Firefighter Salary in Portland, OR
Firefighters in the Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA metro area earn a median $85,170 a year — 44% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $62,124 take-home, or $5,177 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median firefighter salary in Portland, OR. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$9,907
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,281
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,235
- Oregon income tax$6,623
- Take-home pay$62,124
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 8.75% state
The Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA metro spans Oregon, Washington. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Firefighter pay by experience in Portland, OR
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $58,250 | $28.00 | $44,717 | $3,726 |
| 25th percentile | $74,690 | $35.91 | $55,669 | $4,639 |
| Median (50th) | $85,170 | $40.95 | $62,124 | $5,177 |
| 75th percentile | $104,070 | $50.03 | $73,767 | $6,147 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $110,570 | $53.16 | $77,771 | $6,481 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Oregon resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $85,170 buys in Portland, OR
Prices in Portland, OR are 5.4% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.25× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median firefighter's $62,124 take-home pay has the buying power of $58,930 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 Portland, OR than nationally (location quotient 0.64), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for firefighters, adjusted for cost of living
Portland, OR ranks #22 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 |
| 22 | Portland, OR | $85,170 | $62,124 | $58,930 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 133 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a firefighter make in Portland, OR?
The median firefighter salary in the Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA metro area is $85,170 a year, or about $40.95 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $74,690 and $104,070.
What is a firefighter’s take-home pay in Portland, OR?
On the median $85,170 salary, a single filer living in Oregon takes home about $62,124 a year ($5,177 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $6,623 in Oregon taxes in 2026.
Is Portland, OR a good place to work as a firefighter?
Pay here is 44% above the national median of $59,280. Local prices are 5.4% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $58,930 would in a typical U.S. city. Portland, OR ranks #22 of 133 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a firefighter afford rent in Portland, OR?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Portland, OR is $1,677 a month ($1,922 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 Portland, OR
- First-Line Supervisor of Police and Detectives — $128,500
- First-Line Supervisor of Firefighting and Prevention Workers — $105,890
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer — $97,200
- Correctional Officer and Jailer — $84,640
- First-Line Supervisor of Security Workers — $61,560
- Crossing Guard and Flagger — $47,570
- Security Guard — $46,820
- Protective Service Workers, All Other — $45,770
- Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers — $36,350