Firefighter salary in Illinois
Firefighters in Illinois earn a median of $78,380 a year ($37.68 an hour), based on BLS data for 18,400 workers.
Pay ranges from $38,900 for the lowest-paid 10% to $106,060 for the top 10%. That is 32% higher than the national median of $59,280. Illinois ranks 5th of 50 states for firefighters pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 3.0 firefighters per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.4× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $76,530, close to the median.
Pay range for firefighters in Illinois
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $38,900 | $18.70 |
| 25th percentile | $47,910 | $23.03 |
| Median | $78,380 | $37.68 |
| 75th percentile | $103,530 | $49.77 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $106,060 | $50.99 |
| Average (mean) | $76,530 | $36.79 |
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 | $6,531.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,265.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,014.62 |
| Weekly | $1,507.31 |
| Hourly | $37.68 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Firefighter salary in cities in Illinois
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $82,820 | 14,560 |
| Rockford, IL | $77,150 | 410 |
| Peoria, IL | $73,670 | 490 |
| Bloomington, IL | $69,270 | 170 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $68,970 | 2,680 |
| Springfield, IL | $65,330 | 240 |
| Decatur, IL | $62,430 | 120 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $62,190 | 340 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $60,080 | 410 |
| Kankakee, IL | $59,850 | 120 |
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 |
Related jobs in Illinois
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fire Inspectors and Investigators | $62,400 | $30.00 |
| Security Guard | $39,490 | $18.98 |
| Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $100,520 | $48.33 |
| Correctional Officers and Jailers | $79,190 | $38.07 |
| School Bus Monitor | $33,840 | $16.27 |
| Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers | $33,710 | $16.21 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | $135,080 | $64.94 |
| Detectives and Criminal Investigators | $91,190 | $43.84 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers | $123,500 | $59.37 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers | $105,450 | $50.70 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers | $59,540 | $28.63 |
| Crossing Guards and Flaggers | $38,990 | $18.75 |
| Transportation Security Screener | $70,570 | $33.93 |
| Private Detectives and Investigators | $60,210 | $28.95 |
More: Protective Service Occupations · all salaries in Illinois
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 Illinois?
The median salary for firefighters in Illinois is $78,380 a year, or $37.68 an hour. Pay ranges from $38,900 for the lowest-paid 10% to $106,060 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid firefighters make in Illinois?
The top 10% of firefighters in Illinois earn at least $106,060 a year. The top 25% earn $103,530 or more.
What is the starting pay for firefighters in Illinois?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $38,900 a year, and a quarter of firefighters earn $47,910 or less.
How many firefighters work in Illinois?
About 18,400 firefighters are employed in Illinois, not counting the self-employed.