Firefighters Salary in Bowling Green, KY
Firefighters in Bowling Green, KY make a median of $35,660 a year, or about $17.14 an hour. The range runs from $29K at the entry level to $47K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 90.18), which stretches that salary to about $39,543 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,153/month — about 47.4% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $36K get you in Bowling Green?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Bowling Green’s Regional Price Parity (90.18). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Bowling Green, KY
Entry-level firefighters (10th percentile) start around $29K. Mid-career wages sit at $36K. Top earners bring in $47K or more, a $18K spread from bottom to top.
Firefighters pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $93K | +57% | 8,000 |
| New York | $88K | +48% | 14,730 |
| New Jersey | $88K | +47% | 6,590 |
| California | $83K | +40% | 27,580 |
| District of Columbia | $79K | +33% | 1,430 |
| Illinois | $79K | +33% | 14,510 |
| Connecticut | $78K | +30% | 2,860 |
| Oregon | $73K | +23% | 3,660 |
| Massachusetts | $73K | +23% | 11,910 |
| Pennsylvania | $71K | +20% | N/A |
| Maryland | $71K | +19% | 5,250 |
| Rhode Island | $69K | +17% | 1,590 |
| Nevada | $67K | +13% | 2,360 |
| Montana | $64K | +8% | 960 |
| Alaska | $63K | +6% | 1,040 |
| Nebraska | $62K | +4% | 1,060 |
| Indiana | $61K | +3% | 8,550 |
| Texas | $61K | +2% | 30,400 |
| Ohio | $59K | -0% | 18,750 |
| Arizona | $59K | -1% | 6,870 |
| Florida | $58K | -2% | 21,470 |
| Virginia | $58K | -2% | 10,820 |
| New Hampshire | $57K | -4% | 2,880 |
| Michigan | $56K | -7% | 7,390 |
| Iowa | $55K | -7% | 2,050 |
| Idaho | $54K | -10% | 2,100 |
| North Dakota | $54K | -10% | 750 |
| Wyoming | $52K | -13% | 680 |
| Utah | $49K | -17% | 2,650 |
| Missouri | $48K | -19% | 6,740 |
| Delaware | $48K | -19% | 450 |
| Wisconsin | $48K | -20% | 8,010 |
| South Dakota | $48K | -20% | 540 |
| Alabama | $47K | -20% | 6,930 |
| Maine | $47K | -20% | 2,390 |
| Tennessee | $47K | -21% | 6,510 |
| Oklahoma | $47K | -21% | 4,110 |
| Vermont | $46K | -23% | 470 |
| Georgia | $46K | -23% | 11,660 |
| South Carolina | $46K | -23% | 7,570 |
| Kansas | $44K | -26% | 3,630 |
| New Mexico | $43K | -28% | 2,200 |
| Arkansas | $42K | -29% | 2,280 |
| Minnesota | $42K | -29% | 4,890 |
| West Virginia | $42K | -30% | 1,040 |
| North Carolina | $37K | -37% | 18,200 |
| Kentucky | $37K | -38% | 5,320 |
| Mississippi | $37K | -38% | 2,630 |
| Louisiana | $34K | -43% | 4,690 |
Showing 1–10 of 49 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track firefighters salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Bowling Green numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do firefighters make in Bowling Green, KY?
The median is $35,660 a year, that works out to about $17 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $29,290, and experienced firefighters can clear $47,410. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $36K enough to live in Bowling Green?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,439/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,153/month, which eats 47.3% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a firefighters salary go in Bowling Green?
Bowling Green has a Regional Price Parity of 90.18 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median firefighters salary is worth about $39,543 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do firefighters get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.