Firefighter Salary Calculator

Estimate a firefighter’s take-home pay after federal income tax and FICA, account for overtime from long shift schedules, and see how firefighter pay compares with other public-service jobs.

Estimated net take-home (year)

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Gross annual pay—

Federal income tax—

FICA (Social Security + Medicare)—

Monthly take-home—

Effective hourly rate—

Where your firefighter salary goes

Your take-home versus federal income tax and FICA payroll tax.

Firefighter pay vs other fields

Approximate US median annual wages by occupation (BLS 2024 basis). Your field is highlighted.

Firefighter salary, explained

A firefighter salary is the yearly pay a firefighter earns for fire suppression, rescue, and emergency medical response. The median US firefighter earns about $57,000 a year in base pay, but the profession’s long shift schedules (often 24-hour shifts) create substantial overtime, so real annual earnings are frequently higher than base figures suggest.

Firefighter pay depends heavily on the department, city, and rank. Career firefighters in large or high-cost jurisdictions earn well above the national median, while smaller and volunteer-heavy departments pay less. Many firefighters hold EMT or paramedic certifications that add pay, and promotion to engineer, lieutenant, or captain raises base wages. Generous pensions and early retirement further add to the job’s total value. Use the extra-income field to add overtime and certification pay.

Firefighter pay by experience level

Firefighter pay is not a single number. It grows with experience, credentials, region, and employer. These approximate tiers show the typical range a firefighter can expect across a career:

Entry level (0–2 yrs): $39,000
Median / mid-career: $57,000
Experienced (senior): $75,000
Top 10% earners: $93,000

Firefighters advance through steps and rank (firefighter, engineer, lieutenant, captain). Paramedic certification, overtime from 24-hour schedules, and promotion are the biggest levers on annual pay. Pension benefits add major long-term value beyond salary.

The take-home formula

A salary calculator turns your gross pay into the number that actually lands in your bank account. The core formula subtracts federal income tax and FICA payroll tax from gross pay:

gross pay = base salary + extra income
taxable income = gross pay − standard deduction
federal tax = progressive brackets applied to taxable income
FICA = 6.2% Social Security (to wage cap) + 1.45% Medicare
net take-home = gross pay − federal tax − FICA

Worked example

A firefighter with a $57,000 base and $14,000 in overtime, filing single, grosses $71,000. Federal income tax is roughly $7,460 and FICA about $5,430, leaving an estimated $58,110 in take-home, near $4,842 a month before state tax and pension contributions.

What affects a firefighter's pay the most?

Department and city: large, high-cost jurisdictions pay firefighters well above the median.
Overtime: 24-hour and 48/96 shift schedules generate significant overtime pay.
Certifications: EMT and especially paramedic certification add pay and open roles.
Rank: engineer, lieutenant, and captain positions carry higher base wages.
Pension: defined-benefit pensions and early retirement add major value beyond salary.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average firefighter salary?

The median firefighter in the US earns about $57,000 a year in base pay, with total earnings often higher after overtime from long shift schedules.

Why do firefighters earn a lot of overtime?

Firefighters commonly work 24-hour shifts on rotations like 48/96, which naturally push weekly hours above 40 and generate substantial overtime pay.

How much does a firefighter take home after taxes?

On a $57,000 base, a single firefighter keeps roughly $47,000 after federal income tax and FICA. Overtime raises gross pay, and state tax and pension contributions lower take-home.

Does paramedic certification raise firefighter pay?

Yes. Firefighter-paramedics typically earn a certification premium and are in higher demand than firefighters holding only basic EMT certification.

Do firefighter salaries vary by location?

Substantially. Large and high-cost city departments pay well above the national median, while smaller and rural departments pay less for the same rank.

Are firefighter pensions valuable?

Yes. Many fire departments offer defined-benefit pensions and early retirement, which can be worth a large share of a firefighter’s lifetime compensation beyond salary.