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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.
Table of Contents
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
Written by
WealthVieu
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