Firefighter salary in Winston-Salem, NC
Firefighters in the Winston-Salem, NC metro area earn a median of $35,730 a year ($17.18 an hour), based on BLS data for 990 workers.
Pay ranges from $28,580 for the lowest-paid 10% to $45,390 for the top 10%. That is 40% lower than the national median of $59,280. Pay here is 6% lower than the North Carolina statewide median of $37,940. There are 3.6 firefighters per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.6× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $36,120, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for firefighters in Winston-Salem, NC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,580 | $13.74 |
| 25th percentile | $30,670 | $14.74 |
| Median | $35,730 | $17.18 |
| 75th percentile | $39,090 | $18.79 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $45,390 | $21.82 |
| Average (mean) | $36,120 | $17.36 |
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 | $2,977.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,488.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,374.23 |
| Weekly | $687.12 |
| Hourly | $17.18 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $56,940 | 2,880 |
| Jacksonville, NC | $47,870 | 340 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $46,600 | 1,970 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | $46,210 | 220 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $45,640 | 2,510 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $38,700 | 4,700 |
| 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 |
| 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 North Carolina statewide figures.
Related jobs in Winston-Salem, NC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fire Inspectors and Investigators | $63,950 | $30.75 |
| Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $57,440 | $27.62 |
| Security Guard | $36,040 | $17.33 |
| Correctional Officers and Jailers | $47,330 | $22.76 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers | $55,940 | $26.90 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | $78,130 | $37.56 |
| Crossing Guards and Flaggers | $34,880 | $16.77 |
| Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers | $26,300 | $12.64 |
| Detectives and Criminal Investigators | $62,260 | $29.93 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers | $50,800 | $24.42 |
| Private Detectives and Investigators | $42,660 | $20.51 |
| School Bus Monitor | $33,380 | $16.05 |
More: Protective Service Occupations · all salaries in Winston-Salem, 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 Winston-Salem, NC?
The median salary for firefighters in the Winston-Salem, NC metro area is $35,730 a year, or $17.18 an hour. Pay ranges from $28,580 for the lowest-paid 10% to $45,390 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid firefighters make in Winston-Salem, NC?
The top 10% of firefighters in the Winston-Salem, NC metro area earn at least $45,390 a year. The top 25% earn $39,090 or more.
What is the starting pay for firefighters in Winston-Salem, NC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $28,580 a year, and a quarter of firefighters earn $30,670 or less.
How many firefighters work in Winston-Salem, NC?
About 990 firefighters are employed in the Winston-Salem, NC metro area, not counting the self-employed.