Firefighters pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $42,080 a year or less, while the top 10% make $112,930 or more. The middle half of firefighters in Chicago earn between $48,610 and $105,720.
- $42K10th
- $49K25th
- $83KMedian
- $106K75th
- $113K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $80,110 | $6,676 | $38.51 |
| Median | $82,820 | $6,902 | $39.82 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $48,610 | $4,051 | $23.37 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $105,720 | $8,810 | $50.83 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Firefighters pay in Chicago vs. Illinois and the U.S.
Firefighters in Chicago earn 5% more than the Illinois average ($76,530) and 26% more than the U.S. average ($63,630). At the median the gap is +40% against the U.S. median of $59,280.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $80,110 | $82,820 | $42,080 | $112,930 | 14,560 |
| Illinois | $76,530 | $78,380 | $38,900 | $106,060 | 18,400 |
| 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 Chicago
On the average salary of $80,110, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $61,363 a year, or $5,114 a month and $2,360 every two weeks. Taxes take 23% of gross pay.
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in IN | $62,814 | $5,235 |
| Working in IL | $61,363 | $5,114 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Chicago a good place for firefighters? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Chicago area are 4% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 103.6), so the average $80,110 buys what about $77,330 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.5 times the median wage of all jobs in Chicago ($54,720). A typical home costs $353,998, or 4.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Firefighters salary in other Illinois cities
Chicago ranks 1st of 8 Illinois metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Chicago$80,110
- Peoria$72,600
- Rockford$66,870
- Champaign$64,720
- Springfield$63,810
- Bloomington$63,070
- Kankakee$62,900
- Decatur$61,750
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 Chicago: questions
How much do firefighters make an hour in Chicago?
$38.52 an hour on average, and $39.82 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level firefighters salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $42,080 a year and the 25th percentile is $48,610, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the firefighters take-home pay in Chicago?
About $61,363 a year ($5,114 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $80,110.
Do firefighters earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?
The average here is 26% 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 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.6%.
- 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).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.45, this job is 1.4 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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