BLS wage data · May 2025 Transport & safety O*NET-SOC 33-2011 Tax year 2026

Firefighter after tax: what $59,280 becomes in every state

Firefighting is a physically demanding profession that requires specialized training and shift work. While the national median wage for firefighters stands at $59,280, it is important to note that this figure represents the middle point of the earnings distribution, not necessarily a starting salary. New recruits or seasoned veterans may find their actual compensation varies based on local municipal budgets, station protocols, and collective bargaining agreements across the United States.

Firefighter take-home at $59,280 — strongest and weakest states

Same gross wage everywhere: $59,280 a year. The four states keeping the most and the four keeping the least, ranked by take-home. Rent is the Zillow ZORI metro average for that state and is clearly labelled as a rent figure, not a tax.

State	State tax	Federal	FICA	Take-home / year	Take-home / month	Rent / month	Left after rent
Alaska no state income tax	$0	$4,934	$4,535	$49,811	$4,151	—	—
Florida no state income tax	$0	$4,934	$4,535	$49,811	$4,151	$2,076	$24,899
Nevada no state income tax	$0	$4,934	$4,535	$49,811	$4,151	$1,742	$28,907
New Hampshire no state income tax	$0	$4,934	$4,535	$49,811	$4,151	—	—
South Carolina flat 6.00%	$3,557	$4,934	$4,535	$46,254	$3,855	$1,569	$27,426
Vermont planning estimate	$3,557	$4,934	$4,535	$46,254	$3,855	—	—
District of Columbia planning estimate	$3,853	$4,934	$4,535	$45,958	$3,830	$2,433	$16,762
Oregon planning estimate	$4,150	$4,934	$4,535	$45,661	$3,805	$1,818	$23,845

State income tax on wages is zero in Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, Wyoming — those states share the same take-home on this wage and only differ in what the local rent does to it.

Best and worst states for Firefighter

Five states that keep the most of a $59,280 wage and five that keep the least. The full 51-state table follows.

All 51 states →

Highest take-home

State	State tax	Take-home	/ month
1. Alaska	$0	$49,811	$4,151
2. Florida	$0	$49,811	$4,151
3. Nevada	$0	$49,811	$4,151
4. New Hampshire	$0	$49,811	$4,151
5. South Dakota	$0	$49,811	$4,151

Lowest take-home

State	State tax	Take-home	/ month
1. Oregon	$4,150	$45,661	$3,805
2. District of Columbia	$3,853	$45,958	$3,830
3. Vermont	$3,557	$46,254	$3,855
4. South Carolina	$3,557	$46,254	$3,855
5. Minnesota	$3,557	$46,254	$3,855

The gap between Alaska and Oregon is $4,150 a year on an identical $59,280 wage.

Where Firefighter pay sits nationally

BLS percentile wages for this occupation, and what each level leaves after 2026 federal, FICA and state tax in the best and the worst state on the page (Alaska and Oregon).

Wage level (BLS national)	Gross / year	Take-home in Alaska	Take-home in Oregon	Difference
10th percentile 'BLS national'	$34,910	$30,230	$27,786	$2,444
25th percentile 'BLS national'	$44,490	$37,928	$34,814	$3,114
Median 'BLS national'	$59,280	$49,811	$45,661	$4,150
75th percentile 'BLS national'	$77,250	$63,175	$57,767	$5,408
90th percentile 'BLS national'	$101,040	$79,911	$72,838	$7,073

Percentile wages are published BLS OEWS values for Firefighters; the take-home columns are the same engine used by every AfterTaxLab calculator. About 345,990 people work in this occupation nationwide.

How the state line moves this wage

The same $59,280 under different state tax models

Your net paycheck is heavily influenced by state-level tax policies. While federal obligations are uniform, state tax requirements can vary drastically, creating a spread of $4,150 between the best and worst states for take-home pay at the national median wage. For instance, a firefighter working in Oregon faces the largest single state tax bill of $4,150, which directly reduces the final monthly deposit compared to states with lower tax burdens. This variation is a critical consideration for professionals evaluating potential job transfers or new station assignments across different state lines.

Working in states with no state income tax, such as Alaska, Nevada, or Texas, can provide a more favorable net result for firefighters. In these regions, you avoid the state-level tax liability entirely, allowing you to retain more of your gross pay. While your federal obligations remain constant, the absence of a state tax means your take-home pay is higher compared to colleagues in states like Vermont, where a flat 6.00% tax rate applies. This structure highlights why local tax policy is often as important as the gross salary offered by a department.

All 51 states, ranked for Firefighter

Every state and DC, ranked by take-home on the same $59,280 gross wage. Rent is the ZORI metro average for the metros published in that state.

