Firefighters pay range in Cedar Rapids
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $49,350 a year or less, while the top 10% make $73,090 or more. The middle half of firefighters in Cedar Rapids earn between $50,390 and $61,370.
- $49K10th
- $50K25th
- $61KMedian
- $61K75th
- $73K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $58,300 | $4,858 | $28.03 |
| Median | $61,370 | $5,114 | $29.50 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $50,390 | $4,199 | $24.23 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $61,370 | $5,114 | $29.50 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Firefighters salary after taxes in Cedar Rapids
On the average salary of $58,300, a single filer in Cedar Rapids takes home about $47,420 a year, or $3,952 a month and $1,824 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Iowa school district surtaxes (a percentage of state tax in some districts) are not included.
Is Cedar Rapids a good place for firefighters? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Cedar Rapids area are 11% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 89.0), so the average $58,300 buys what about $65,533 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Cedar Rapids ($49,360). A typical home costs $244,344, or 4.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Firefighters salary in other Iowa cities
Cedar Rapids ranks 5th of 7 Iowa metro areas for this job; Ames pays the most ($72,370).
- Ames$72,370
- Waterloo$66,280
- Des Moines$65,030
- Davenport$62,090
- Cedar Rapids$58,300
- Sioux City$54,540
- Iowa City$48,240
Highest-paying cities for firefighters
Bakersfield, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($199,490).
- Bakersfield, CA$199,490
- San Jose, CA$134,270
- San Francisco, CA$110,590
- Los Angeles, CA$108,860
- Seattle, WA$100,450
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Firefighters salary in Cedar Rapids: questions
How much do firefighters make an hour in Cedar Rapids?
$28.03 an hour on average, and $29.50 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level firefighters salary in Cedar Rapids?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $49,350 a year and the 25th percentile is $50,390, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the firefighters take-home pay in Cedar Rapids?
About $47,420 a year ($3,952 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $58,300. Iowa school district surtaxes (a percentage of state tax in some districts) are not included.
Do firefighters earn more in Cedar Rapids than elsewhere?
The average here is 12% less than the U.S. metro average for this job ($65,977).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 33-2011; area Cedar Rapids, IA (16300). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.6%.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Iowa school district surtaxes (a percentage of state tax in some districts) are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.53, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.53).
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.