Firefighter salary in Salem, OR
Firefighters in the Salem, OR metro area earn a median of $64,900 a year ($31.20 an hour), based on BLS data for 330 workers.
Pay ranges from $45,040 for the lowest-paid 10% to $95,980 for the top 10%. That is 9% higher than the national median of $59,280. Pay here is 8% lower than the Oregon statewide median of $70,900. There are 1.7 firefighters per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.78). The average (mean) salary is $64,990, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for firefighters in Salem, OR
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $45,040 | $21.66 |
| 25th percentile | $52,920 | $25.44 |
| Median | $64,900 | $31.20 |
| 75th percentile | $72,640 | $34.93 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $95,980 | $46.15 |
| Average (mean) | $64,990 | $31.25 |
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 | $5,408.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,704.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,496.15 |
| Weekly | $1,248.08 |
| Hourly | $31.20 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $85,170 | 1,730 |
| Corvallis, OR | $82,700 | 60 |
| Eugene-Springfield, OR | $72,280 | 300 |
| Medford, OR | $63,130 | 150 |
| Bend, OR | $62,140 | 250 |
| Albany, OR | $61,060 | 100 |
| Grants Pass, OR | $45,180 | 50 |
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 Oregon statewide figures.
Related jobs in Salem, OR
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Security Guard | $46,150 | $22.19 |
| Correctional Officers and Jailers | $83,690 | $40.24 |
| Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $84,320 | $40.54 |
| Protective Service Workers, All Other | $58,100 | $27.94 |
| Crossing Guards and Flaggers | $62,990 | $30.28 |
| Private Detectives and Investigators | $81,070 | $38.98 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | $131,940 | $63.43 |
| Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers | $33,570 | $16.14 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers | $89,070 | $42.82 |
| Detectives and Criminal Investigators | $97,750 | $47.00 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers | $70,790 | $34.03 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Protective Service Workers, All Other | $97,500 | $46.88 |
More: Protective Service Occupations · all salaries in Salem, OR
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 Salem, OR?
The median salary for firefighters in the Salem, OR metro area is $64,900 a year, or $31.20 an hour. Pay ranges from $45,040 for the lowest-paid 10% to $95,980 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid firefighters make in Salem, OR?
The top 10% of firefighters in the Salem, OR metro area earn at least $95,980 a year. The top 25% earn $72,640 or more.
What is the starting pay for firefighters in Salem, OR?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $45,040 a year, and a quarter of firefighters earn $52,920 or less.
How many firefighters work in Salem, OR?
About 330 firefighters are employed in the Salem, OR metro area, not counting the self-employed.