in a typical U.S. city. Kansas City, MO ranks #17 of 34 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a firefighter afford rent in Kansas City, MO?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Kansas City, MO is $1,193 a month ($1,355 for two bedrooms) — 29% of a median firefighter’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Kansas City, MO
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer — $62,960
- Security Guard — $41,810