Firefighters pay range in Portland
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $58,250 a year or less, while the top 10% make $110,570 or more. The middle half of firefighters in Portland earn between $74,690 and $104,070.
- $58K10th
- $75K25th
- $85KMedian
- $104K75th
- $111K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $87,380 | $7,282 | $42.01 |
| Median | $85,170 | $7,098 | $40.95 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $74,690 | $6,224 | $35.91 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $104,070 | $8,672 | $50.03 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Firefighters pay in Portland vs. Oregon and the U.S.
Firefighters in Portland earn 23% more than the Oregon average ($71,290) and 37% more than the U.S. average ($63,630). At the median the gap is +44% against the U.S. median of $59,280.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portland | $87,380 | $85,170 | $58,250 | $110,570 | 1,730 |
| Oregon | $71,290 | $70,900 | $38,800 | $104,070 | 3,790 |
| 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 Portland
On the average salary of $87,380, a single filer in Portland takes home about $63,957 a year, or $5,330 a month and $2,460 every two weeks. Taxes take 27% of gross pay.
The Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in WA | $70,302 | $5,858 |
| Working in OR | $63,957 | $5,330 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Portland-area Metro and Multnomah County taxes and the 0.1% statewide transit tax are not included.
Is Portland a good place for firefighters? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Portland area are 5% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 105.4), so the average $87,380 buys what about $82,887 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.4 times the median wage of all jobs in Portland ($60,690). A typical home costs $552,022, or 6.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Firefighters salary in other Oregon cities
Portland ranks 1st of 8 Oregon metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
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 Portland: questions
How much do firefighters make an hour in Portland?
$42.01 an hour on average, and $40.95 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level firefighters salary in Portland?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $58,250 a year and the 25th percentile is $74,690, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the firefighters take-home pay in Portland?
About $63,957 a year ($5,330 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $87,380. Portland-area Metro and Multnomah County taxes and the 0.1% statewide transit tax are not included.
Do firefighters earn more in Portland than elsewhere?
The average here is 37% more 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 Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA (38900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.7%.
- 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 (2025 rules). Portland-area Metro and Multnomah County taxes and the 0.1% statewide transit tax are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.64, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.64).
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