Firefighter salary in Texas
Firefighters in Texas earn a median of $60,180 a year ($28.94 an hour), based on BLS data for 28,170 workers.
Pay ranges from $40,020 for the lowest-paid 10% to $77,170 for the top 10%. That is 2% higher than the national median of $59,280. Texas ranks 17th of 50 states for firefighters pay. There are 2.0 firefighters per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $60,390, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for firefighters in Texas
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $40,020 | $19.24 |
| 25th percentile | $48,680 | $23.41 |
| Median | $60,180 | $28.94 |
| 75th percentile | $71,980 | $34.61 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $77,170 | $37.10 |
| Average (mean) | $60,390 | $29.04 |
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 | $5,015 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,507.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,314.62 |
| Weekly | $1,157.31 |
| Hourly | $28.94 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Firefighter salary in cities in Texas
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Abilene, TX | $78,380 | 210 |
| Lubbock, TX | $77,290 | 410 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $64,900 | 8,780 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $64,540 | 380 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $63,360 | 2,910 |
| Waco, TX | $62,650 | 210 |
| Sherman-Denison, TX | $60,650 | 160 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $59,120 | 5,780 |
| Laredo, TX | $59,100 | 430 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $58,830 | 2,300 |
| Killeen-Temple, TX | $57,660 | 440 |
| McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | $50,740 | 390 |
| Victoria, TX | $50,350 | 70 |
| El Paso, TX | $50,300 | 660 |
| Texarkana, TX-AR | $49,940 | 180 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | $48,700 | 670 |
| Amarillo, TX | $48,420 | 240 |
| San Angelo, TX | $47,840 | 180 |
| Brownsville-Harlingen, TX | $46,220 | 310 |
| Longview, TX | $45,820 | 270 |
| Wichita Falls, TX | $45,710 | 170 |
| Tyler, TX | $43,740 | 290 |
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 Texas
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fire Inspectors and Investigators | $82,390 | $39.61 |
| Security Guard | $35,980 | $17.30 |
| Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $75,900 | $36.49 |
| Correctional Officers and Jailers | $52,670 | $25.32 |
| Detectives and Criminal Investigators | $90,510 | $43.51 |
| Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers | $29,450 | $14.16 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers | $81,710 | $39.28 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers | $46,740 | $22.47 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | $111,000 | $53.36 |
| Protective Service Workers, All Other | $33,500 | $16.11 |
| Transportation Security Screener | $68,640 | $33.00 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers | $62,590 | $30.09 |
| Private Detectives and Investigators | $51,810 | $24.91 |
| Crossing Guards and Flaggers | $33,350 | $16.03 |
More: Protective Service Occupations · all salaries in Texas
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 Texas?
The median salary for firefighters in Texas is $60,180 a year, or $28.94 an hour. Pay ranges from $40,020 for the lowest-paid 10% to $77,170 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid firefighters make in Texas?
The top 10% of firefighters in Texas earn at least $77,170 a year. The top 25% earn $71,980 or more.
What is the starting pay for firefighters in Texas?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $40,020 a year, and a quarter of firefighters earn $48,680 or less.
How many firefighters work in Texas?
About 28,170 firefighters are employed in Texas, not counting the self-employed.