Firefighter salary in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Firefighters in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median of $82,820 a year ($39.82 an hour), based on BLS data for 14,560 workers.
Pay ranges from $42,080 for the lowest-paid 10% to $112,930 for the top 10%. That is 40% higher than the national median of $59,280. Pay here is 6% higher than the Illinois statewide median of $78,380. There are 3.2 firefighters per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.4× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $80,110, close to the median.
Pay range for firefighters in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $42,080 | $20.23 |
| 25th percentile | $48,610 | $23.37 |
| Median | $82,820 | $39.82 |
| 75th percentile | $105,720 | $50.83 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $112,930 | $54.29 |
| Average (mean) | $80,110 | $38.52 |
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 | $6,901.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,450.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,185.38 |
| Weekly | $1,592.69 |
| Hourly | $39.82 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $82,820 salary, see how much house you can afford in Illinois 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Rockford, IL | $77,150 | 410 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $75,860 | 420 |
| Peoria, IL | $73,670 | 490 |
| Bloomington, IL | $69,270 | 170 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $68,970 | 2,680 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $68,480 | 3,740 |
| Evansville, IN | $66,840 | 330 |
| Springfield, IL | $65,330 | 240 |
| Michigan City-La Porte, IN | $65,230 | 160 |
| Elkhart-Goshen, IN | $63,760 | 270 |
| Muncie, IN | $62,780 | 130 |
| Decatur, IL | $62,430 | 120 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $62,190 | 340 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $60,080 | 410 |
| Kankakee, IL | $59,850 | 120 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $58,570 | 3,380 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $56,450 | 440 |
| Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $54,850 | 200 |
| Terre Haute, IN | $54,460 | 150 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $45,160 | 1,640 |
| Columbus, IN | $43,510 | 90 |
| Bloomington, IN | $37,620 | 230 |
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 Illinois statewide figures.
Related jobs in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fire Inspectors and Investigators | $62,400 | $30.00 |
| Security Guard | $39,990 | $19.22 |
| Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $107,810 | $51.83 |
| School Bus Monitor | $33,890 | $16.29 |
| Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers | $33,750 | $16.23 |
| Correctional Officers and Jailers | $84,550 | $40.65 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | $135,080 | $64.94 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers | $126,200 | $60.67 |
| Detectives and Criminal Investigators | $102,260 | $49.16 |
| Crossing Guards and Flaggers | $38,990 | $18.75 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers | $58,990 | $28.36 |
| Transportation Security Screener | $70,570 | $33.93 |
| Private Detectives and Investigators | $68,310 | $32.84 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers | $105,450 | $50.70 |
More: Protective Service Occupations · all salaries in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
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 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The median salary for firefighters in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $82,820 a year, or $39.82 an hour. Pay ranges from $42,080 for the lowest-paid 10% to $112,930 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid firefighters make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The top 10% of firefighters in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn at least $112,930 a year. The top 25% earn $105,720 or more.
What is the starting pay for firefighters in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $42,080 a year, and a quarter of firefighters earn $48,610 or less.
How many firefighters work in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
About 14,560 firefighters are employed in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, not counting the self-employed.