Firefighter Salary: Pay and Take-Home by State
The typical (median) firefighter in the US earns $28.50 an hour, or $59,280 a year, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates for 345,990 jobs (May 2025). The middle half earn between $44,490 and $77,250 a year, and the top 10% earn more than $101,040.
After federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare, the median salary leaves a single filer about $49,812 a year ($4,151 a month) in a state with no income tax. Using each state's own median pay for this job, take-home is highest in New York ($74,437 a year) and lowest in Louisiana ($28,159).
Firefighter pay range
| Pay level | Hourly | Yearly | Take-home a year* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bottom 10% earn less than | $16.79 | $34,910 | $30,230 |
| 25th percentile | $21.39 | $44,490 | $37,928 |
| Median (half earn more) | $28.50 | $59,280 | $49,812 |
| 75th percentile | $37.14 | $77,250 | $63,175 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $48.58 | $101,040 | $79,912 |
The average (mean) is $63,630 a year ($30.59 an hour), above the median because a minority of high earners pull it up. *Take-home after federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare for a single filer in a state with no income tax (2026). Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, occupation 33-2011. Source
Firefighter salary by state
The highest median pay for firefighters is in New York ($100,960), Washington ($94,520), California ($85,110), New Jersey ($84,140), Illinois ($78,370). The lowest is in Louisiana ($33,110), Mississippi ($35,880), Kentucky ($37,150).
The most firefighters work in California (31,470), Texas (28,170), Florida (24,570).
After each state's taxes, the most take-home at the local median is in New York ($74,437), Washington ($74,014), New Jersey ($63,735), California ($63,561), Illinois ($60,228). A state with no income tax can come out ahead of a state that pays more before tax.
Median pay in each state for this job (BLS, May 2025), and take-home at that pay. Take-home is after federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and the state's income tax and payroll programs, for a single filer with a 2026 W-4 and no deductions. Local taxes are not included. *District of Columbia: federal taxes only (DC income tax is not modeled yet). Not shown, because BLS did not publish an estimate or it was flagged as unreliable: Vermont.
| State | Median hourly | Median yearly | Take-home a year | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $22.89 | $47,610 | $38,471 | 7,260 |
| Alaska | $28.28 | $58,820 | $49,148 | 1,040 |
| Arizona | $28.50 | $59,280 | $48,626 | 7,500 |
| Arkansas | $19.08 | $39,690 | $33,089 | 2,480 |
| California | $40.92 | $85,110 | $63,561 | 31,470 |
| Colorado | $35.66 | $74,170 | $57,661 | 6,510 |
| Connecticut | $37.32 | $77,630 | $59,410 | 2,970 |
| Delaware | $22.46 | $46,720 | $37,616 | 560 |
| District of Columbia | $36.48 | $75,880 | $62,212* | 1,480 |
| Florida | $28.15 | $58,550 | $49,225 | 24,570 |
| Georgia | $22.38 | $46,550 | $38,009 | 12,700 |
| Idaho | $22.75 | $47,320 | $38,538 | 2,240 |
| Illinois | $37.68 | $78,370 | $60,228 | 18,400 |
| Indiana | $30.18 | $62,770 | $49,546 | 8,530 |
| Iowa | $26.83 | $55,810 | $45,437 | 2,170 |
| Kansas | $22.07 | $45,910 | $37,306 | 3,360 |
| Kentucky | $17.86 | $37,150 | $30,847 | 5,150 |
| Louisiana | $15.92 | $33,110 | $28,159 | 5,230 |
| Maine | $23.22 | $48,300 | $38,979 | 2,480 |
| Maryland | $35.49 | $73,820 | $55,418 | 5,340 |
| Massachusetts | $35.00 | $72,800 | $56,568 | 11,940 |
| Michigan | $26.27 | $54,640 | $44,012 | 6,610 |
| Minnesota | $18.32 | $38,110 | $30,845 | 5,810 |
| Mississippi | $17.25 | $35,880 | $30,308 | 2,920 |
| Missouri | $23.60 | $49,090 | $40,246 | 6,580 |
| Montana | $28.52 | $59,320 | $47,816 | 1,010 |
| Nebraska | $29.35 | $61,050 | $49,063 | 1,070 |
| Nevada | $32.01 | $66,580 | $55,669 | 2,640 |
| New Hampshire | $27.22 | $56,620 | $47,674 | 2,700 |
| New Jersey | $40.45 | $84,140 | $63,735 | 7,500 |
| New Mexico | $19.99 | $41,580 | $34,422 | 2,420 |
| New York | $48.54 | $100,960 | $74,437 | 12,950 |
| North Carolina | $18.24 | $37,940 | $31,625 | 19,410 |
| North Dakota | $26.48 | $55,080 | $46,437 | 820 |
| Ohio | $28.54 | $59,360 | $48,483 | 18,100 |
| Oklahoma | $23.90 | $49,710 | $40,432 | 4,150 |
| Oregon | $34.09 | $70,910 | $53,444 | 3,790 |
| Pennsylvania | $35.32 | $73,470 | $58,209 | 5,020 |
| Rhode Island | $32.39 | $67,370 | $52,995 | 1,620 |
| South Carolina | $20.47 | $42,580 | $35,050 | 7,780 |
| South Dakota | $23.15 | $48,150 | $40,869 | 610 |
| Tennessee | $23.70 | $49,300 | $41,793 | 7,020 |
| Texas | $28.94 | $60,200 | $50,551 | 28,170 |
| Utah | $23.23 | $48,320 | $38,847 | 2,870 |
| Virginia | $28.21 | $58,680 | $46,769 | 11,160 |
