Firefighter salary in Indiana
Firefighters in Indiana earn a median of $62,780 a year ($30.18 an hour), based on BLS data for 8,530 workers.
Pay ranges from $38,460 for the lowest-paid 10% to $81,890 for the top 10%. That is 6% higher than the national median of $59,280. Indiana ranks 15th of 50 states for firefighters pay. There are 2.7 firefighters per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.2× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $62,420, close to the median.
Pay range for firefighters in Indiana
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $38,460 | $18.49 |
| 25th percentile | $50,300 | $24.18 |
| Median | $62,780 | $30.18 |
| 75th percentile | $75,860 | $36.47 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $81,890 | $39.37 |
| Average (mean) | $62,420 | $30.01 |
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 | $5,231.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,615.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,414.62 |
| Weekly | $1,207.31 |
| Hourly | $30.18 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Firefighter salary in cities in Indiana
| 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 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $58,570 | 3,380 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $56,450 | 440 |
| Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $54,850 | 200 |
| Terre Haute, IN | $54,460 | 150 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $45,160 | 1,640 |
| Columbus, IN | $43,510 | 90 |
| Bloomington, IN | $37,620 | 230 |
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 Indiana
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fire Inspectors and Investigators | $73,340 | $35.26 |
| Security Guard | $36,490 | $17.54 |
| Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $73,370 | $35.27 |
| Correctional Officers and Jailers | $48,340 | $23.24 |
| Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers | $28,640 | $13.77 |
| Crossing Guards and Flaggers | $37,440 | $18.00 |
| School Bus Monitor | $33,590 | $16.15 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | $81,540 | $39.20 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers | $61,520 | $29.58 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers | $61,460 | $29.55 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers | $88,310 | $42.46 |
| Detectives and Criminal Investigators | $70,340 | $33.82 |
| Bailiff | $43,000 | $20.67 |
| Private Detectives and Investigators | $41,830 | $20.11 |
More: Protective Service Occupations · all salaries in Indiana
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 Indiana?
The median salary for firefighters in Indiana is $62,780 a year, or $30.18 an hour. Pay ranges from $38,460 for the lowest-paid 10% to $81,890 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid firefighters make in Indiana?
The top 10% of firefighters in Indiana earn at least $81,890 a year. The top 25% earn $75,860 or more.
What is the starting pay for firefighters in Indiana?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $38,460 a year, and a quarter of firefighters earn $50,300 or less.
How many firefighters work in Indiana?
About 8,530 firefighters are employed in Indiana, not counting the self-employed.