Firefighters Salary
Firefighters in Pennsylvania make a median of $73,460 a year, or about $35.32 an hour. The range runs from $49K at the entry level to $89K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.97), which stretches that salary to about $77,351 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,351/month, or 27.5% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Pennsylvania. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $73K get you in Pennsylvania?
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What this looks like in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania sits well above the national pay line for firefighters, local pay runs about 24% higher than the U.S. median of $59K. Rent runs $1,351/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 28% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.97 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 5% 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, Pennsylvania
Entry-level firefighters (10th percentile) start around $49K. Mid-career wages sit at $73K. Top earners bring in $89K or more, a $41K spread from bottom to top.
Firefighters salary by metro in Pennsylvania
12 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Erie | $80K | +9% | 140 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington | $78K | +6% | 3,970 |
| Reading | $75K | +2% | 160 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton | $73K | -1% | 300 |
| Pittsburgh | $72K | -2% | 950 |
| York-Hanover | $68K | -8% | 110 |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle | $63K | -15% | 140 |
| Scranton--Wilkes-Barre | $60K | -18% | 190 |
| Lebanon | $60K | -18% | 40 |
| Chambersburg | $59K | -20% | 70 |
| Lancaster | $55K | -25% | 110 |
| Johnstown | $51K | -31% | 50 |
Showing 1–10 of 12 metros
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Pennsylvania numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a firefighter afford a 2BR apartment alone in Pennsylvania?
Yes — at the median salary of $73K, rent takes 28% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,351/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for firefighters in Pennsylvania?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new firefighters typically earn — is $49K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,917/month. At HUD’s $1,351/month FMR, rent would take 46% 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 Pennsylvania?
Local pay is 24% above the national median — $73K here vs. $59K nationally.
How does Pennsylvania compare to the national average for firefighters?
Pennsylvania pays $73K median vs. the U.S. average of $59K — that’s +24%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $77K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do firefighters make in Pennsylvania?
The median is $73,460 a year, that works out to about $35 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $48,620, and experienced firefighters can clear $89,190. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $73K enough to live in Pennsylvania?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,818/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,351/month, which eats 28% 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 Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania has a Regional Price Parity of 94.97 (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 $77,351 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.