Firefighter salary in Raleigh-Cary, NC
Firefighters in the Raleigh-Cary, NC metro area earn a median of $45,640 a year ($21.94 an hour), based on BLS data for 2,510 workers.
Pay ranges from $31,000 for the lowest-paid 10% to $72,100 for the top 10%. That is 23% lower than the national median of $59,280. Pay here is 20% higher than the North Carolina statewide median of $37,940. There are 3.4 firefighters per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.5× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $48,360, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for firefighters in Raleigh-Cary, NC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,000 | $14.91 |
| 25th percentile | $38,090 | $18.31 |
| Median | $45,640 | $21.94 |
| 75th percentile | $56,410 | $27.12 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $72,100 | $34.66 |
| Average (mean) | $48,360 | $23.25 |
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 | $3,803.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,901.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,755.38 |
| Weekly | $877.69 |
| Hourly | $21.94 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
See Firefighter pay in every state or the North Carolina statewide figures.
Related jobs in Raleigh-Cary, NC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fire Inspectors and Investigators | $77,120 | $37.08 |
| Security Guard | $34,680 | $16.67 |
| Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $65,860 | $31.66 |
| Correctional Officers and Jailers | $54,070 | $25.99 |
| Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers | $27,380 | $13.16 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers | $78,470 | $37.72 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | $102,610 | $49.33 |
| Detectives and Criminal Investigators | $77,210 | $37.12 |
| Crossing Guards and Flaggers | $35,050 | $16.85 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers | $61,710 | $29.67 |
| Transportation Security Screener | $65,940 | $31.70 |
| School Bus Monitor | $31,630 | $15.21 |
| Private Detectives and Investigators | $45,390 | $21.82 |
| Protective Service Workers, All Other | $47,540 | $22.86 |
More: Protective Service Occupations · all salaries in Raleigh-Cary, NC
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 Raleigh-Cary, NC?
The median salary for firefighters in the Raleigh-Cary, NC metro area is $45,640 a year, or $21.94 an hour. Pay ranges from $31,000 for the lowest-paid 10% to $72,100 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid firefighters make in Raleigh-Cary, NC?
The top 10% of firefighters in the Raleigh-Cary, NC metro area earn at least $72,100 a year. The top 25% earn $56,410 or more.
What is the starting pay for firefighters in Raleigh-Cary, NC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $31,000 a year, and a quarter of firefighters earn $38,090 or less.
How many firefighters work in Raleigh-Cary, NC?
About 2,510 firefighters are employed in the Raleigh-Cary, NC metro area, not counting the self-employed.