Firefighter Salary in Richmond, VA
Firefighters in the Richmond, VA metro area earn a median $60,790 a year — 3% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $48,343 take-home, or $4,029 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median firefighter salary in Richmond, VA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$5,115
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,769
- Medicare (1.45%)$881
- Virginia income tax$2,681
- Take-home pay$48,343
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.75% state
Firefighter pay by experience in Richmond, VA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $38,940 | $18.72 | $32,043 | $2,670 |
| 25th percentile | $50,170 | $24.12 | $40,421 | $3,368 |
| Median (50th) | $60,790 | $29.23 | $48,343 | $4,029 |
| 75th percentile | $76,540 | $36.80 | $59,089 | $4,924 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $77,310 | $37.17 | $59,586 | $4,966 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Virginia resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $60,790 buys in Richmond, VA
Prices in Richmond, VA are 2.1% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median firefighter's $48,343 take-home pay has the buying power of $49,402 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Richmond, VA has 1.4× the national concentration of firefighter jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for firefighters, adjusted for cost of living
Richmond, VA ranks #64 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 |
| 64 | Richmond, VA | $60,790 | $48,343 | $49,402 |
*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 Virginia
- Virginia Beach, VA — $56,940
- Roanoke, VA — $39,310
Frequently asked questions
How much does a firefighter make in Richmond, VA?
The median firefighter salary in the Richmond, VA metro area is $60,790 a year, or about $29.23 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $50,170 and $76,540.
What is a firefighter’s take-home pay in Richmond, VA?
On the median $60,790 salary, a single filer living in Virginia takes home about $48,343 a year ($4,029 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,681 in Virginia taxes in 2026.
Is Richmond, VA a good place to work as a firefighter?
Pay here is 3% above the national median of $59,280. Local prices are 2.1% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $49,402 would in a typical U.S. city. Richmond, VA ranks #64 of 133 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a firefighter afford rent in Richmond, VA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Richmond, VA is $1,505 a month ($1,653 for two bedrooms) — 37% of a median firefighter’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Richmond, VA
- First-Line Supervisor of Police and Detectives — $100,260
- First-Line Supervisor of Firefighting and Prevention Workers — $100,210
- Detective and Criminal Investigator — $91,080
- First-Line Supervisor of Correctional Officers — $67,440
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer — $62,720
- Correctional Officer and Jailer — $51,660
- Security Guard — $36,960