Firefighters Salary
Firefighters in Delaware make a median of $46,710 a year, or about $22.46 an hour. The range runs from $42K at the entry level to $72K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97.51), that's roughly $47,903 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,448/month, about 44.9% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Delaware. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $47K get you in Delaware?
About firefighters
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Delaware
Pay for firefighters in Delaware runs about 21% below the U.S. median of $59K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,448/month, which is 46.3% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 97.51) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for firefighterss.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Delaware
Entry-level firefighters (10th percentile) start around $42K. Mid-career wages sit at $47K. Top earners bring in $72K or more, a $30K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track firefighters salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Delaware numbers change.
Related careers in Public Safety
Frequently asked questions
Can a firefighter afford a 2BR apartment alone in Delaware?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $47K, rent takes 46.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,448/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $900/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for firefighters in Delaware?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new firefighters typically earn — is $42K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,518/month. At HUD’s $1,448/month FMR, rent would take 58% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is firefighter a high-paying job in Delaware?
Local pay runs 21% below the national median — $47K here vs. $59K nationally.
How does Delaware compare to the national average for firefighters?
Delaware pays $47K median vs. the U.S. average of $59K — that’s -21%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 97.51), the purchasing-power equivalent is $48K — below the national median.
How much do firefighters make in Delaware?
The median is $46,710 a year, that works out to about $22 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $41,960, and experienced firefighters can clear $72,160. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $47K enough to live in Delaware?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,130/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,448/month, which eats 46.3% 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 Delaware?
Delaware has a Regional Price Parity of 97.51 (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 $47,903 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.