Firefighter Salary in St. Louis, MO
Firefighters in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area earn a median $68,970 a year — 16% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $55,046 take-home, or $4,587 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median firefighter salary in St. Louis, MO. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$6,343
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,276
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,000
- Missouri income tax$2,304
- Take-home pay$55,046
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 4.70% state
The St. Louis, MO-IL metro spans Missouri, Illinois. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Firefighter pay by experience in St. Louis, MO
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $39,220 | $18.86 | $32,787 | $2,732 |
| 25th percentile | $47,770 | $22.97 | $39,255 | $3,271 |
| Median (50th) | $68,970 | $33.16 | $55,046 | $4,587 |
| 75th percentile | $75,090 | $36.10 | $59,064 | $4,922 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $102,010 | $49.04 | $76,737 | $6,395 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Missouri resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $68,970 buys in St. Louis, MO
Prices in St. Louis, MO are 4.9% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 21% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median firefighter's $55,046 take-home pay has the buying power of $57,890 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 St. Louis, MO as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.90).
Best-paying cities for firefighters, adjusted for cost of living
St. Louis, MO ranks #24 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 |
| 24 | St. Louis, MO | $68,970 | $55,046 | $57,890 |
*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 Missouri
- Kansas City, MO — $60,770
Frequently asked questions
How much does a firefighter make in St. Louis, MO?
The median firefighter salary in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area is $68,970 a year, or about $33.16 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $47,770 and $75,090.
What is a firefighter’s take-home pay in St. Louis, MO?
On the median $68,970 salary, a single filer living in Missouri takes home about $55,046 a year ($4,587 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,304 in Missouri taxes in 2026.
Is St. Louis, MO a good place to work as a firefighter?
Pay here is 16% above the national median of $59,280. Local prices are 4.9% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $57,890 would in a typical U.S. city. St. Louis, MO ranks #24 of 133 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a firefighter afford rent in St. Louis, MO?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in St. Louis, MO is $989 a month ($1,211 for two bedrooms) — 22% of a median firefighter’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in St. Louis, MO
- First-Line Supervisor of Police and Detectives — $99,270
- First-Line Supervisor of Firefighting and Prevention Workers — $93,380
- Detective and Criminal Investigator — $80,930
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer — $73,240
- Transportation Security Screener — $62,650
- First-Line Supervisor of Security Workers — $58,330
- Correctional Officer and Jailer — $50,980
- Security Guard — $42,600
- School Bus Monitor — $34,880
- Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers — $30,730