Firefighter Salary in Tampa, FL
Firefighters in the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL metro area earn a median $59,660 a year — 1% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $50,117 take-home, or $4,176 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median firefighter salary in Tampa, FL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$4,979
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,699
- Medicare (1.45%)$865
- Florida income tax$0
- Take-home pay$50,117
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Firefighter pay by experience in Tampa, FL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $39,650 | $19.06 | $34,039 | $2,837 |
| 25th percentile | $49,010 | $23.56 | $41,560 | $3,463 |
| Median (50th) | $59,660 | $28.68 | $50,117 | $4,176 |
| 75th percentile | $76,020 | $36.55 | $62,310 | $5,193 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $80,610 | $38.75 | $65,539 | $5,462 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Florida resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $59,660 buys in Tampa, FL
Prices in Tampa, FL are 0.9% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.26× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median firefighter's $50,117 take-home pay has the buying power of $49,675 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 Tampa, FL as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.00).
Best-paying cities for firefighters, adjusted for cost of living
Tampa, FL ranks #61 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 |
| 61 | Tampa, FL | $59,660 | $50,117 | $49,675 |
*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 Florida
- Port St. Lucie, FL — $72,760
- Miami, FL — $75,710
- North Port, FL — $62,120
- Jacksonville, FL — $58,940
- Cape Coral, FL — $60,000
- Crestview, FL — $56,620
- Naples, FL — $59,850
- Gainesville, FL — $49,380
Frequently asked questions
How much does a firefighter make in Tampa, FL?
The median firefighter salary in the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL metro area is $59,660 a year, or about $28.68 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $49,010 and $76,020.
What is a firefighter’s take-home pay in Tampa, FL?
On the median $59,660 salary, a single filer living in Florida takes home about $50,117 a year ($4,176 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Tampa, FL a good place to work as a firefighter?
Pay here is 1% above the national median of $59,280. Local prices are 0.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $49,675 would in a typical U.S. city. Tampa, FL ranks #61 of 133 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a firefighter afford rent in Tampa, FL?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Tampa, FL is $1,696 a month ($1,977 for two bedrooms) — 41% of a median firefighter’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Tampa, FL
- First-Line Supervisor of Police and Detectives — $114,400
- First-Line Supervisor of Correctional Officers — $100,740
- First-Line Supervisor of Firefighting and Prevention Workers — $95,670
- Detective and Criminal Investigator — $92,420
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer — $75,710
- Correctional Officer and Jailer — $65,340
- Transportation Security Screener — $63,130
- Private Detective and Investigator — $51,390
- First-Line Supervisor of Security Workers — $45,950
- Security Guard — $36,010
- Crossing Guard and Flagger — $35,780
- Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers — $31,720