Firefighters pay range in Decatur
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $40,930 a year or less, while the top 10% make $73,400 or more. The middle half of firefighters in Decatur earn between $54,650 and $73,400.
- $41K10th
- $55K25th
- $62KMedian
- $73K75th
- $73K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $61,750 | $5,146 | $29.69 |
| Median | $62,430 | $5,202 | $30.01 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $54,650 | $4,554 | $26.27 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $73,400 | $6,117 | $35.29 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Firefighters pay in Decatur vs. Illinois and the U.S.
Firefighters in Decatur earn 19% less than the Illinois average ($76,530) and about the same as the U.S. average ($63,630). At the median the gap is +5% against the U.S. median of $59,280.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Decatur | $61,750 | $62,430 | $40,930 | $73,400 | 120 |
| 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 Decatur
On the average salary of $61,750, a single filer in Decatur takes home about $48,881 a year, or $4,073 a month and $1,880 every two weeks. Taxes take 21% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Decatur a good place for firefighters? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Decatur area are 12% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 88.4), so the average $61,750 buys what about $69,836 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Decatur ($51,290). A typical home costs $126,931, or 2.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Firefighters salary in other Illinois cities
Decatur ranks 8th of 8 Illinois metro areas for this job; Chicago pays the most ($80,110).
- 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 Decatur: questions
How much do firefighters make an hour in Decatur?
$29.69 an hour on average, and $30.02 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level firefighters salary in Decatur?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $40,930 a year and the 25th percentile is $54,650, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the firefighters take-home pay in Decatur?
About $48,881 a year ($4,073 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $61,750.
Do firefighters earn more in Decatur than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as 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 Decatur, IL (19500). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 5.2%.
- 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 1.14, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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