Firefighters pay range in Raleigh
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $31,000 a year or less, while the top 10% make $72,100 or more. The middle half of firefighters in Raleigh earn between $38,090 and $56,410.
- $31K10th
- $38K25th
- $46KMedian
- $56K75th
- $72K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $48,360 | $4,030 | $23.25 |
| Median | $45,640 | $3,803 | $21.94 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $38,090 | $3,174 | $18.31 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $56,410 | $4,701 | $27.12 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Firefighters salary after taxes in Raleigh
On the average salary of $48,360, a single filer in Raleigh takes home about $39,616 a year, or $3,301 a month and $1,524 every two weeks. Taxes take 18% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Raleigh a good place for firefighters? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Raleigh area are 2% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 98.2), so the average $48,360 buys what about $49,268 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Raleigh ($51,990). A typical home costs $438,364, or 9.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Firefighters salary in other North Carolina cities
Raleigh ranks 2nd of 15 North Carolina metro areas for this job; Greensboro pays the most ($49,960).
- Greensboro$49,960
- Raleigh$48,360
- Jacksonville$47,680
- Charlotte$47,070
- Durham$42,480
- Rocky Mount$42,000
- Goldsboro$40,580
- Fayetteville$39,650
- Wilmington$39,320
- Asheville$39,250
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 Raleigh: questions
How much do firefighters make an hour in Raleigh?
$23.25 an hour on average, and $21.94 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level firefighters salary in Raleigh?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $31,000 a year and the 25th percentile is $38,090, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the firefighters take-home pay in Raleigh?
About $39,616 a year ($3,301 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $48,360.
Do firefighters earn more in Raleigh than elsewhere?
The average here is 27% 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 Raleigh-Cary, NC (39580). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.7%.
- 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).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.52, this job is 1.5 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.