Firefighters pay range in Wheeling
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $29,020 a year or less, while the top 10% make $59,370 or more. The middle half of firefighters in Wheeling earn between $33,050 and $48,250.
- $29K10th
- $33K25th
- $41KMedian
- $48K75th
- $59K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $43,120 | $3,593 | $20.73 |
| Median | $41,140 | $3,428 | $19.78 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $33,050 | $2,754 | $15.89 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $48,250 | $4,021 | $23.20 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Firefighters salary after taxes in Wheeling
On the average salary of $43,120, a single filer in Wheeling takes home about $35,673 a year, or $2,973 a month and $1,372 every two weeks. Taxes take 17% of gross pay.
The Wheeling, WV-OH metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in OH | $36,083 | $3,007 |
| Working in WV | $35,673 | $2,973 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Wheeling a good place for firefighters? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Wheeling area are 12% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 88.3), so the average $43,120 buys what about $48,821 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Wheeling ($44,250). A typical home costs $141,852, or 3.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Firefighters salary in other West Virginia cities
Wheeling ranks 3rd of 5 West Virginia metro areas for this job; Weirton pays the most ($46,810).
- Weirton$46,810
- Beckley$43,920
- Wheeling$43,120
- Charleston$39,710
- Huntington$37,790
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 Wheeling: questions
How much do firefighters make an hour in Wheeling?
$20.73 an hour on average, and $19.78 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level firefighters salary in Wheeling?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $29,020 a year and the 25th percentile is $33,050, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the firefighters take-home pay in Wheeling?
About $35,673 a year ($2,973 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $43,120.
Do firefighters earn more in Wheeling than elsewhere?
The average here is 35% 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 Wheeling, WV-OH (48540). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.2%.
- 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 1.61, this job is 1.6 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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