Firefighters Salary
Firefighters in West Virginia make a median of $37,350 a year, or about $17.96 an hour. The range runs from $29K at the entry level to $51K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.03), which stretches that salary to about $41,952 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,008/month, about 39.6% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across West Virginia. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $37K get you in West Virginia?
About firefighters
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What this looks like in West Virginia
Pay for firefighters in West Virginia runs about 37% below the U.S. median of $59K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,008/month, which is 39.1% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.03 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for firefighterss.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, West Virginia
Entry-level firefighters (10th percentile) start around $29K. Mid-career wages sit at $37K. Top earners bring in $51K or more, a $22K spread from bottom to top.
Firefighters salary by metro in West Virginia
5 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weirton-Steubenville | $48K | +29% | 110 |
| Beckley | $42K | +12% | 80 |
| Wheeling | $41K | +10% | 210 |
| Charleston | $39K | +4% | 230 |
| Huntington-Ashland | $36K | -3% | 230 |
Compare to other states
Track firefighters salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when West Virginia numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a firefighter afford a 2BR apartment alone in West Virginia?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $37K, rent takes 39.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,008/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $800/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for firefighters in West Virginia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new firefighters typically earn — is $29K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,741/month. At HUD’s $1,008/month FMR, rent would take 58% 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 West Virginia?
Local pay runs 37% below the national median — $37K here vs. $59K nationally. Cost of living is 11% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does West Virginia compare to the national average for firefighters?
West Virginia pays $37K median vs. the U.S. average of $59K — that’s -37%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.03), the purchasing-power equivalent is $42K — below the national median.
How much do firefighters make in West Virginia?
The median is $37,350 a year, that works out to about $18 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $29,020, and experienced firefighters can clear $51,390. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $37K enough to live in West Virginia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,575/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,008/month, which eats 39.1% 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 West Virginia?
West Virginia has a Regional Price Parity of 89.03 (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 $41,952 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.