Firefighter salary in Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI
Firefighters in the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metro area earn a median of $39,350 a year ($18.92 an hour), based on BLS data for 3,980 workers.
Pay ranges from $29,070 for the lowest-paid 10% to $73,780 for the top 10%. That is 34% lower than the national median of $59,280. Pay here is 3% higher than the Minnesota statewide median of $38,110. There are 2.0 firefighters per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $47,580, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for firefighters in Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $29,070 | $13.98 |
| 25th percentile | $33,620 | $16.16 |
| Median | $39,350 | $18.92 |
| 75th percentile | $59,640 | $28.67 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $73,780 | $35.47 |
| Average (mean) | $47,580 | $22.87 |
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 | $3,279.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,639.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,513.46 |
| Weekly | $756.73 |
| Hourly | $18.92 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Sheboygan, WI | $79,620 | 80 |
| Grand Forks, ND-MN | $68,060 | 180 |
| Janesville-Beloit, WI | $66,000 | 190 |
| Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI | $63,590 | 260 |
| Madison, WI | $56,430 | 1,230 |
| Fargo, ND-MN | $53,130 | 270 |
| Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | $51,520 | 300 |
| Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $50,840 | 190 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $49,760 | 2,130 |
| Green Bay, WI | $47,980 | 590 |
| Kenosha, WI | $46,850 | 280 |
| Wausau, WI | $46,820 | 260 |
| Appleton, WI | $46,800 | 320 |
| Fond du Lac, WI | $45,110 | 120 |
| La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | $38,900 | 250 |
| Duluth, MN-WI | $37,410 | 380 |
| Eau Claire, WI | $36,030 | 310 |
| Rochester, MN | $35,200 | 230 |
| Mankato, MN | $34,190 | 120 |
| St. Cloud, MN | $33,820 | 210 |
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 Minnesota statewide figures.
Related jobs in Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fire Inspectors and Investigators | $84,410 | $40.58 |
| Security Guard | $43,430 | $20.88 |
| Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $97,190 | $46.73 |
| Correctional Officers and Jailers | $69,640 | $33.48 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | $123,350 | $59.30 |
| Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers | $34,090 | $16.39 |
| Detectives and Criminal Investigators | $85,300 | $41.01 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers | $58,100 | $27.93 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers | $81,630 | $39.24 |
| Transportation Security Screener | $68,830 | $33.09 |
| School Bus Monitor | $38,670 | $18.59 |
| Protective Service Workers, All Other | $43,950 | $21.13 |
| Private Detectives and Investigators | $70,220 | $33.76 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers | $100,070 | $48.11 |
More: Protective Service Occupations · all salaries in Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI
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 Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI?
The median salary for firefighters in the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metro area is $39,350 a year, or $18.92 an hour. Pay ranges from $29,070 for the lowest-paid 10% to $73,780 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid firefighters make in Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI?
The top 10% of firefighters in the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metro area earn at least $73,780 a year. The top 25% earn $59,640 or more.
What is the starting pay for firefighters in Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $29,070 a year, and a quarter of firefighters earn $33,620 or less.
How many firefighters work in Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI?
About 3,980 firefighters are employed in the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metro area, not counting the self-employed.