How much does a firefighter make in 2026?

The median annual wage for firefighters was $59,280 in May 2025 per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey. Actual take-home pay varies significantly based on overtime, shift differentials, and the 53-hour "Kelly Day" schedule common in larger departments. Many firefighters at major metro departments earn $90,000+ in total comp after overtime.

Which states pay firefighters the most?

New York reports the highest median firefighter pay at $100,960. Other top-paying states include Washington ($94,520), California ($85,120), New Jersey ($84,130), and Illinois ($78,380). All of these states combine strong unions, high cost of living, and large metro departments.

How much do firefighters actually take home after overtime?

Large metro department firefighters often earn $90,000 to $130,000 in total comp after overtime, holiday pay, and shift differentials. The published BLS median reflects base pay without OT because BLS cannot consistently measure overtime hours. Firefighters at smaller departments in lower-cost states earn closer to base median figures.

Do firefighter salaries include benefits?

BLS-reported medians are wages only and exclude benefits. Most departments offer pension plans, healthcare, and overtime. Public sector pension plans for firefighters are typically defined-benefit and can be substantially more generous than private-sector equivalents. Pension vesting is typically 20 to 25 years for full retirement benefits.

Is being a firefighter a good career?

Firefighting offers stable public-sector employment, good benefits, defined-benefit pension, and the chance to do meaningful work. The trade-off is the physical demand, exposure to occupational hazards, and mandatory overtime during peak fire seasons and natural disasters. Pay has lagged private-sector equivalents in many states, which has driven recruitment challenges for departments since 2020.

How long does it take to become a firefighter?

Most departments require a high school diploma or GED, completion of a fire academy (typically 12 to 16 weeks), EMT-Basic certification, and CPAT physical fitness testing. The hiring process from application to academy start runs 6 to 24 months depending on the department. Many firefighters also pursue paramedic certification, which adds 6 to 12 months and raises pay by 5% to 15%.

What is the difference between a firefighter and a paramedic?

All firefighters are trained in basic fire suppression and rescue. Most metro departments require or strongly prefer EMT-Basic certification. Some firefighters add paramedic certification to the role, which raises pay by 5% to 15% in most departments and opens up more medical emergency response work. About 30% of career firefighters nationally hold paramedic certification.

Will firefighter pay rise in 2026?

Most metro departments passed 3% to 7% raises for 2025-2026, including Los Angeles County, FDNY, Chicago, and Houston. Rural and small-department raises were smaller, often 2% to 4%. The IAFF has been pushing a federal minimum-pay-standard approach to address the recruitment crisis affecting many departments.

Firefighter Salary 2026 by State (BLS + Wildland)

The median firefighter in the United States earned $59,280 in 2025 (Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025), according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics release. That figure understates what most career firefighters actually take home, because published BLS wages measure base pay and do not consistently capture overtime, holiday pay, and shift differentials. Firefighters at large metro departments regularly earn $90,000 to $130,000 in total compensation after overtime.

This guide ranks firefighter salary by state, then explains how unions, schedules, and overtime reshape the actual paycheck. If you are evaluating fire service as a career, focus on base pay, total compensation, and the overtime norms at your target department. Compare offers by base wage, scheduled hours, mandatory overtime norms, defined-benefit pension generosity, and healthcare premium share: a department with lower base pay but stronger pension and fewer hours often wins on total comp.

Data last verified September 2026 from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2025 release, for SOC 33-2011 (Firefighters).

At a glance
National median firefighter wage is $59,280 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
New York tops state rankings at $100,960, with Washington close behind at $94,520.
Louisiana reports the lowest state median at $33,120, followed by Mississippi at $35,880.
Large metro department firefighters often earn 60% to 120% above median after overtime.

Top 10 highest-paying states for firefighters

States with the largest metro departments and strongest union representation top the pay ranking. New York, California, Washington, and New Jersey combine high cost of living with strong IAFF locals and large paid departments. Firefighters in these states earn more in base pay and frequently work substantial overtime, with total comp often clearing $120,000 to $150,000 per year.

Rank	State	Firefighter median (USD)
1	New York	$100,960
2	Washington	$94,520
3	California	$85,120
4	New Jersey	$84,130
5	Illinois	$78,380
6	Connecticut	$77,630
7	District of Columbia	$75,870
8	Colorado	$74,170
9	Maryland	$73,810
10	Pennsylvania	$73,460

Lowest-paying states for firefighters

Lowest-paying states tend to have smaller departments, weaker union representation, and lower cost of living. Louisiana's $33,120 median reflects a combination of small rural departments, lower state employee compensation levels, and right-to-work labor laws. Mississippi and several Southern states follow similar patterns.

Rank	State	Firefighter median (USD)
1	Louisiana	$33,120
2	Mississippi	$35,880
3	Kentucky	$37,150
4	West Virginia	$37,350
5	North Carolina	$37,940
6	Minnesota	$38,110
7	Arkansas	$39,690
8	New Mexico	$41,590
9	South Carolina	$42,570
10	Kansas	$45,900

How overtime and Kelly Day schedules shape pay

Most metro departments use a 56-hour average workweek (24 hours on, 48 off or similar rotation) plus a Kelly Day system that gives firefighters a paid day off every seven cycles to bring their average to 53 hours. This compounds to roughly 3,200 hours per year for a full-time firefighter versus the standard 2,080 hours for a 40-hour week job.

Mandatory overtime compounds further. Wildfire season, hurricane response, and major incidents generate forced overtime that can add 5% to 15% to total compensation in a busy year. The IAFF has documented that many career firefighters earn 30% to 60% above base pay in total comp after overtime.

Top-paying metro departments

Salary variation within states is often larger than variation across states because metro departments pay differently from rural ones. The San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara area reports the highest metro firefighter pay, approaching $152,000 in some departments (Source: WageDex analysis of BLS OEWS). FDNY, LA County, and Chicago are consistently top-paying large departments.

Pension and total compensation

Total compensation for firefighters typically includes defined-benefit pension plans that pay 50% to 75% of final average salary at 20 to 25 years of service. Healthcare benefits are typically fully employer-paid for employees and partially paid for dependents. These benefits meaningfully close the gap between firefighter pay and higher-paying private-sector careers when measured as total comp.

How to compare firefighter offers across departments

Compare departments on base pay, annual hours scheduled, mandatory overtime norms, pension plan generosity, and healthcare premium share. A department with lower base pay but stronger pension and lower hours can win on total comp. Many firefighters also pursue paramedic certification, which adds 5% to 15% to base pay in most departments.

Frequently asked questions

(See FAQs above for the questions and answers.)

Methodology

Salary figures are the median and percentile range for firefighters from the BLS OEWS May 2025 release, SOC 33-2011. BLS OEWS measures base wages and does not consistently capture overtime, holiday pay, and shift differentials. Total compensation estimates include overtime norms typical of 56-hour average workweek schedules with mandatory OT.

Pension and benefits estimates reflect typical IAFF-aligned defined-benefit plans for career firefighters with 20 to 25 year vesting. Total comp estimates are illustrative and will vary by department. Verify all pay and benefits with the specific department's collective bargaining agreement or HR office.

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Written by

Fazlur RahmanAI, Entrepreneurship, EdTech

Fazlur Rahman is the founder of Tutorsbot, building AI-powered tools for learning and career growth. He writes about applying AI in real products and the practi… Read more

Fazlur Rahman is the founder of Tutorsbot, building AI-powered tools for learning and career growth. He writes about applying AI in real products and the practical side of building an ed-tech startup.