Firefighters pay range in Rockford
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $34,430 a year or less, while the top 10% make $88,910 or more. The middle half of firefighters in Rockford earn between $57,050 and $77,150.
- $34K10th
- $57K25th
- $77KMedian
- $77K75th
- $89K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $66,870 | $5,572 | $32.15 |
| Median | $77,150 | $6,429 | $37.09 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $57,050 | $4,754 | $27.43 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $77,150 | $6,429 | $37.09 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Firefighters pay in Rockford vs. Illinois and the U.S.
Firefighters in Rockford earn 13% less than the Illinois average ($76,530) and 5% more than the U.S. average ($63,630). At the median the gap is +30% against the U.S. median of $59,280.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rockford | $66,870 | $77,150 | $34,430 | $88,910 | 410 |
| 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 Rockford
On the average salary of $66,870, a single filer in Rockford takes home about $52,704 a year, or $4,392 a month and $2,027 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 Rockford a good place for firefighters? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Rockford area are 8% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.2), so the average $66,870 buys what about $72,563 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Rockford ($47,120). A typical home costs $221,368, or 3.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Firefighters salary in other Illinois cities
Rockford ranks 3rd 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
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Firefighters salary in Rockford: questions
How much do firefighters make an hour in Rockford?
$32.15 an hour on average, and $37.09 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level firefighters salary in Rockford?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $34,430 a year and the 25th percentile is $57,050, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the firefighters take-home pay in Rockford?
About $52,704 a year ($4,392 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $66,870.
Do firefighters earn more in Rockford than elsewhere?
The average here is 5% 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 Rockford, IL (40420). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.7%.
- 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 1.34, this job is 1.3 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.