Firefighters Salary
Firefighters in Georgia make a median of $46,550 a year, or about $22.38 an hour. The range runs from $33K at the entry level to $62K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.89), which stretches that salary to about $50,658 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,434/month, about 45.2% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Georgia. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $47K get you in Georgia?
About firefighters
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What this looks like in Georgia
Pay for firefighters in Georgia 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 $1,434/month, which is 46.1% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.89 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 8% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for firefighterss.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Georgia
Entry-level firefighters (10th percentile) start around $33K. Mid-career wages sit at $47K. Top earners bring in $62K or more, a $29K spread from bottom to top.
Firefighters salary by metro in Georgia
12 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Savannah | $50K | +8% | 720 |
| Hinesville | $49K | +6% | 150 |
| Columbus | $49K | +5% | 530 |
| Dalton | $48K | +3% | 180 |
| Augusta-Richmond County | $48K | +2% | 510 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell | $47K | +2% | 6,350 |
| Gainesville | $47K | +1% | 450 |
| Albany | $47K | -0% | 210 |
| Macon-Bibb County | $46K | -2% | 450 |
| Rome | $45K | -4% | 100 |
| Warner Robins | $40K | -13% | 270 |
| Valdosta | $35K | -26% | 190 |
Showing 1–10 of 12 metros
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Georgia numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a firefighter afford a 2BR apartment alone in Georgia?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $47K, rent takes 46.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,434/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 Georgia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new firefighters typically earn — is $33K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,980/month. At HUD’s $1,434/month FMR, rent would take 72% 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 Georgia?
Local pay runs 21% below the national median — $47K here vs. $59K nationally. Cost of living is 8% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Georgia compare to the national average for firefighters?
Georgia pays $47K median vs. the U.S. average of $59K — that’s -21%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $51K — below the national median.
How much do firefighters make in Georgia?
The median is $46,550 a year, that works out to about $22 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $33,000, and experienced firefighters can clear $61,510. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $47K enough to live in Georgia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,111/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,434/month, which eats 46.1% 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 Georgia?
Georgia has a Regional Price Parity of 91.89 (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 $50,658 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.