Firefighter salary in Gainesville, FL
Firefighters in the Gainesville, FL metro area earn a median of $49,380 a year ($23.74 an hour), based on BLS data for 550 workers.
Pay ranges from $39,460 for the lowest-paid 10% to $74,410 for the top 10%. That is 17% lower than the national median of $59,280. Pay here is 16% lower than the Florida statewide median of $58,550. There are 3.6 firefighters per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.6× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $54,010, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for firefighters in Gainesville, FL
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $39,460 | $18.97 |
| 25th percentile | $46,400 | $22.31 |
| Median | $49,380 | $23.74 |
| 75th percentile | $61,830 | $29.73 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $74,410 | $35.77 |
| Average (mean) | $54,010 | $25.97 |
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 | $4,115 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,057.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,899.23 |
| Weekly | $949.62 |
| Hourly | $23.74 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $75,710 | 6,600 |
| Port St. Lucie, FL | $72,760 | 600 |
| North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | $62,120 | 650 |
| Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL | $60,000 | 930 |
| Naples-Marco Island, FL | $59,850 | 520 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $59,660 | 3,220 |
| Sebastian-Vero Beach-West Vero Corridor, FL | $59,010 | 230 |
| Jacksonville, FL | $58,940 | 2,060 |
| Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL | $56,620 | 440 |
| Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | $48,560 | 560 |
| Homosassa Springs, FL | $47,340 | 50 |
| Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL | $46,580 | 250 |
| Punta Gorda, FL | $46,170 | n/a |
| Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL | $46,010 | 640 |
| Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL | $45,770 | 450 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $45,520 | 3,580 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | $43,850 | 810 |
| Sebring, FL | $43,660 | 90 |
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 Florida statewide figures.
Related jobs in Gainesville, FL
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Security Guard | $33,950 | $16.32 |
| Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $63,050 | $30.31 |
| Correctional Officers and Jailers | $50,020 | $24.05 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers | $77,190 | $37.11 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | $96,270 | $46.28 |
| Detectives and Criminal Investigators | $66,350 | $31.90 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers | $54,660 | $26.28 |
| Crossing Guards and Flaggers | $52,620 | $25.30 |
| School Bus Monitor | $35,060 | $16.86 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers | $45,090 | $21.68 |
| Private Detectives and Investigators | $51,580 | $24.80 |
| Transportation Security Screener | $63,130 | $30.35 |
More: Protective Service Occupations · all salaries in Gainesville, FL
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 Gainesville, FL?
The median salary for firefighters in the Gainesville, FL metro area is $49,380 a year, or $23.74 an hour. Pay ranges from $39,460 for the lowest-paid 10% to $74,410 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid firefighters make in Gainesville, FL?
The top 10% of firefighters in the Gainesville, FL metro area earn at least $74,410 a year. The top 25% earn $61,830 or more.
What is the starting pay for firefighters in Gainesville, FL?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $39,460 a year, and a quarter of firefighters earn $46,400 or less.
How many firefighters work in Gainesville, FL?
About 550 firefighters are employed in the Gainesville, FL metro area, not counting the self-employed.