Firefighter salary
Updated Updated for 2026 tax law
A firefighter earns a median of $59,280 a year ($28.50 an hour) in the US, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The average is $63,630. About 345,990 people work in this job.
Take-home pay on $59,280
- Gross pay
- $2,280.00
- Federal income tax
- −$189.75
- Social Security (6.2%)
- −$141.36
- Medicare (1.45%)
- −$33.06
- Texas income tax
- $0.00No state income tax on wages
- Take-home pay
- $1,915.83
Annual breakdown
- Gross
- $59,280
- Federal
- $4,934
- FICA
- $4,535
- State + local
- $0
- Net
- $49,811
- Marginal federal rate
- 12.0%
- Marginal state rate
- 0.0%
2026 federal brackets (Rev. Proc. 2025-32) and 2026 state rules. Estimates assume wages are your only income and use annual liability, so your actual withholding can differ slightly.
Firefighter salary by state
| State | Median salary | Average | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | $100,960 | $87,150 | 12,950 |
| Washington | $94,520 | $89,200 | 7,560 |
| California | $85,120 | $95,090 | 31,470 |
| New Jersey | $84,130 | $85,810 | 7,500 |
| Illinois | $78,380 | $76,530 | 18,400 |
| Connecticut | $77,630 | $73,760 | 2,970 |
| District of Columbia | $75,870 | $79,550 | 1,480 |
| Colorado | $74,170 | $78,380 | 6,510 |
| Maryland | $73,810 | $72,550 | 5,340 |
| Pennsylvania | $73,460 | $71,340 | 5,020 |
| Massachusetts | $72,800 | $73,220 | 11,940 |
| Oregon | $70,900 | $71,290 | 3,790 |
| Rhode Island | $67,380 | $67,480 | 1,620 |
| Nevada | $66,570 | $70,510 | 2,640 |
| Indiana | $62,780 | $62,420 | 8,530 |
| Nebraska | $61,040 | $59,190 | 1,070 |
| Texas | $60,180 | $60,390 | 28,170 |
| Ohio | $59,370 | $58,130 | 18,100 |
| Montana | $59,310 | $57,660 | 1,010 |
| Arizona | $59,280 | $60,850 | 7,500 |
| Alaska | $58,830 | $59,190 | 1,040 |
| Virginia | $58,670 | $58,240 | 11,160 |
| Florida | $58,550 | $61,370 | 24,570 |
| Wyoming | $58,090 | $56,800 | 680 |
| New Hampshire | $56,620 | $55,730 | 2,700 |
| Iowa | $55,810 | $57,240 | 2,170 |
| North Dakota | $55,080 | $57,980 | 820 |
| Michigan | $54,640 | $56,250 | 6,610 |
| Oklahoma | $49,710 | $52,280 | 4,150 |
| Tennessee | $49,300 | $51,590 | 7,020 |
| Missouri | $49,080 | $55,240 | 6,580 |
| Utah | $48,310 | $51,270 | 2,870 |
| Maine | $48,290 | $50,230 | 2,480 |
| South Dakota | $48,160 | $51,180 | 610 |
| Alabama | $47,600 | $49,720 | 7,260 |
| Idaho | $47,320 | $54,470 | 2,240 |
| Wisconsin | $46,850 | $50,710 | 8,120 |
| Delaware | $46,710 | $53,420 | 560 |
| Georgia | $46,550 | $47,170 | 12,700 |
| Vermont | $46,430 | $49,570 | — |
| Kansas | $45,900 | $49,110 | 3,360 |
| South Carolina | $42,570 | $43,900 | 7,780 |
| New Mexico | $41,590 | $43,180 | 2,420 |
| Arkansas | $39,690 | $43,380 | 2,480 |
| Minnesota | $38,110 | $45,170 | 5,810 |
| North Carolina | $37,940 | $43,060 | 19,410 |
| West Virginia | $37,350 | $40,100 | 900 |
| Kentucky | $37,150 | $42,100 | 5,150 |
| Mississippi | $35,880 | $37,230 | 2,920 |
| Louisiana | $33,120 | $36,610 | 5,230 |
Similar jobs
- Correctional Officer and Jailer: $58,940
- Forest Fire Inspector and Prevention Specialist: $56,870
- Bailiff: $56,600
- First-Line Supervisors of Security Worker: $55,940
- Transportation Security Screener: $66,770
- Private Detective and Investigator: $51,220
- Parking Enforcement Worker: $46,730
- Animal Control Worker: $45,660
BLS occupation: Firefighters. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (SOC 33-2011). Excludes the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a firefighter make an hour?
The median hourly wage is $28.50; the average is $30.59.
Which state pays firefighters the most?
New York ($100,960 median), followed by Washington and California.
What is the salary range for a firefighter?
The bottom 10% earn under $34,910 and the top 10% earn over $101,040 a year.
How much is $59,280 after taxes?
About $49,811 a year in Texas (no state income tax) or $47,445 in California for a single filer in 2026.
Your business here? Sponsor this calculator from $19/week. See placements
Estimates for information only — not tax, legal or financial advice.