Firefighter salary in Waterbury-Shelton, CT
Firefighters in the Waterbury-Shelton, CT metro area earn a median of $77,630 a year ($37.32 an hour), based on BLS data for 230 workers.
Pay ranges from $66,280 for the lowest-paid 10% to $80,450 for the top 10%. That is 31% higher than the national median of $59,280. Pay here is about the same as the Connecticut statewide median of $77,630. There are 1.4 firefighters per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.64). The average (mean) salary is $74,440, close to the median.
Pay range for firefighters in Waterbury-Shelton, CT
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $66,280 | $31.86 |
| 25th percentile | $67,360 | $32.39 |
| Median | $77,630 | $37.32 |
| 75th percentile | $80,450 | $38.68 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $80,450 | $38.68 |
| Average (mean) | $74,440 | $35.79 |
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 | $6,469.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,234.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,985.77 |
| Weekly | $1,492.88 |
| Hourly | $37.32 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $77,630 salary, see how much house you can afford in Connecticut 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $81,680 | 840 |
| New Haven, CT | $79,380 | 570 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $75,990 | 930 |
| Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT | $62,850 | 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 Connecticut statewide figures.
Related jobs in Waterbury-Shelton, CT
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fire Inspectors and Investigators | $72,990 | $35.09 |
| Security Guard | $38,720 | $18.62 |
| Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $82,830 | $39.82 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | $103,640 | $49.83 |
| School Bus Monitor | $34,010 | $16.35 |
| Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers | $35,990 | $17.30 |
| Detectives and Criminal Investigators | $94,470 | $45.42 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers | $45,860 | $22.05 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers | $89,870 | $43.21 |
| Protective Service Workers, All Other | $38,660 | $18.59 |
| Private Detectives and Investigators | $76,630 | $36.84 |
| Animal Control Worker | $47,440 | $22.81 |
More: Protective Service Occupations · all salaries in Waterbury-Shelton, CT
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 Waterbury-Shelton, CT?
The median salary for firefighters in the Waterbury-Shelton, CT metro area is $77,630 a year, or $37.32 an hour. Pay ranges from $66,280 for the lowest-paid 10% to $80,450 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid firefighters make in Waterbury-Shelton, CT?
The top 10% of firefighters in the Waterbury-Shelton, CT metro area earn at least $80,450 a year. The top 25% earn $80,450 or more.
What is the starting pay for firefighters in Waterbury-Shelton, CT?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $66,280 a year, and a quarter of firefighters earn $67,360 or less.
How many firefighters work in Waterbury-Shelton, CT?
About 230 firefighters are employed in the Waterbury-Shelton, CT metro area, not counting the self-employed.