Firefighters Salary
Firefighters in Colorado make a median of $74,170 a year, or about $35.66 an hour. The range runs from $47K at the entry level to $114K for experienced workers.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Colorado. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $74K get you in Colorado?
About firefighters
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Colorado
Entry-level firefighters (10th percentile) start around $47K. Mid-career wages sit at $74K. Top earners bring in $114K or more, a $67K spread from bottom to top.
Firefighters salary by metro in Colorado
7 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Collins-Loveland | $100K | +35% | 300 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial | $88K | +19% | 3,010 |
| Boulder | $79K | +7% | 360 |
| Grand Junction | $70K | -5% | 220 |
| Colorado Springs | $63K | -15% | 760 |
| Greeley | $63K | -16% | 480 |
| Pueblo | $62K | -17% | 170 |
Compare to other states
Track firefighters salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Colorado numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a firefighter afford a 2BR apartment alone in Colorado?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $74K, rent takes 42.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,044/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,400/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for firefighters in Colorado?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new firefighters typically earn — is $47K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,820/month.
Is firefighter a high-paying job in Colorado?
Local pay is 25% above the national median — $74K here vs. $59K nationally.
How does Colorado compare to the national average for firefighters?
Colorado pays $74K median vs. the U.S. average of $59K — that’s +25%.
How much do firefighters make in Colorado?
The median is $74,170 a year, that works out to about $36 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $47,000, and experienced firefighters can clear $114,170. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $74K enough to live in Colorado?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,775/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,044/month, which eats 42.8% 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 Colorado?
Colorado has a Regional Price Parity of 100 (100 is the national average). That's right at the national average. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median firefighters salary is worth about $74,170 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.