Firefighter salary in Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ
Firefighters in the Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ metro area earn a median of $73,020 a year ($35.11 an hour), based on BLS data for 300 workers.
Pay ranges from $45,020 for the lowest-paid 10% to $80,770 for the top 10%. That is 23% higher than the national median of $59,280. Pay here is 1% lower than the Pennsylvania statewide median of $73,460. There are 0.80 firefighters per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.36). The average (mean) salary is $67,520, close to the median.
Pay range for firefighters in Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $45,020 | $21.65 |
| 25th percentile | $56,210 | $27.03 |
| Median | $73,020 | $35.11 |
| 75th percentile | $80,770 | $38.83 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $80,770 | $38.83 |
| Average (mean) | $67,520 | $32.46 |
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 | $6,085 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,042.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,808.46 |
| Weekly | $1,404.23 |
| Hourly | $35.11 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $73,020 salary, see how much house you can afford in Pennsylvania 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 |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $106,420 | 14,960 |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $88,090 | 340 |
| Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | $80,560 | 400 |
| Erie, PA | $80,280 | 140 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $78,050 | 3,970 |
| Reading, PA | $74,760 | 160 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $72,230 | 950 |
| York-Hanover, PA | $67,570 | 110 |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | $62,760 | 140 |
| Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA | $60,410 | 190 |
| Lebanon, PA | $60,320 | 40 |
| Chambersburg, PA | $59,050 | 70 |
| Vineland, NJ | $55,780 | 60 |
| Lancaster, PA | $54,890 | 110 |
| Johnstown, PA | $51,050 | 50 |
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 Pennsylvania statewide figures.
Related jobs in Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fire Inspectors and Investigators | $48,060 | $23.11 |
| Security Guard | $36,020 | $17.32 |
| Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $84,530 | $40.64 |
| Crossing Guards and Flaggers | $36,120 | $17.37 |
| Correctional Officers and Jailers | $51,990 | $24.99 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | $102,070 | $49.07 |
| Protective Service Workers, All Other | $38,450 | $18.49 |
| Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers | $30,610 | $14.72 |
| Detectives and Criminal Investigators | $94,800 | $45.58 |
| School Bus Monitor | $36,610 | $17.60 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers | $59,880 | $28.79 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers | $79,670 | $38.30 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Protective Service Workers, All Other | $63,830 | $30.69 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers | $63,230 | $30.40 |
More: Protective Service Occupations · all salaries in Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ
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 Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ?
The median salary for firefighters in the Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ metro area is $73,020 a year, or $35.11 an hour. Pay ranges from $45,020 for the lowest-paid 10% to $80,770 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid firefighters make in Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ?
The top 10% of firefighters in the Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ metro area earn at least $80,770 a year. The top 25% earn $80,770 or more.
What is the starting pay for firefighters in Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $45,020 a year, and a quarter of firefighters earn $56,210 or less.
How many firefighters work in Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ?
About 300 firefighters are employed in the Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ metro area, not counting the self-employed.