Firefighter salary in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
Firefighters in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area earn a median of $101,090 a year ($48.60 an hour), based on BLS data for 3,760 workers.
Pay ranges from $73,360 for the lowest-paid 10% to $124,000 for the top 10%. That is 71% higher than the national median of $59,280. Pay here is 7% higher than the Washington statewide median of $94,520. There are 1.8 firefighters per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $100,450, close to the median.
Pay range for firefighters in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $73,360 | $35.27 |
| 25th percentile | $91,210 | $43.85 |
| Median | $101,090 | $48.60 |
| 75th percentile | $119,770 | $57.58 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $124,000 | $59.62 |
| Average (mean) | $100,450 | $48.30 |
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 | $8,424.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,212.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,888.08 |
| Weekly | $1,944.04 |
| Hourly | $48.60 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Bellingham, WA | $101,130 | 320 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $95,910 | 290 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $90,050 | 260 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $85,170 | 1,730 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $83,310 | 750 |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | $81,100 | 180 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | $80,090 | 360 |
| Longview-Kelso, WA | $78,940 | n/a |
| Yakima, WA | $62,120 | 410 |
| Lewiston, ID-WA | $58,920 | 80 |
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 Washington statewide figures.
Related jobs in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fire Inspectors and Investigators | $127,920 | $61.50 |
| Security Guard | $47,490 | $22.83 |
| Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $115,120 | $55.35 |
| Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers | $39,240 | $18.86 |
| Protective Service Workers, All Other | $42,170 | $20.27 |
| Correctional Officers and Jailers | $81,550 | $39.21 |
| Crossing Guards and Flaggers | $50,020 | $24.05 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers | $134,830 | $64.82 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | $158,510 | $76.21 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers | $62,640 | $30.12 |
| Detectives and Criminal Investigators | $123,820 | $59.53 |
| Private Detectives and Investigators | $75,670 | $36.38 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers | $105,550 | $50.75 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Protective Service Workers, All Other | $87,930 | $42.27 |
More: Protective Service Occupations · all salaries in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
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 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA?
The median salary for firefighters in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area is $101,090 a year, or $48.60 an hour. Pay ranges from $73,360 for the lowest-paid 10% to $124,000 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid firefighters make in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA?
The top 10% of firefighters in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area earn at least $124,000 a year. The top 25% earn $119,770 or more.
What is the starting pay for firefighters in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $73,360 a year, and a quarter of firefighters earn $91,210 or less.
How many firefighters work in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA?
About 3,760 firefighters are employed in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area, not counting the self-employed.