Firefighters pay range in Houston
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $44,600 a year or less, while the top 10% make $72,970 or more. The middle half of firefighters in Houston earn between $48,910 and $72,970.
- $45K10th
- $49K25th
- $59KMedian
- $73K75th
- $73K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $60,280 | $5,023 | $28.98 |
| Median | $59,120 | $4,927 | $28.42 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $48,910 | $4,076 | $23.51 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $72,970 | $6,081 | $35.08 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Firefighters pay in Houston vs. Texas and the U.S.
Firefighters in Houston earn about the same as the Texas average ($60,390) and 5% less than the U.S. average ($63,630). At the median the gap is -0% against the U.S. median of $59,280.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Houston | $60,280 | $59,120 | $44,600 | $72,970 | 5,780 |
| Texas | $60,390 | $60,180 | $40,020 | $77,170 | 28,170 |
| 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 Houston
On the average salary of $60,280, a single filer in Houston takes home about $50,615 a year, or $4,218 a month and $1,947 every two weeks. Taxes take 16% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Houston a good place for firefighters? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Houston area are in line with the U.S. average (BEA price parity 98.6), so the average $60,280 buys what about $61,118 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Houston ($49,410). A typical home costs $308,306, or 5.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Firefighters salary in other Texas cities
Houston ranks 5th of 22 Texas metro areas for this job; Lubbock pays the most ($72,490).
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 Houston: questions
How much do firefighters make an hour in Houston?
$28.98 an hour on average, and $28.42 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level firefighters salary in Houston?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $44,600 a year and the 25th percentile is $48,910, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the firefighters take-home pay in Houston?
About $50,615 a year ($4,218 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $60,280. Texas has no state income tax.
Do firefighters earn more in Houston than elsewhere?
The average here is 5% less 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 Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX (26420). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.2%.
- 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 no state income tax.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.79, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.79).
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