Firefighter salary in Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN
Firefighters in the Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN metro area earn a median of $58,570 a year ($28.16 an hour), based on BLS data for 3,380 workers.
Pay ranges from $36,080 for the lowest-paid 10% to $75,820 for the top 10%. That is 1% lower than the national median of $59,280. Pay here is 1% lower than the Ohio statewide median of $59,370. There are 3.1 firefighters per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.4× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $57,510, close to the median.
Pay range for firefighters in Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,080 | $17.35 |
| 25th percentile | $43,050 | $20.70 |
| Median | $58,570 | $28.16 |
| 75th percentile | $74,190 | $35.67 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $75,820 | $36.45 |
| Average (mean) | $57,510 | $27.65 |
Half of firefighters earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $4,880.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,440.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,252.69 |
| Weekly | $1,126.35 |
| Hourly | $28.16 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Firefighter salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $82,820 | 14,560 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $75,860 | 420 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $68,480 | 3,740 |
| Evansville, IN | $66,840 | 330 |
| Michigan City-La Porte, IN | $65,230 | 160 |
| Elkhart-Goshen, IN | $63,760 | 270 |
| Muncie, IN | $62,780 | 130 |
| Cleveland, OH | $62,720 | 3,660 |
| Columbus, OH | $61,780 | 4,130 |
| Akron, OH | $61,140 | 1,240 |
| Toledo, OH | $60,590 | 1,010 |
| Lima, OH | $60,020 | 150 |
| Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | $57,400 | 1,260 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $56,450 | 440 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $54,950 | 300 |
| Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $54,850 | 200 |
| Terre Haute, IN | $54,460 | 150 |
| Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH | $48,070 | 110 |
| Sandusky, OH | $47,270 | 270 |
| Mansfield, OH | $45,930 | 230 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $45,160 | 1,640 |
| Columbus, IN | $43,510 | 90 |
| Youngstown-Warren, OH | $43,420 | 630 |
| Wheeling, WV-OH | $41,140 | 210 |
| Canton-Massillon, OH | $40,170 | 570 |
| Bloomington, IN | $37,620 | 230 |
| Lexington-Fayette, KY | $36,490 | 940 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $36,060 | 230 |
| Bowling Green, KY | $35,240 | 250 |
| Elizabethtown, KY | $34,030 | 130 |
Highest-paying states for firefighters
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| New York | $100,960 |
| Washington | $94,520 |
| California | $85,120 |
| New Jersey | $84,130 |
| Illinois | $78,380 |
| Connecticut | $77,630 |
| District of Columbia | $75,870 |
| Colorado | $74,170 |
| Maryland | $73,810 |
| Pennsylvania | $73,460 |
See Firefighter pay in every state or the Ohio statewide figures.
Related jobs in Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Security Guard | $36,110 | $17.36 |
| Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $80,410 | $38.66 |
| Correctional Officers and Jailers | $55,460 | $26.66 |
| Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers | $30,320 | $14.58 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers | $86,770 | $41.72 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | $102,870 | $49.46 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers | $56,970 | $27.39 |
| Bailiff | $59,450 | $28.58 |
| School Bus Monitor | $29,570 | $14.21 |
| Detectives and Criminal Investigators | $92,110 | $44.28 |
| Transportation Security Screener | $63,650 | $30.60 |
| Private Detectives and Investigators | $46,190 | $22.21 |
| Crossing Guards and Flaggers | $34,850 | $16.75 |
| Protective Service Workers, All Other | $41,320 | $19.87 |
More: Protective Service Occupations · all salaries in Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 33-2011. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a firefighter make in Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN?
The median salary for firefighters in the Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN metro area is $58,570 a year, or $28.16 an hour. Pay ranges from $36,080 for the lowest-paid 10% to $75,820 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid firefighters make in Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN?
The top 10% of firefighters in the Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN metro area earn at least $75,820 a year. The top 25% earn $74,190 or more.
What is the starting pay for firefighters in Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $36,080 a year, and a quarter of firefighters earn $43,050 or less.
How many firefighters work in Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN?
About 3,380 firefighters are employed in the Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN metro area, not counting the self-employed.