Firefighter salary in South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI
Firefighters in the South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI metro area earn a median of $56,450 a year ($27.14 an hour), based on BLS data for 440 workers.
Pay ranges from $39,520 for the lowest-paid 10% to $70,190 for the top 10%. That is 5% lower than the national median of $59,280. Pay here is 10% lower than the Indiana statewide median of $62,780. There are 3.4 firefighters per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.5× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $55,960, close to the median.
Pay range for firefighters in South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $39,520 | $19.00 |
| 25th percentile | $50,300 | $24.18 |
| Median | $56,450 | $27.14 |
| 75th percentile | $61,190 | $29.42 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $70,190 | $33.75 |
| Average (mean) | $55,960 | $26.90 |
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 | $4,704.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,352.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,171.15 |
| Weekly | $1,085.58 |
| Hourly | $27.14 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $56,450 salary, see how much house you can afford in Indiana 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $82,820 | 14,560 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $75,860 | 420 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $68,480 | 3,740 |
| Evansville, IN | $66,840 | 330 |
| Michigan City-La Porte, IN | $65,230 | 160 |
| Elkhart-Goshen, IN | $63,760 | 270 |
| Muncie, IN | $62,780 | 130 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $62,730 | 3,520 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $58,570 | 3,380 |
| Lansing-East Lansing, MI | $57,540 | 410 |
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | $56,260 | 420 |
| Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $54,850 | 200 |
| Terre Haute, IN | $54,460 | 150 |
| Midland, MI | $52,800 | 60 |
| Battle Creek, MI | $52,200 | 120 |
| Niles, MI | $50,600 | 110 |
| Ann Arbor, MI | $48,460 | 160 |
| Jackson, MI | $47,690 | 100 |
| Traverse City, MI | $46,990 | 140 |
| Kalamazoo-Portage, MI | $45,480 | 60 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $45,160 | 1,640 |
| Monroe, MI | $44,730 | 70 |
| Saginaw, MI | $44,550 | 80 |
| Columbus, IN | $43,510 | 90 |
| Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI | $41,580 | 140 |
| Flint, MI | $39,150 | 180 |
| 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 Indiana statewide figures.
Related jobs in South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Security Guard | $36,090 | $17.35 |
| Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $77,070 | $37.05 |
| Correctional Officers and Jailers | $56,390 | $27.11 |
| Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers | $29,500 | $14.18 |
| Gambling Surveillance Officers and Gambling Investigators | $52,990 | $25.47 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | $82,450 | $39.64 |
| Crossing Guards and Flaggers | $43,010 | $20.68 |
| Detectives and Criminal Investigators | $78,200 | $37.59 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers | $73,600 | $35.39 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers | $47,130 | $22.66 |
| School Bus Monitor | $29,910 | $14.38 |
| Transportation Security Screener | $61,110 | $29.38 |
More: Protective Service Occupations · all salaries in South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI
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 South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI?
The median salary for firefighters in the South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI metro area is $56,450 a year, or $27.14 an hour. Pay ranges from $39,520 for the lowest-paid 10% to $70,190 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid firefighters make in South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI?
The top 10% of firefighters in the South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI metro area earn at least $70,190 a year. The top 25% earn $61,190 or more.
What is the starting pay for firefighters in South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $39,520 a year, and a quarter of firefighters earn $50,300 or less.
How many firefighters work in South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI?
About 440 firefighters are employed in the South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI metro area, not counting the self-employed.