Firefighters Salary
Firefighters in Oklahoma make a median of $49,710 a year, or about $23.9 an hour. The range runs from $32K at the entry level to $78K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 87.46), which stretches that salary to about $56,837 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,081/month, about 31.9% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Oklahoma. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $50K get you in Oklahoma?
About firefighters
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What this looks like in Oklahoma
Pay for firefighters in Oklahoma runs about 16% below the U.S. median of $59K. Rent runs $1,081/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 32.3% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 87.46 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 13% 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, Oklahoma
Entry-level firefighters (10th percentile) start around $32K. Mid-career wages sit at $50K. Top earners bring in $78K or more, a $46K spread from bottom to top.
Firefighters salary by metro in Oklahoma
3 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma City | $61K | +24% | 1,590 |
| Tulsa | $48K | -4% | 960 |
| Lawton | $37K | -27% | 160 |
Compare to other states
Track firefighters salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Oklahoma numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a firefighter afford a 2BR apartment alone in Oklahoma?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $50K, rent takes 32.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,081/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,000/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for firefighters in Oklahoma?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new firefighters typically earn — is $32K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,897/month. At HUD’s $1,081/month FMR, rent would take 57% 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 Oklahoma?
Local pay runs 16% below the national median — $50K here vs. $59K nationally. Cost of living is 13% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Oklahoma compare to the national average for firefighters?
Oklahoma pays $50K median vs. the U.S. average of $59K — that’s -16%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 87.46), the purchasing-power equivalent is $57K — below the national median.
How much do firefighters make in Oklahoma?
The median is $49,710 a year, that works out to about $24 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $31,620, and experienced firefighters can clear $77,560. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $50K enough to live in Oklahoma?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,342/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,081/month, which eats 32.3% 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 Oklahoma?
Oklahoma has a Regional Price Parity of 87.46 (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 $56,837 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.