Firefighters pay range in Erie
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $39,040 a year or less, while the top 10% make $89,320 or more. The middle half of firefighters in Erie earn between $50,790 and $89,320.
- $39K10th
- $51K25th
- $80KMedian
- $89K75th
- $89K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $72,140 | $6,012 | $34.68 |
| Median | $80,280 | $6,690 | $38.60 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $50,790 | $4,232 | $24.42 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $89,320 | $7,443 | $42.94 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Firefighters pay in Erie vs. Pennsylvania and the U.S.
Firefighters in Erie earn about the same as the Pennsylvania average ($71,340) and 13% more than the U.S. average ($63,630). At the median the gap is +35% against the U.S. median of $59,280.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Erie | $72,140 | $80,280 | $39,040 | $89,320 | 140 |
| Pennsylvania | $71,340 | $73,460 | $48,620 | $89,190 | 5,020 |
| 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 Erie
On the average salary of $72,140, a single filer in Erie takes home about $57,366 a year, or $4,780 a month and $2,206 every two weeks. Taxes take 20% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
Is Erie a good place for firefighters? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Erie area are 9% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 91.0), so the average $72,140 buys what about $79,318 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Erie ($44,460). A typical home costs $224,109, or 3.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Firefighters salary in other Pennsylvania cities
Erie ranks 2nd of 12 Pennsylvania metro areas for this job; Philadelphia pays the most ($74,200).
- Philadelphia$74,200
- Erie$72,140
- Allentown$67,520
- Pittsburgh$65,920
- Reading$65,660
- York$64,130
- Scranton$62,370
- Harrisburg$60,640
- Lebanon$60,520
- Lancaster$58,360
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 Erie: questions
How much do firefighters make an hour in Erie?
$34.68 an hour on average, and $38.60 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level firefighters salary in Erie?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $39,040 a year and the 25th percentile is $50,790, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the firefighters take-home pay in Erie?
About $57,366 a year ($4,780 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $72,140. Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
Do firefighters earn more in Erie than elsewhere?
The average here is 13% 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 Erie, PA (21500). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.5%.
- 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). Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.52, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.52).
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