Firefighters pay range in Pittsburgh
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $49,160 a year or less, while the top 10% make $76,070 or more. The middle half of firefighters in Pittsburgh earn between $56,520 and $72,230.
- $49K10th
- $57K25th
- $72KMedian
- $72K75th
- $76K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $65,920 | $5,493 | $31.69 |
| Median | $72,230 | $6,019 | $34.73 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $56,520 | $4,710 | $27.17 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $72,230 | $6,019 | $34.73 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Firefighters pay in Pittsburgh vs. Pennsylvania and the U.S.
Firefighters in Pittsburgh earn 8% less than the Pennsylvania average ($71,340) and 4% more than the U.S. average ($63,630). At the median the gap is +22% against the U.S. median of $59,280.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh | $65,920 | $72,230 | $49,160 | $76,070 | 950 |
| Pennsylvania | $71,340 | $73,460 | $48,620 | $89,190 | 5,020 |
| 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 Pittsburgh
On the average salary of $65,920, a single filer in Pittsburgh takes home about $53,123 a year, or $4,427 a month and $2,043 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
Is Pittsburgh a good place for firefighters? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Pittsburgh area are 5% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 94.7), so the average $65,920 buys what about $69,631 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.5 times the median wage of all jobs in Pittsburgh ($49,650). A typical home costs $231,356, or 3.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Firefighters salary in other Pennsylvania cities
Pittsburgh ranks 4th of 12 Pennsylvania metro areas for this job; Philadelphia pays the most ($74,200).
- Philadelphia$74,200
- Erie$72,140
- Allentown$67,520
- Pittsburgh$65,920
- Reading$65,660
- York$64,130
- Scranton$62,370
- Harrisburg$60,640
- Lebanon$60,520
- Lancaster$58,360
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 Pittsburgh: questions
How much do firefighters make an hour in Pittsburgh?
$31.69 an hour on average, and $34.73 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level firefighters salary in Pittsburgh?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $49,160 a year and the 25th percentile is $56,520, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the firefighters take-home pay in Pittsburgh?
About $53,123 a year ($4,427 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $65,920. Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
Do firefighters earn more in Pittsburgh than elsewhere?
The average here is 4% 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 Pittsburgh, PA (38300). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.9%.
- 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). Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.38, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.38).
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