Firefighters pay range in Tucson
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $35,510 a year or less, while the top 10% make $72,180 or more. The middle half of firefighters in Tucson earn between $36,680 and $56,370.
- $36K10th
- $37K25th
- $48KMedian
- $56K75th
- $72K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $49,580 | $4,132 | $23.84 |
| Median | $47,960 | $3,997 | $23.06 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $36,680 | $3,057 | $17.63 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $56,370 | $4,698 | $27.10 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Firefighters pay in Tucson vs. Arizona and the U.S.
Firefighters in Tucson earn 19% less than the Arizona average ($60,850) and 22% less than the U.S. average ($63,630). At the median the gap is -19% against the U.S. median of $59,280.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tucson | $49,580 | $47,960 | $35,510 | $72,180 | 830 |
| Arizona | $60,850 | $59,280 | $36,700 | $88,220 | 7,500 |
| 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 Tucson
On the average salary of $49,580, a single filer in Tucson takes home about $41,172 a year, or $3,431 a month and $1,584 every two weeks. Taxes take 17% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Tucson a good place for firefighters? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Tucson area are 3% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 96.9), so the average $49,580 buys what about $51,168 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Tucson ($47,760). A typical home costs $343,580, or 6.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Firefighters salary in other Arizona cities
Tucson ranks 7th of 7 Arizona metro areas for this job; Phoenix pays the most ($67,910).
- Phoenix$67,910
- Yuma$56,230
- Flagstaff$55,350
- Lake Havasu City$55,120
- Prescott Valley$53,570
- Sierra Vista$53,510
- Tucson$49,580
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 Tucson: questions
How much do firefighters make an hour in Tucson?
$23.84 an hour on average, and $23.06 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level firefighters salary in Tucson?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $35,510 a year and the 25th percentile is $36,680, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the firefighters take-home pay in Tucson?
About $41,172 a year ($3,431 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $49,580.
Do firefighters earn more in Tucson than elsewhere?
The average here is 22% 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 Tucson, AZ (46060). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.5%.
- 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 (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.95, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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