Firefighter Salary in Chicago, IL
Updated
The median firefighter in the Chicago area earns $82,820 a year ($39.82 an hour), 40% above the U.S. median ($59,280) and 6% above the Illinois median ($78,380). Half of the 14,560 firefighters there earn between $48,610 and $105,720.
Median $82,820
10th: $42,08090th: $112,930
| Annual pay | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $42,080 | $38,900 | $34,910 |
| 25th percentile | $48,610 | $47,910 | $44,490 |
| Median | $82,820 | $78,380 | $59,280 |
| 75th percentile | $105,720 | $103,530 | $77,250 |
| 90th percentile | $112,930 | $106,060 | $101,040 |
| Average | $80,110 | $76,530 | $63,630 |
| Jobs | 14,560 | 18,400 | 345,990 |
Chicago, IL ranks 9th of the 50 largest U.S. metro areas for firefighter pay. Highest: San Jose, CA ($152,100).
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Check my payFirefighter pay in other cities
- San Jose, CA: $152,100
- San Francisco, CA: $113,700
- New York, NY: $106,420
- Seattle, WA: $101,090
- Los Angeles, CA: $98,050
- Sacramento, CA: $94,080
- Denver, CO: $87,980
- Portland, OR: $85,170
- All cities
Similar jobs in Chicago, IL
- Security Guard: $39,990
- Police Officer: $107,810
- Correctional Officer: $84,550
- All jobs in Chicago, IL
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, published May 15, 2026
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, www.bls.gov/oes. BLS.gov cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from BLS.gov.