Firefighter salary in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
Firefighters in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area earn a median of $38,700 a year ($18.61 an hour), based on BLS data for 4,700 workers.
Pay ranges from $30,410 for the lowest-paid 10% to $79,960 for the top 10%. That is 35% lower than the national median of $59,280. Pay here is 2% higher than the North Carolina statewide median of $37,940. There are 3.5 firefighters per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.6× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $47,070, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for firefighters in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $30,410 | $14.62 |
| 25th percentile | $34,900 | $16.78 |
| Median | $38,700 | $18.61 |
| 75th percentile | $57,950 | $27.86 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $79,960 | $38.44 |
| Average (mean) | $47,070 | $22.63 |
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 | $3,225 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,612.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,488.46 |
| Weekly | $744.23 |
| Hourly | $18.61 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $38,700 salary, see how much house you can afford in North Carolina 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $56,940 | 2,880 |
| Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC | $50,210 | 640 |
| Jacksonville, NC | $47,870 | 340 |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $47,540 | 510 |
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $46,830 | 1,470 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $46,600 | 1,970 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | $46,210 | 220 |
| Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC | $45,890 | 820 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $45,640 | 2,510 |
| Sumter, SC | $43,890 | 90 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $39,980 | 1,290 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $38,350 | 1,220 |
| Asheville, NC | $37,450 | 890 |
| Columbia, SC | $36,960 | 1,060 |
| Fayetteville, NC | $36,820 | 850 |
| Burlington, NC | $36,520 | 240 |
| Spartanburg, SC | $36,360 | 620 |
| 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 |
| Florence, SC | $32,570 | 340 |
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 Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fire Inspectors and Investigators | $76,740 | $36.89 |
| Security Guard | $35,010 | $16.83 |
| Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $63,190 | $30.38 |
| Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers | $28,740 | $13.82 |
| Correctional Officers and Jailers | $54,600 | $26.25 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers | $49,550 | $23.82 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers | $65,960 | $31.71 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | $107,150 | $51.51 |
| Private Detectives and Investigators | $73,430 | $35.30 |
| Crossing Guards and Flaggers | $34,690 | $16.68 |
| Detectives and Criminal Investigators | $71,460 | $34.36 |
| Transportation Security Screener | $64,540 | $31.03 |
| School Bus Monitor | $34,120 | $16.40 |
| Protective Service Workers, All Other | $43,970 | $21.14 |
More: Protective Service Occupations · all salaries in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
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 Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC?
The median salary for firefighters in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area is $38,700 a year, or $18.61 an hour. Pay ranges from $30,410 for the lowest-paid 10% to $79,960 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid firefighters make in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC?
The top 10% of firefighters in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area earn at least $79,960 a year. The top 25% earn $57,950 or more.
What is the starting pay for firefighters in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $30,410 a year, and a quarter of firefighters earn $34,900 or less.
How many firefighters work in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC?
About 4,700 firefighters are employed in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area, not counting the self-employed.