Firefighter Salary in Seattle, WA
Firefighters in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area earn a median $101,090 a year — 71% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $79,947 take-home, or $6,662 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median firefighter salary in Seattle, WA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$13,410
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,268
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,466
- Washington income tax$0
- Take-home pay$79,947
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 0.00% state
Firefighter pay by experience in Seattle, WA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $73,360 | $35.27 | $60,439 | $5,037 |
| 25th percentile | $91,210 | $43.85 | $72,996 | $6,083 |
| Median (50th) | $101,090 | $48.60 | $79,947 | $6,662 |
| 75th percentile | $119,770 | $57.58 | $93,088 | $7,757 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $124,000 | $59.62 | $96,020 | $8,002 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Washington resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $101,090 buys in Seattle, WA
Prices in Seattle, WA are 11.1% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.51× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median firefighter's $79,947 take-home pay has the buying power of $71,938 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 Seattle, WA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.81).
Best-paying cities for firefighters, adjusted for cost of living
Seattle, WA ranks #2 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 |
*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 Washington
- Spokane, WA — $83,310
Frequently asked questions
How much does a firefighter make in Seattle, WA?
The median firefighter salary in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area is $101,090 a year, or about $48.60 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $91,210 and $119,770.
What is a firefighter’s take-home pay in Seattle, WA?
On the median $101,090 salary, a single filer living in Washington takes home about $79,947 a year ($6,662 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Seattle, WA a good place to work as a firefighter?
Pay here is 71% above the national median of $59,280. Local prices are 11.1% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $71,938 would in a typical U.S. city. Seattle, WA ranks #2 of 133 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a firefighter afford rent in Seattle, WA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Seattle, WA is $2,022 a month ($2,379 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 Seattle, WA
- First-Line Supervisor of Police and Detectives — $158,510
- First-Line Supervisor of Firefighting and Prevention Workers — $134,830
- Detective and Criminal Investigator — $123,820
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer — $115,120
- Correctional Officer and Jailer — $81,550
- First-Line Supervisor of Security Workers — $62,640
- Crossing Guard and Flagger — $50,020
- Security Guard — $47,490
- Protective Service Workers, All Other — $42,170
- Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers — $39,240