Firefighter salary in North Carolina
Firefighters in North Carolina earn a median of $37,940 a year ($18.24 an hour), based on BLS data for 19,410 workers.
Pay ranges from $29,360 for the lowest-paid 10% to $61,940 for the top 10%. That is 36% lower than the national median of $59,280. North Carolina ranks 46th of 50 states for firefighters pay. There are 3.9 firefighters per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.8× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $43,060, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for firefighters in North Carolina
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $29,360 | $14.12 |
| 25th percentile | $34,010 | $16.35 |
| Median | $37,940 | $18.24 |
| 75th percentile | $47,690 | $22.93 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $61,940 | $29.78 |
| Average (mean) | $43,060 | $20.70 |
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 | $3,161.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,580.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,459.23 |
| Weekly | $729.62 |
| Hourly | $18.24 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Firefighter salary in cities in North Carolina
| 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 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $38,350 | 1,220 |
| 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 |
Related jobs in North Carolina
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fire Inspectors and Investigators | $66,820 | $32.12 |
| Security Guard | $35,010 | $16.83 |
| Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $59,300 | $28.51 |
| Correctional Officers and Jailers | $50,550 | $24.30 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers | $59,560 | $28.64 |
| Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers | $27,310 | $13.13 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | $91,100 | $43.80 |
| Detectives and Criminal Investigators | $63,280 | $30.43 |
| Crossing Guards and Flaggers | $33,730 | $16.21 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers | $57,390 | $27.59 |
| Private Detectives and Investigators | $52,890 | $25.43 |
| School Bus Monitor | $32,970 | $15.85 |
| Transportation Security Screener | $64,540 | $31.03 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers | $67,270 | $32.34 |
More: Protective Service Occupations · all salaries in North Carolina
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 North Carolina?
The median salary for firefighters in North Carolina is $37,940 a year, or $18.24 an hour. Pay ranges from $29,360 for the lowest-paid 10% to $61,940 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid firefighters make in North Carolina?
The top 10% of firefighters in North Carolina earn at least $61,940 a year. The top 25% earn $47,690 or more.
What is the starting pay for firefighters in North Carolina?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $29,360 a year, and a quarter of firefighters earn $34,010 or less.
How many firefighters work in North Carolina?
About 19,410 firefighters are employed in North Carolina, not counting the self-employed.