Firefighters pay range in Washington
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $48,360 a year or less, while the top 10% make $98,770 or more. The middle half of firefighters in Washington earn between $59,080 and $83,570.
- $48K10th
- $59K25th
- $67KMedian
- $84K75th
- $99K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $70,910 | $5,909 | $34.09 |
| Median | $66,980 | $5,582 | $32.20 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $59,080 | $4,923 | $28.40 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $83,570 | $6,964 | $40.18 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Firefighters salary after taxes in Washington
On the average salary of $70,910, a single filer in Washington takes home about $55,553 a year, or $4,629 a month and $2,137 every two weeks. Taxes take 22% of gross pay.
The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in WV | $56,357 | $4,696 |
| Working in MD | $55,559 | $4,630 |
| Working in DC | $55,553 | $4,629 |
| Working in VA | $55,452 | $4,621 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Washington a good place for firefighters? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Washington area are 9% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 108.9), so the average $70,910 buys what about $65,124 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Washington ($71,060). A typical home costs $583,013, or 8.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Firefighters salary in nearby metro areas
- Hagerstown, MD$56,140
- Baltimore, MD$73,660
- Chambersburg, PA$58,260
- Harrisonburg, VA$42,290
- Charlottesville, VA$44,140
- York, PA$64,130
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 Washington: questions
How much do firefighters make an hour in Washington?
$34.09 an hour on average, and $32.20 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level firefighters salary in Washington?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $48,360 a year and the 25th percentile is $59,080, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the firefighters take-home pay in Washington?
About $55,553 a year ($4,629 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $70,910.
Do firefighters earn more in Washington than elsewhere?
The average here is 7% more 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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV (47900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.4%.
- 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 1.09, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.