Firefighter Salary in Milwaukee, WI
Firefighters in the Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI metro area earn a median $49,760 a year — 16% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $40,754 take-home, or $3,396 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median firefighter salary in Milwaukee, WI. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,791
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,085
- Medicare (1.45%)$722
- Wisconsin income tax$1,408
- Take-home pay$40,754
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.40% state
Firefighter pay by experience in Milwaukee, WI
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,920 | $17.27 | $30,242 | $2,520 |
| 25th percentile | $38,320 | $18.42 | $32,065 | $2,672 |
| Median (50th) | $49,760 | $23.92 | $40,754 | $3,396 |
| 75th percentile | $64,520 | $31.02 | $51,964 | $4,330 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $80,320 | $38.62 | $62,459 | $5,205 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Wisconsin resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $49,760 buys in Milwaukee, WI
Prices in Milwaukee, WI are 3.1% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 3% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median firefighter's $40,754 take-home pay has the buying power of $42,041 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 Milwaukee, WI as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.17).
Best-paying cities for firefighters, adjusted for cost of living
Milwaukee, WI ranks #90 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 |
| 90 | Milwaukee, WI | $49,760 | $40,754 | $42,041 |
*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 Wisconsin
- Madison, WI — $56,430
- Green Bay, WI — $47,980
Frequently asked questions
How much does a firefighter make in Milwaukee, WI?
The median firefighter salary in the Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI metro area is $49,760 a year, or about $23.92 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $38,320 and $64,520.
What is a firefighter’s take-home pay in Milwaukee, WI?
On the median $49,760 salary, a single filer living in Wisconsin takes home about $40,754 a year ($3,396 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,408 in Wisconsin taxes in 2026.
Is Milwaukee, WI a good place to work as a firefighter?
Pay here is 16% below the national median of $59,280. Local prices are 3.1% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $42,041 would in a typical U.S. city. Milwaukee, WI ranks #90 of 133 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a firefighter afford rent in Milwaukee, WI?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Milwaukee, WI is $1,119 a month ($1,338 for two bedrooms) — 33% of a median firefighter’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Milwaukee, WI
- First-Line Supervisor of Police and Detectives — $105,680
- Detective and Criminal Investigator — $92,910
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer — $82,090
- First-Line Supervisor of Firefighting and Prevention Workers — $80,960
- Correctional Officer and Jailer — $63,910
- Security Guard — $37,870
- Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers — $29,060