How Much Do Firefighters Make in 2026? (Salary by State)
By Wealthvieu · Updated
Firefighters in the US earn $57,120 on average — but total compensation is significantly higher due to overtime, benefits, and generous pensions.
Average Firefighter Salary in 2026
Metric
Amount
Average salary
$57,120
Median salary
$52,500
Entry level
$35,000-$45,000
After 5 years
$55,000-$70,000
Captain/Senior
$80,000-$120,000
Hourly rate
$27.46
Firefighter Salary by State
State
Average Salary
Entry Level
vs. National
California
$84,370
$55,000
+48%
New Jersey
$81,070
$48,000
+42%
Washington
$76,970
$52,000
+35%
New York
$75,660
$45,000
+32%
Nevada
$69,310
$48,000
+21%
Connecticut
$68,280
$42,000
+20%
Massachusetts
$62,820
$45,000
+10%
Illinois
$61,050
$40,000
+7%
Colorado
$59,200
$42,000
+4%
Texas
$52,590
$38,000
-8%
Florida
$50,840
$35,000
-11%
Georgia
$42,130
$32,000
-26%
Mississippi
$35,620
$28,000
-38%
Firefighter Salary by Rank
Rank
Salary Range
Typical Experience
Probationary Firefighter
$35,000-$45,000
0-1 year
Firefighter
$45,000-$65,000
1-5 years
Engineer/Driver
$55,000-$80,000
5-10 years
Lieutenant
$65,000-$95,000
8-12 years
Captain
$80,000-$120,000
12-15 years
Battalion Chief
$100,000-$150,000
15-20 years
Fire Chief
$120,000-$250,000
20+ years
Firefighter Salary by Department Type
Department Type
Average Salary
Hiring
Large City (500k+)
$75,000-$100,000
Competitive
Medium City (100k-500k)
$55,000-$80,000
Competitive
Small City (<100k)
$40,000-$60,000
Moderate
County/Rural
$35,000-$55,000
Available
Federal
$55,000-$90,000
Competitive
Private/Industrial
$60,000-$85,000
Specialized
Highest Paying Fire Departments
City
Starting Salary
Senior FF/Captain
San Jose
$95,000
$150,000+
San Francisco
$92,000
$145,000+
Los Angeles
$72,000
$120,000
Seattle
$75,000
$115,000
New York (FDNY)
$52,000
$100,000
Chicago
$61,000
$105,000
Boston
$58,000
$95,000
Firefighter Schedule and Overtime
Most firefighters work 24-hour shifts:
Schedule Type
Hours/Week
Overtime Potential
24 on/48 off
56 hours
High
48 on/96 off
48 hours
Moderate
Kelly Schedule
52-56 hours
High
Overtime commonly adds $15,000-$40,000 to base salary. Some California firefighters earn $200,000+ with overtime.
Firefighter Benefits Package
Benefit
Typical Value
Pension
50-90% of salary after 20-25 years
Health insurance
Full family coverage
Schedule
10-15 days off per month
Retirement age
50-55
Life insurance
2x-4x salary
Tuition assistance
$2,000-$5,000/year
Uniform/equipment
Provided
The pension alone can be worth $40,000-$80,000+/year in retirement.
Firefighter Salary After Taxes
Gross Salary
Federal Tax
FICA
State Tax (avg)
Take-Home
$45,000
$2,800
$3,443
$1,800
$36,957
$57,120
$4,200
$4,370
$2,285
$46,265
$80,000
$8,400
$6,120
$3,200
$62,280
$100,000
$12,200
$7,650
$5,000
$75,150
Paramedic Firefighters
Firefighter/paramedics earn more:
Certification
Salary Premium
EMT-Basic
+$2,000-$4,000
Paramedic
+$5,000-$15,000
Flight Paramedic
+$10,000-$20,000
How to Become a Firefighter
Basic requirements — 18+, high school diploma, driver’s license
EMT certification — Often required; paramedic preferred
Fire academy — 12-16 weeks training
Physical test — Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT)
Written exam — Varies by department
Background check — Clean record required
Is Firefighting a Good Career?
Pros:
Excellent pension and retirement
Job security
Meaningful work
Schedule flexibility (many days off)
Brotherhood/team culture
Cons:
Dangerous work
Shift work (24-hour shifts)
Physically demanding
Competitive hiring process
Exposure to trauma
Bottom Line
Firefighters earn $57,120 on average, but total compensation is much higher. With overtime, many earn $80,000-$120,000+. The pension (50-90% of salary), early retirement, and benefits make this one of the best total compensation packages in public service.