Firefighter salary in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC
Firefighters in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area earn a median of $56,940 a year ($27.38 an hour), based on BLS data for 2,880 workers.
Pay ranges from $38,840 for the lowest-paid 10% to $76,460 for the top 10%. That is 4% lower than the national median of $59,280. Pay here is 3% lower than the Virginia statewide median of $58,670. There are 3.8 firefighters per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.7× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $57,510, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for firefighters in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $38,840 | $18.67 |
| 25th percentile | $46,790 | $22.49 |
| Median | $56,940 | $27.38 |
| 75th percentile | $64,210 | $30.87 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $76,460 | $36.76 |
| Average (mean) | $57,510 | $27.65 |
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 | $4,745 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,372.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,190 |
| Weekly | $1,095 |
| Hourly | $27.38 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $56,940 salary, see how much house you can afford in Virginia at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
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 |
| Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA | $49,410 | 80 |
| Jacksonville, NC | $47,870 | 340 |
| Charlottesville, VA | $46,860 | 260 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $46,600 | 1,970 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | $46,210 | 220 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $45,640 | 2,510 |
| Lynchburg, VA | $45,450 | 260 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $44,110 | 270 |
| Harrisonburg, VA | $43,900 | 180 |
| Roanoke, VA | $39,310 | 540 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $38,700 | 4,700 |
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | $38,380 | 60 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $38,350 | 1,220 |
| Asheville, NC | $37,450 | 890 |
| Fayetteville, NC | $36,820 | 850 |
| Burlington, NC | $36,520 | 240 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $36,340 | 810 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $35,730 | 990 |
| Wilmington, NC | $35,580 | 780 |
| Goldsboro, NC | $35,500 | 100 |
| Greenville, NC | $34,430 | 200 |
| Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC | $34,200 | 190 |
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 Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Security Guard | $37,230 | $17.90 |
| Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $59,690 | $28.70 |
| Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers | $27,890 | $13.41 |
| Correctional Officers and Jailers | $49,900 | $23.99 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers | $87,530 | $42.08 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | $97,200 | $46.73 |
| Detectives and Criminal Investigators | $93,790 | $45.09 |
| Protective Service Workers, All Other | $34,940 | $16.80 |
| School Bus Monitor | $35,040 | $16.85 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers | $59,990 | $28.84 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers | $80,260 | $38.59 |
| Crossing Guards and Flaggers | $34,920 | $16.79 |
| Transportation Security Screener | $62,000 | $29.81 |
| Private Detectives and Investigators | $45,990 | $22.11 |
More: Protective Service Occupations · all salaries in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC
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 Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC?
The median salary for firefighters in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area is $56,940 a year, or $27.38 an hour. Pay ranges from $38,840 for the lowest-paid 10% to $76,460 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid firefighters make in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC?
The top 10% of firefighters in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area earn at least $76,460 a year. The top 25% earn $64,210 or more.
What is the starting pay for firefighters in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $38,840 a year, and a quarter of firefighters earn $46,790 or less.
How many firefighters work in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC?
About 2,880 firefighters are employed in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area, not counting the self-employed.