Firefighter Salary in Virginia Beach, VA
Firefighters in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area earn a median $56,940 a year — 4% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $45,471 take-home, or $3,789 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median firefighter salary in Virginia Beach, VA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$4,653
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,530
- Medicare (1.45%)$826
- Virginia income tax$2,460
- Take-home pay$45,471
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.75% state
The Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro spans Virginia, North Carolina. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Firefighter pay by experience in Virginia Beach, VA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $38,840 | $18.67 | $31,969 | $2,664 |
| 25th percentile | $46,790 | $22.50 | $37,899 | $3,158 |
| Median (50th) | $56,940 | $27.38 | $45,471 | $3,789 |
| 75th percentile | $64,210 | $30.87 | $50,895 | $4,241 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $76,460 | $36.76 | $59,037 | $4,920 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Virginia resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $56,940 buys in Virginia Beach, VA
Prices in Virginia Beach, VA are 2.1% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 0% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median firefighter's $45,471 take-home pay has the buying power of $46,427 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Virginia Beach, VA has 1.7× the national concentration of firefighter jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for firefighters, adjusted for cost of living
Virginia Beach, VA ranks #75 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 |
| 75 | Virginia Beach, VA | $56,940 | $45,471 | $46,427 |
*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
- Richmond, VA — $60,790
- Roanoke, VA — $39,310
Frequently asked questions
How much does a firefighter make in Virginia Beach, VA?
The median firefighter salary in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area is $56,940 a year, or about $27.38 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $46,790 and $64,210.
What is a firefighter’s take-home pay in Virginia Beach, VA?
On the median $56,940 salary, a single filer living in Virginia takes home about $45,471 a year ($3,789 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,460 in Virginia taxes in 2026.
Is Virginia Beach, VA a good place to work as a firefighter?
Pay here is 4% below the national median of $59,280. Local prices are 2.1% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $46,427 would in a typical U.S. city. Virginia Beach, VA ranks #75 of 133 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a firefighter afford rent in Virginia Beach, VA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Virginia Beach, VA is $1,508 a month ($1,708 for two bedrooms) — 40% of a median firefighter’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Virginia Beach, VA
- First-Line Supervisor of Police and Detectives — $97,200
- Detective and Criminal Investigator — $93,790
- First-Line Supervisor of Firefighting and Prevention Workers — $87,530
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer — $59,690
- Correctional Officer and Jailer — $49,900
- Security Guard — $37,230
- Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers — $27,890