Firefighters Salary
Firefighters in Illinois make a median of $78,380 a year, or about $37.68 an hour. The range runs from $39K at the entry level to $106K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.85), which stretches that salary to about $83,516 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,407/month, or 27.3% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Illinois. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $78K get you in Illinois?
About firefighters
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What this looks like in Illinois
Illinois sits well above the national pay line for firefighters, local pay runs about 32% higher than the U.S. median of $59K. Rent runs $1,407/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 28.3% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.85 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Illinois
Entry-level firefighters (10th percentile) start around $39K. Mid-career wages sit at $78K. Top earners bring in $106K or more, a $67K spread from bottom to top.
Firefighters salary by metro in Illinois
8 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin | $83K | +6% | 14,560 |
| Rockford | $77K | -2% | 410 |
| Peoria | $74K | -6% | 490 |
| Bloomington | $69K | -12% | 170 |
| Springfield | $65K | -17% | 240 |
| Decatur | $62K | -20% | 120 |
| Champaign-Urbana | $62K | -21% | 340 |
| Kankakee | $60K | -24% | 120 |
Compare to other states
Track firefighters salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Illinois numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a firefighter afford a 2BR apartment alone in Illinois?
Yes — at the median salary of $78K, rent takes 28.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,407/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for firefighters in Illinois?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new firefighters typically earn — is $39K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,334/month. At HUD’s $1,407/month FMR, rent would take 60% 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 Illinois?
Local pay is 32% above the national median — $78K here vs. $59K nationally.
How does Illinois compare to the national average for firefighters?
Illinois pays $78K median vs. the U.S. average of $59K — that’s +32%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.85), the purchasing-power equivalent is $84K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do firefighters make in Illinois?
The median is $78,380 a year, that works out to about $38 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $38,900, and experienced firefighters can clear $106,060. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $78K enough to live in Illinois?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,970/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,407/month, which eats 28.3% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a firefighters salary go in Illinois?
Illinois has a Regional Price Parity of 93.85 (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 $83,516 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.