| Washington | $45.44 | $94,520 | $74,014 | 7,560 |
| West Virginia | $17.96 | $37,360 | $31,239 | 900 |
| Wisconsin | $22.53 | $46,860 | $37,848 | 8,120 |
| Wyoming | $27.93 | $58,090 | $48,855 | 680 |
Overtime and pay rules for firefighters
Fire departments can pay firefighters overtime on a work period of 7 to 28 days instead of a 40-hour week: after 212 hours in a 28-day period, or the same proportion for a shorter one. Source Some state and local government workers are covered by a public pension plan instead of Social Security, so no 6.2% Social Security tax comes out of their pay (they pay a pension contribution instead, which this page does not include). Anyone hired by a state or local government after March 31, 1986 still pays the 1.45% Medicare tax. Source The new no-tax-on-overtime deduction covers the extra half of time-and-a-half pay, up to $12,500 a year for a single filer. Only overtime that the federal Fair Labor Standards Act requires counts; overtime paid only under a contract, a state law or an employer policy does not. Source Estimate your deduction.
How the exemptions work across jobs: who gets overtime pay.
Taxes on a firefighter's pay
On the median $59,280, federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare take about 16.0% of pay for a single filer: $4,934 of income tax and $4,535 of Social Security and Medicare a year.
Tax bracket. After the $16,100 standard deduction, taxable income is $43,180, so the top federal rate is 12%. Each extra dollar from a raise or extra shifts is taxed at about 19.65% before state tax: 12% income tax plus 7.65% Social Security and Medicare. Source
401(k). Putting 5% ($2,964 a year) into a traditional 401(k) lowers federal income tax by about $356, so it costs about $2,608 of take-home pay.
If your job is covered by a public pension instead of Social Security, the 6.2% Social Security tax above does not apply, but your pension contribution comes out instead.
Self-employed or contract work
BLS pay figures cover employees only; self-employed firefighters are not counted. If you work as a contractor (1099), you pay both halves of Social Security and Medicare (15.3% self-employment tax) and usually make quarterly estimated payments. Use the 1099 Tax Calculator to see what to set aside, and see 1099 vs W-2 take-home pay for how much more a contractor needs to earn.
Jobs with similar pay
| Job | Median yearly | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|
| HVAC Technician | $61,010 | $29.33 |
| Paramedic | $60,600 | $29.13 |
| Carpenter | $60,580 | $29.12 |
| Correctional Officer | $58,940 | $28.34 |
| Truck Driver | $58,640 | $28.19 |
For a full breakdown of a similar wage, see $28 an hour is how much a year.
Firefighter salary questions
How much does a firefighter make?
The median pay is $28.50 an hour, or $59,280 a year (May 2025, Bureau of Labor Statistics). The bottom 10% earn less than $34,910 and the top 10% more than $101,040.
How much does a firefighter make after taxes?
About $49,812 a year, or $1,916 every two weeks, on the median salary for a single filer in a state with no income tax. In Louisiana, at that state's own median pay, it is about $28,159.
How much does a firefighter make a month?
About $4,940 a month before taxes at the median salary, and roughly $4,151 after federal taxes in a state with no income tax.
Which state pays firefighters the most?
New York, with a median of $100,960 a year ($48.54 an hour). Next are Washington ($94,520) and California ($85,110). After state taxes, take-home at the local median is highest in New York.
How much does a firefighter make an hour?
The median is $28.50 an hour. The middle half earn $21.39 to $37.14, and the top 10% more than $48.58.
Do firefighters get paid overtime?
Fire departments can pay firefighters overtime on a work period of 7 to 28 days instead of a 40-hour week: after 212 hours in a 28-day period, or the same proportion for a shorter one. Some state and local government workers are covered by a public pension plan instead of Social Security, so no 6.2% Social Security tax comes out of their pay (they pay a pension contribution instead, which this page does not include). Anyone hired by a state or local government after March 31, 1986 still pays the 1.45% Medicare tax. The new no-tax-on-overtime deduction covers the extra half of time-and-a-half pay, up to $12,500 a year for a single filer. Only overtime that the federal Fair Labor Standards Act requires counts; overtime paid only under a contract, a state law or an employer policy does not.
More public safety and aviation salaries
Airline Pilot · Air Traffic Controller · Police Officer · Flight Attendant · Correctional Officer
All jobs · Hourly to salary chart. BLS data published 2026, reference period May 2025; tax figures checked Oct 26, 2026.