Firefighter salary in Roanoke, VA
Firefighters in the Roanoke, VA metro area earn a median of $39,310 a year ($18.90 an hour), based on BLS data for 540 workers.
Pay ranges from $26,520 for the lowest-paid 10% to $59,240 for the top 10%. That is 34% lower than the national median of $59,280. Pay here is 33% lower than the Virginia statewide median of $58,670. There are 3.5 firefighters per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.6× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $42,090, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for firefighters in Roanoke, VA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $26,520 | $12.75 |
| 25th percentile | $35,140 | $16.90 |
| Median | $39,310 | $18.90 |
| 75th percentile | $46,500 | $22.36 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $59,240 | $28.48 |
| Average (mean) | $42,090 | $20.24 |
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 | $3,275.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,637.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,511.92 |
| Weekly | $755.96 |
| Hourly | $18.90 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $66,980 | 7,610 |
| Richmond, VA | $60,790 | 2,020 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $56,940 | 2,880 |
| Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA | $49,410 | 80 |
| Charlottesville, VA | $46,860 | 260 |
| Lynchburg, VA | $45,450 | 260 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $44,110 | 270 |
| Harrisonburg, VA | $43,900 | 180 |
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | $38,380 | 60 |
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 Virginia statewide figures.
Related jobs in Roanoke, VA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Security Guard | $36,900 | $17.74 |
| Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $59,900 | $28.80 |
| Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers | $29,580 | $14.22 |
| Correctional Officers and Jailers | $50,070 | $24.07 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers | $58,300 | $28.03 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | $96,100 | $46.20 |
| Protective Service Workers, All Other | $33,640 | $16.18 |
| School Bus Monitor | $33,080 | $15.90 |
| Detectives and Criminal Investigators | $114,050 | $54.83 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers | $62,550 | $30.07 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Protective Service Workers, All Other | $49,640 | $23.87 |
| Transportation Security Screener | $63,130 | $30.35 |
| Crossing Guards and Flaggers | $33,230 | $15.98 |
More: Protective Service Occupations · all salaries in Roanoke, VA
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 Roanoke, VA?
The median salary for firefighters in the Roanoke, VA metro area is $39,310 a year, or $18.90 an hour. Pay ranges from $26,520 for the lowest-paid 10% to $59,240 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid firefighters make in Roanoke, VA?
The top 10% of firefighters in the Roanoke, VA metro area earn at least $59,240 a year. The top 25% earn $46,500 or more.
What is the starting pay for firefighters in Roanoke, VA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $26,520 a year, and a quarter of firefighters earn $35,140 or less.
How many firefighters work in Roanoke, VA?
About 540 firefighters are employed in the Roanoke, VA metro area, not counting the self-employed.