Firefighters Salary
Firefighters in Massachusetts make a median of $72,800 a year, or about $35 an hour. The range runs from $50K at the entry level to $98K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 100.09), that's roughly $72,735 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,347/month, about 49.1% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Massachusetts. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $73K get you in Massachusetts?
About firefighters
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Massachusetts
Massachusetts sits well above the national pay line for firefighters, local pay runs about 23% higher than the U.S. median of $59K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,347/month, which is 50.3% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 100.09) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. The pay premium is real, but so are the offsets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Massachusetts
Entry-level firefighters (10th percentile) start around $50K. Mid-career wages sit at $73K. Top earners bring in $98K or more, a $48K spread from bottom to top.
Firefighters salary by metro in Massachusetts
6 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barnstable Town | $75K | +3% | 490 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton | $74K | +2% | 8,510 |
| Springfield | $67K | -8% | 830 |
| Worcester | $66K | -9% | 1,360 |
| Amherst Town-Northampton | $59K | -19% | 300 |
| Pittsfield | $57K | -22% | 250 |
Compare to other states
Track firefighters salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Massachusetts numbers change.
Related careers in Public Safety
Frequently asked questions
Can a firefighter afford a 2BR apartment alone in Massachusetts?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $73K, rent takes 50.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,347/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 Massachusetts?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new firefighters typically earn — is $50K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,984/month. At HUD’s $2,347/month FMR, rent would take 79% 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 Massachusetts?
Local pay is 23% above the national median — $73K here vs. $59K nationally.
How does Massachusetts compare to the national average for firefighters?
Massachusetts pays $73K median vs. the U.S. average of $59K — that’s +23%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 100.09), the purchasing-power equivalent is $73K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do firefighters make in Massachusetts?
The median is $72,800 a year, that works out to about $35 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $49,730, and experienced firefighters can clear $98,130. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $73K enough to live in Massachusetts?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,663/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,347/month, which eats 50.3% 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 Massachusetts?
Massachusetts has a Regional Price Parity of 100.09 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median firefighters salary is worth about $72,735 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.