Firefighters pay range in Winston-Salem
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $28,580 a year or less, while the top 10% make $45,390 or more. The middle half of firefighters in Winston-Salem earn between $30,670 and $39,090.
- $29K10th
- $31K25th
- $36KMedian
- $39K75th
- $45K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $36,120 | $3,010 | $17.37 |
| Median | $35,730 | $2,978 | $17.18 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $30,670 | $2,556 | $14.75 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $39,090 | $3,258 | $18.79 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Firefighters pay in Winston-Salem vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Firefighters in Winston-Salem earn 16% less than the North Carolina average ($43,060) and 43% less than the U.S. average ($63,630). At the median the gap is -40% against the U.S. median of $59,280.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winston-Salem | $36,120 | $35,730 | $28,580 | $45,390 | 990 |
| North Carolina | $43,060 | $37,940 | $29,360 | $61,940 | 19,410 |
| United States | $63,630 | $59,280 | $34,910 | $101,040 | 345,990 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Firefighters salary after taxes in Winston-Salem
On the average salary of $36,120, a single filer in Winston-Salem takes home about $30,270 a year, or $2,522 a month and $1,164 every two weeks. Taxes take 16% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Winston-Salem a good place for firefighters? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Winston-Salem area are 8% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.0), so the average $36,120 buys what about $39,243 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Winston-Salem ($46,380). A typical home costs $283,871, or 7.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Firefighters salary in other North Carolina cities
Winston-Salem ranks 15th 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
- Winston-Salem$36,120
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
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Firefighters salary in Winston-Salem: questions
How much do firefighters make an hour in Winston-Salem?
$17.36 an hour on average, and $17.18 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level firefighters salary in Winston-Salem?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $28,580 a year and the 25th percentile is $30,670, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the firefighters take-home pay in Winston-Salem?
About $30,270 a year ($2,522 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $36,120.
Do firefighters earn more in Winston-Salem than elsewhere?
The average here is 43% less than the U.S. average for this job ($63,630).
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 Winston-Salem, NC (49180). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.0%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- 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 1.64, this job is 1.6 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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