The average firefighter salary in Canada is $70,000-$100,000 per year. This guide breaks down firefighter pay by province, rank, and department type.
Firefighter Salary by Province
| Province |
Probationary |
1st Class |
Captain |
| Ontario |
$65,000 |
$95,000 |
$120,000 |
| British Columbia |
$62,000 |
$92,000 |
$115,000 |
| Alberta |
$68,000 |
$100,000 |
$125,000 |
| Quebec |
$55,000 |
$82,000 |
$105,000 |
| Saskatchewan |
$58,000 |
$85,000 |
$108,000 |
| Manitoba |
$55,000 |
$82,000 |
$105,000 |
| Nova Scotia |
$52,000 |
$78,000 |
$100,000 |
| New Brunswick |
$50,000 |
$75,000 |
$95,000 |
| Newfoundland |
$55,000 |
$80,000 |
$102,000 |
| PEI |
$48,000 |
$72,000 |
$92,000 |
Salary by Rank
| Rank |
Years |
Salary Range |
| Probationary |
0-1 |
$60,000-$70,000 |
| 2nd Class |
1-2 |
$70,000-$80,000 |
| 1st Class |
2+ |
$85,000-$100,000 |
| Senior Firefighter |
5+ |
$90,000-$105,000 |
| Lieutenant |
8+ |
$100,000-$115,000 |
| Captain |
10+ |
$110,000-$130,000 |
| Battalion Chief |
15+ |
$125,000-$150,000 |
| Deputy Chief |
20+ |
$140,000-$170,000 |
| Fire Chief |
20+ |
$150,000-$250,000 |
Major City Fire Department Salaries
| City |
1st Class |
Captain |
| Toronto |
$102,000 |
$128,000 |
| Vancouver |
$95,000 |
$120,000 |
| Calgary |
$105,000 |
$130,000 |
| Edmonton |
$100,000 |
$125,000 |
| Ottawa |
$98,000 |
$122,000 |
| Montreal |
$85,000 |
$108,000 |
| Winnipeg |
$85,000 |
$108,000 |
Take-Home Pay (Ontario Example)
| Gross Salary |
Annual Take-Home |
Monthly Net |
| $80,000 |
$60,500 |
$5,040 |
| $95,000 |
$69,500 |
$5,790 |
| $115,000 |
$81,500 |
$6,790 |
Benefits & Compensation
| Benefit |
Details |
| Pension |
Defined benefit (OMERS, etc.) |
| Retirement Age |
50-55 (early retirement) |
| Health/Dental |
100% employer-paid |
| Life Insurance |
2-3x salary |
| Overtime |
Time and a half |
| Shift Differential |
Extra pay for nights |
| Vacation |
3-6 weeks based on seniority |
Schedule & Overtime
Firefighters typically work 24-hour shifts:
| Schedule Type |
Hours/Year |
Overtime Opportunity |
| 24 on/48 off |
~2,184 |
Moderate |
| 10/14 (day/night) |
~2,184 |
Moderate |
| Overtime shifts |
+$50-70/hr |
High availability |
With overtime, many firefighters earn $110,000-$140,000+ annually.
Career vs Volunteer Firefighters
| Type |
Compensation |
Benefits |
| Career (Full-time) |
$70,000-$100,000 |
Full pension/benefits |
| Volunteer |
$0-$5,000/year |
None/Minimal |
| Part-time/Paid-on-call |
$15-$25/hour |
Variable |
Getting Hired
| Requirement |
Details |
| Age |
Minimum 18-19 |
| Education |
High school (college preferred) |
| Certifications |
NFPA 1001 Level I & II |
| Medical |
Rigorous physical exam |
| Physical |
CPAT (Candidate Physical Ability Test) |
| Background |
Clean criminal record |
| Competitiveness |
100-1000+ applicants per position |
Is Firefighting a Good Career in Canada?
Pros:
- Excellent pension (retire at 50-55)
- Job security
- Meaningful work
- Great work-life balance (time off)
- Strong camaraderie
- Good physical fitness
Cons:
- Highly competitive entry
- Dangerous work (fires, accidents)
- PTSD/mental health risks
- Shift work disrupts sleep
- Physical toll on body over time
- 2-5+ year hiring process