Firefighter Salary in Philadelphia, PA
Firefighters in the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area earn a median $78,050 a year — 32% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $61,342 take-home, or $5,112 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median firefighter salary in Philadelphia, PA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$8,341
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,839
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,132
- Pennsylvania income tax$2,396
- Take-home pay$61,342
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 3.07% state
Living in Philadelphia? City residents also pay Philadelphia’s Resident Wage Tax — about $2,919 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $58,423 ($4,869 a month). Choose “Philadelphia” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
The Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro spans Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland. 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 Philadelphia, PA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $47,580 | $22.88 | $38,950 | $3,246 |
| 25th percentile | $57,050 | $27.43 | $46,268 | $3,856 |
| Median (50th) | $78,050 | $37.52 | $61,342 | $5,112 |
| 75th percentile | $89,190 | $42.88 | $68,837 | $5,736 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $89,190 | $42.88 | $68,837 | $5,736 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Pennsylvania resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $78,050 buys in Philadelphia, PA
Prices in Philadelphia, PA are 2.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.13× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median firefighter's $61,342 take-home pay has the buying power of $59,814 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 Philadelphia, PA than nationally (location quotient 0.62), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for firefighters, adjusted for cost of living
Philadelphia, PA ranks #8 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 |
*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.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a firefighter make in Philadelphia, PA?
The median firefighter salary in the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area is $78,050 a year, or about $37.52 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $57,050 and $89,190.
What is a firefighter’s take-home pay in Philadelphia, PA?
On the median $78,050 salary, a single filer living in Pennsylvania takes home about $61,342 a year ($5,112 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,396 in Pennsylvania taxes in 2026.
Is Philadelphia, PA a good place to work as a firefighter?
Pay here is 32% above the national median of $59,280. Local prices are 2.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $59,814 would in a typical U.S. city. Philadelphia, PA ranks #8 of 34 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a firefighter afford rent in Philadelphia, PA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Philadelphia, PA is $1,520 a month ($1,810 for two bedrooms) — 30% of a median firefighter’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Philadelphia, PA
- First-Line Supervisor of Police and Detectives — $119,540
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer — $89,580
- Correctional Officer and Jailer — $67,200
- Security Guard — $37,450
- Crossing Guard and Flagger — $37,350
- Protective Service Workers, All Other — $35,060
- School Bus Monitor — $34,620
- Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers — $32,220