Firefighter salary in Washington
Firefighters in Washington earn a median of $94,520 a year ($45.44 an hour), based on BLS data for 7,560 workers.
Pay ranges from $47,640 for the lowest-paid 10% to $123,980 for the top 10%. That is 59% higher than the national median of $59,280. Washington ranks 2nd of 50 states for firefighters pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 2.1 firefighters per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $89,200, close to the median.
Pay range for firefighters in Washington
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $47,640 | $22.91 |
| 25th percentile | $72,300 | $34.76 |
| Median | $94,520 | $45.44 |
| 75th percentile | $105,540 | $50.74 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $123,980 | $59.61 |
| Average (mean) | $89,200 | $42.88 |
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 | $7,876.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,938.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,635.38 |
| Weekly | $1,817.69 |
| Hourly | $45.44 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Firefighter salary in cities in Washington
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Bellingham, WA | $101,130 | 320 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $101,090 | 3,760 |
| 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 |
Related jobs in Washington
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fire Inspectors and Investigators | $122,900 | $59.09 |
| Security Guard | $47,100 | $22.64 |
| Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $102,080 | $49.08 |
| Correctional Officers and Jailers | $79,460 | $38.20 |
| Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers | $37,770 | $18.16 |
| Protective Service Workers, All Other | $42,170 | $20.27 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers | $129,350 | $62.19 |
| Crossing Guards and Flaggers | $48,940 | $23.53 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | $136,280 | $65.52 |
| Detectives and Criminal Investigators | $115,790 | $55.67 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers | $62,510 | $30.05 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers | $98,910 | $47.55 |
| Private Detectives and Investigators | $64,080 | $30.81 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Protective Service Workers, All Other | $79,270 | $38.11 |
More: Protective Service Occupations · all salaries in Washington
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 Washington?
The median salary for firefighters in Washington is $94,520 a year, or $45.44 an hour. Pay ranges from $47,640 for the lowest-paid 10% to $123,980 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid firefighters make in Washington?
The top 10% of firefighters in Washington earn at least $123,980 a year. The top 25% earn $105,540 or more.
What is the starting pay for firefighters in Washington?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $47,640 a year, and a quarter of firefighters earn $72,300 or less.
How many firefighters work in Washington?
About 7,560 firefighters are employed in Washington, not counting the self-employed.