Firefighter salary in Tuscaloosa, AL
Firefighters in the Tuscaloosa, AL metro area earn a median of $58,400 a year ($28.08 an hour), based on BLS data for 450 workers.
Pay ranges from $36,530 for the lowest-paid 10% to $87,400 for the top 10%. That is 1% lower than the national median of $59,280. Pay here is 23% higher than the Alabama statewide median of $47,600. There are 4.1 firefighters per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.9× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $64,370, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for firefighters in Tuscaloosa, AL
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,530 | $17.56 |
| 25th percentile | $46,200 | $22.21 |
| Median | $58,400 | $28.08 |
| 75th percentile | $87,400 | $42.02 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $87,400 | $42.02 |
| Average (mean) | $64,370 | $30.95 |
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 | $4,866.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,433.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,246.15 |
| Weekly | $1,123.08 |
| Hourly | $28.08 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Birmingham, AL | $51,050 | 2,370 |
| Montgomery, AL | $48,780 | 540 |
| Columbus, GA-AL | $48,770 | 530 |
| Huntsville, AL | $48,010 | 530 |
| Mobile, AL | $46,770 | 710 |
| Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL | $46,260 | 290 |
| Auburn-Opelika, AL | $44,400 | 230 |
| Decatur, AL | $43,650 | 180 |
| Anniston-Oxford, AL | $39,940 | 200 |
| Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL | $37,150 | 140 |
| Gadsden, AL | $36,700 | 180 |
| Dothan, AL | $36,610 | 270 |
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 Alabama statewide figures.
Related jobs in Tuscaloosa, AL
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $59,670 | $28.69 |
| Security Guard | $31,590 | $15.19 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | $74,510 | $35.82 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers | $72,770 | $34.99 |
| Detectives and Criminal Investigators | $64,140 | $30.84 |
| Correctional Officers and Jailers | $50,230 | $24.15 |
More: Protective Service Occupations · all salaries in Tuscaloosa, AL
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 Tuscaloosa, AL?
The median salary for firefighters in the Tuscaloosa, AL metro area is $58,400 a year, or $28.08 an hour. Pay ranges from $36,530 for the lowest-paid 10% to $87,400 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid firefighters make in Tuscaloosa, AL?
The top 10% of firefighters in the Tuscaloosa, AL metro area earn at least $87,400 a year. The top 25% earn $87,400 or more.
What is the starting pay for firefighters in Tuscaloosa, AL?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $36,530 a year, and a quarter of firefighters earn $46,200 or less.
How many firefighters work in Tuscaloosa, AL?
About 450 firefighters are employed in the Tuscaloosa, AL metro area, not counting the self-employed.