Firefighter Salary in Washington, DC
Firefighters in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn a median $66,980 a year — 13% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $53,043 take-home, or $4,420 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median firefighter salary in Washington, DC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$5,906
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,153
- Medicare (1.45%)$971
- District of Columbia income tax$2,907
- Take-home pay$53,043
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 6.50% state
The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro spans District of Columbia, Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Firefighter pay by experience in Washington, DC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $48,360 | $23.25 | $39,302 | $3,275 |
| 25th percentile | $59,080 | $28.40 | $47,257 | $3,938 |
| Median (50th) | $66,980 | $32.20 | $53,043 | $4,420 |
| 75th percentile | $83,570 | $40.18 | $63,487 | $5,291 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $98,770 | $47.49 | $72,888 | $6,074 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, District of Columbia resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $66,980 buys in Washington, DC
Prices in Washington, DC are 8.9% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.51× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median firefighter's $53,043 take-home pay has the buying power of $48,715 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 Washington, DC as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.09).
Best-paying cities for firefighters, adjusted for cost of living
Washington, DC ranks #68 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 |
| 68 | Washington, DC | $66,980 | $53,043 | $48,715 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 133 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a firefighter make in Washington, DC?
The median firefighter salary in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area is $66,980 a year, or about $32.20 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $59,080 and $83,570.
What is a firefighter’s take-home pay in Washington, DC?
On the median $66,980 salary, a single filer living in District of Columbia takes home about $53,043 a year ($4,420 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,907 in District of Columbia taxes in 2026.
Is Washington, DC a good place to work as a firefighter?
Pay here is 13% above the national median of $59,280. Local prices are 8.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $48,715 would in a typical U.S. city. Washington, DC ranks #68 of 133 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a firefighter afford rent in Washington, DC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Washington, DC is $1,990 a month ($2,223 for two bedrooms) — 45% of a median firefighter’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Washington, DC
- Detective and Criminal Investigator — $156,750
- First-Line Supervisor of Police and Detectives — $125,960
- First-Line Supervisor of Firefighting and Prevention Workers — $118,570
- First-Line Supervisor of Correctional Officers — $99,510
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer — $84,000
- First-Line Supervisor of Security Workers — $73,490
- Correctional Officer and Jailer — $70,570
- Transportation Security Screener — $69,910
- Private Detective and Investigator — $62,300
- Protective Service Workers, All Other — $58,780
- First-Line Supervisors of Protective Service Workers, All Other — $57,950
- Security Guard — $46,830