Firefighter salary in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
Firefighters in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn a median of $66,980 a year ($32.20 an hour), based on BLS data for 7,610 workers.
Pay ranges from $48,360 for the lowest-paid 10% to $98,770 for the top 10%. That is 13% higher than the national median of $59,280. Pay here is 12% lower than the District of Columbia statewide median of $75,870. There are 2.4 firefighters per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $70,910, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for firefighters in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $48,360 | $23.25 |
| 25th percentile | $59,080 | $28.41 |
| Median | $66,980 | $32.20 |
| 75th percentile | $83,570 | $40.18 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $98,770 | $47.49 |
| Average (mean) | $70,910 | $34.09 |
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 | $5,581.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,790.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,576.15 |
| Weekly | $1,288.08 |
| Hourly | $32.20 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $66,980 salary, see how much house you can afford in District of Columbia 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $78,050 | 3,970 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $73,810 | 2,510 |
| Richmond, VA | $60,790 | 2,020 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $56,940 | 2,880 |
| Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | $49,690 | 230 |
| Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA | $49,410 | 80 |
| Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH | $48,070 | 110 |
| Charlottesville, VA | $46,860 | 260 |
| Lynchburg, VA | $45,450 | 260 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $44,110 | 270 |
| Harrisonburg, VA | $43,900 | 180 |
| Beckley, WV | $41,770 | 80 |
| Wheeling, WV-OH | $41,140 | 210 |
| Roanoke, VA | $39,310 | 540 |
| Charleston, WV | $38,780 | 230 |
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | $38,380 | 60 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $36,060 | 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 District of Columbia statewide figures.
Related jobs in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fire Inspectors and Investigators | $87,630 | $42.13 |
| Security Guard | $46,830 | $22.52 |
| Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $84,000 | $40.39 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | $125,960 | $60.56 |
| Detectives and Criminal Investigators | $156,750 | $75.36 |
| Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers | $34,710 | $16.69 |
| Correctional Officers and Jailers | $70,570 | $33.93 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers | $118,570 | $57.01 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers | $73,490 | $35.33 |
| School Bus Monitor | $41,720 | $20.06 |
| Crossing Guards and Flaggers | $40,800 | $19.61 |
| Transportation Security Screener | $69,910 | $33.61 |
| Protective Service Workers, All Other | $58,780 | $28.26 |
| Private Detectives and Investigators | $62,300 | $29.95 |
More: Protective Service Occupations · all salaries in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
The median salary for firefighters in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area is $66,980 a year, or $32.20 an hour. Pay ranges from $48,360 for the lowest-paid 10% to $98,770 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid firefighters make in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
The top 10% of firefighters in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn at least $98,770 a year. The top 25% earn $83,570 or more.
What is the starting pay for firefighters in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $48,360 a year, and a quarter of firefighters earn $59,080 or less.
How many firefighters work in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
About 7,610 firefighters are employed in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area, not counting the self-employed.