Firefighters Salary
Firefighters in Utah make a median of $48,310 a year, or about $23.23 an hour. The range runs from $28K at the entry level to $80K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 98.54), that's roughly $49,026 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,350/month, about 41% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Utah. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $48K get you in Utah?
About firefighters
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Utah
Pay for firefighters in Utah runs about 19% below the U.S. median of $59K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,350/month, which is 42% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 98.54) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for firefighterss.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Utah
Entry-level firefighters (10th percentile) start around $28K. Mid-career wages sit at $48K. Top earners bring in $80K or more, a $53K spread from bottom to top.
Firefighters salary by metro in Utah
5 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salt Lake City-Murray | $59K | +22% | 1,000 |
| Ogden | $49K | +2% | 640 |
| Logan | $44K | -8% | 80 |
| St. George | $44K | -9% | 190 |
| Provo-Orem-Lehi | $37K | -23% | 460 |
Compare to other states
Track firefighters salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Utah numbers change.
Related careers in Public Safety
Frequently asked questions
Can a firefighter afford a 2BR apartment alone in Utah?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $48K, rent takes 42% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,350/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 Utah?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new firefighters typically earn — is $28K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,660/month. At HUD’s $1,350/month FMR, rent would take 81% 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 Utah?
Local pay runs 19% below the national median — $48K here vs. $59K nationally.
How does Utah compare to the national average for firefighters?
Utah pays $48K median vs. the U.S. average of $59K — that’s -19%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 98.54), the purchasing-power equivalent is $49K — below the national median.
How much do firefighters make in Utah?
The median is $48,310 a year, that works out to about $23 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $27,660, and experienced firefighters can clear $80,320. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $48K enough to live in Utah?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,218/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,350/month, which eats 42% 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 Utah?
Utah has a Regional Price Parity of 98.54 (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 $49,026 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.