Firefighters pay range in Indianapolis
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $43,410 a year or less, while the top 10% make $89,060 or more. The middle half of firefighters in Indianapolis earn between $54,920 and $77,410.
- $43K10th
- $55K25th
- $68KMedian
- $77K75th
- $89K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $67,110 | $5,592 | $32.26 |
| Median | $68,480 | $5,707 | $32.92 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $54,920 | $4,577 | $26.40 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $77,410 | $6,451 | $37.22 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Firefighters pay in Indianapolis vs. Indiana and the U.S.
Firefighters in Indianapolis earn 8% more than the Indiana average ($62,420) and 5% more than the U.S. average ($63,630). At the median the gap is +16% against the U.S. median of $59,280.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis | $67,110 | $68,480 | $43,410 | $89,060 | 3,740 |
| Indiana | $62,420 | $62,780 | $38,460 | $81,890 | 8,530 |
| 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 Indianapolis
On the average salary of $67,110, a single filer in Indianapolis takes home about $52,723 a year, or $4,394 a month and $2,028 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). Includes Indianapolis's local income tax (2.02%).
Is Indianapolis a good place for firefighters? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Indianapolis area are 4% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 95.7), so the average $67,110 buys what about $70,128 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.4 times the median wage of all jobs in Indianapolis ($49,340). A typical home costs $295,921, or 4.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Firefighters salary in other Indiana cities
Indianapolis ranks 2nd of 11 Indiana metro areas for this job; Fort Wayne pays the most ($70,360).
- Fort Wayne$70,360
- Indianapolis$67,110
- Evansville$67,060
- Michigan City$64,660
- Lafayette$61,520
- Elkhart$60,430
- Muncie$58,750
- South Bend$55,960
- Terre Haute$51,050
- Columbus$49,600
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 Indianapolis: questions
How much do firefighters make an hour in Indianapolis?
$32.26 an hour on average, and $32.92 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level firefighters salary in Indianapolis?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $43,410 a year and the 25th percentile is $54,920, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the firefighters take-home pay in Indianapolis?
About $52,723 a year ($4,394 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $67,110. Includes Indianapolis's local income tax (2.02%).
Do firefighters earn more in Indianapolis 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 Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN (26900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.8%.
- 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). Includes Indianapolis's local income tax (2.02%).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.52, this job is 1.5 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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