Firefighter salary in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
Firefighters in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area earn a median of $38,350 a year ($18.44 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,220 workers.
Pay ranges from $31,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $58,000 for the top 10%. That is 35% lower than the national median of $59,280. Pay here is 1% higher than the North Carolina statewide median of $37,940. There are 3.5 firefighters per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.6× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $42,480, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for firefighters in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| 25th percentile | $35,480 | $17.06 |
| Median | $38,350 | $18.44 |
| 75th percentile | $45,880 | $22.06 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $58,000 | $27.89 |
| Average (mean) | $42,480 | $20.42 |
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 | $3,195.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,597.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,475 |
| Weekly | $737.50 |
| Hourly | $18.44 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $56,940 | 2,880 |
| Jacksonville, NC | $47,870 | 340 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $46,600 | 1,970 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | $46,210 | 220 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $45,640 | 2,510 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $38,700 | 4,700 |
| Asheville, NC | $37,450 | 890 |
| Fayetteville, NC | $36,820 | 850 |
| Burlington, NC | $36,520 | 240 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $36,340 | 810 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $35,730 | 990 |
| Wilmington, NC | $35,580 | 780 |
| Goldsboro, NC | $35,500 | 100 |
| Greenville, NC | $34,430 | 200 |
| Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC | $34,200 | 190 |
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 North Carolina statewide figures.
Related jobs in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fire Inspectors and Investigators | $75,470 | $36.28 |
| Security Guard | $38,530 | $18.53 |
| Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $60,100 | $28.89 |
| Crossing Guards and Flaggers | $35,770 | $17.20 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers | $59,520 | $28.61 |
| Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers | $27,280 | $13.11 |
| Correctional Officers and Jailers | $50,450 | $24.26 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | $97,180 | $46.72 |
| Detectives and Criminal Investigators | $68,790 | $33.07 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers | $60,200 | $28.94 |
| School Bus Monitor | $37,630 | $18.09 |
| Protective Service Workers, All Other | $57,790 | $27.78 |
| Private Detectives and Investigators | $53,610 | $25.77 |
More: Protective Service Occupations · all salaries in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
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 Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
The median salary for firefighters in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area is $38,350 a year, or $18.44 an hour. Pay ranges from $31,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $58,000 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid firefighters make in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
The top 10% of firefighters in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area earn at least $58,000 a year. The top 25% earn $45,880 or more.
What is the starting pay for firefighters in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $31,200 a year, and a quarter of firefighters earn $35,480 or less.
How many firefighters work in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
About 1,220 firefighters are employed in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area, not counting the self-employed.