#	State	State tax	Take-home / year	Effective total tax	Rent / month
1	Alaska AK	$0	$49,811	16.0%	—
2	Florida FL	$0	$49,811	16.0%	$2,076
3	Nevada NV	$0	$49,811	16.0%	$1,742
4	New Hampshire NH	$0	$49,811	16.0%	—
5	South Dakota SD	$0	$49,811	16.0%	—
6	Tennessee TN	$0	$49,811	16.0%	$1,607
7	Texas TX	$0	$49,811	16.0%	$1,587
8	Washington WA	$0	$49,811	16.0%	$2,278
9	Wyoming WY	$0	$49,811	16.0%	—
10	Arizona AZ	$1,482	$48,329	18.5%	$1,603
11	North Dakota ND	$1,719	$48,092	18.9%	—
12	Louisiana LA	$1,778	$48,033	19.0%	$1,598
13	Ohio OH	$1,778	$48,033	19.0%	$1,499
14	Indiana IN	$1,808	$48,003	19.0%	$1,552
15	California CA	$1,813	$47,998	19.0%	$2,861
16	Pennsylvania PA	$1,820	$47,991	19.0%	$1,690
17	Iowa IA	$2,253	$47,558	19.8%	—
18	Kentucky KY	$2,371	$47,440	20.0%	$1,348
19	Michigan MI	$2,519	$47,292	20.2%	$1,578
20	North Carolina NC	$2,519	$47,292	20.2%	$1,712
21	Arkansas AR	$2,608	$47,203	20.4%	—
22	Colorado CO	$2,608	$47,203	20.4%	$1,922
23	New York NY	$2,655	$47,156	20.5%	$2,200
24	Delaware DE	$2,668	$47,143	20.5%	—
25	Kansas KS	$2,668	$47,143	20.5%	—
26	Virginia VA	$2,668	$47,143	20.5%	$1,810
27	Utah UT	$2,697	$47,114	20.5%	$1,641
28	Mississippi MS	$2,786	$47,025	20.7%	—
29	Oklahoma OK	$2,816	$46,995	20.7%	$1,385
30	Missouri MO	$2,845	$46,966	20.8%	$1,486
31	West Virginia WV	$2,857	$46,954	20.8%	—
32	New Mexico NM	$2,905	$46,906	20.9%	—
33	Illinois IL	$2,934	$46,877	20.9%	$2,210
34	Alabama AL	$2,964	$46,847	21.0%	$1,433
35	Connecticut CT	$2,964	$46,847	21.0%	$2,462
36	Maryland MD	$2,964	$46,847	21.0%	$1,948
37	Massachusetts MA	$2,964	$46,847	21.0%	$2,599
38	Rhode Island RI	$2,964	$46,847	21.0%	$2,167
39	Wisconsin WI	$2,964	$46,847	21.0%	$1,563
40	Georgia GA	$3,077	$46,734	21.2%	$1,853
41	Nebraska NE	$3,083	$46,728	21.2%	$1,413
42	Maine ME	$3,260	$46,551	21.5%	—
43	New Jersey NJ	$3,260	$46,551	21.5%	—
44	Idaho ID	$3,376	$46,435	21.7%	—
45	Montana MT	$3,498	$46,313	21.9%	—
46	Hawaii HI	$3,557	$46,254	22.0%	$3,020
47	Minnesota MN	$3,557	$46,254	22.0%	$1,719
48	South Carolina SC	$3,557	$46,254	22.0%	$1,569
49	Vermont VT	$3,557	$46,254	22.0%	—
50	District of Columbia DC	$3,853	$45,958	22.5%	$2,433
51	Oregon OR	$4,150	$45,661	23.0%	$1,818

The largest single state tax bill on this wage is in Oregon at $4,150; across the 51 states the average state tax is $2,297. Local city and county taxes, credits and itemised deductions are excluded from every figure.

What this means in practice for Firefighter

Understanding the difference between gross earnings and take-home pay is vital for financial planning in this career. Federal tax and FICA obligations remain consistent regardless of your duty station, totaling $4,934 and $4,535 respectively. However, your net income fluctuates significantly depending on whether your jurisdiction imposes a state income tax. This guide provides a transparent breakdown of how these factors influence your actual earnings in different regions.

Comparing salaries purely on gross numbers can be misleading for firefighters. You must factor in the regional cost of living, particularly housing, to understand your true purchasing power. For example, living in the District of Columbia requires a significant portion of your income for rent, leaving only $16,762 after a year of housing costs. In contrast, locations like South Carolina allow for a much higher surplus of $27,426 after covering the same period of rent, proving that lower gross pay does not always mean less financial freedom.

A common mistake is failing to account for the impact of local rent prices when comparing department offers. While a higher gross salary might seem attractive, the cost of housing can effectively nullify those gains. Professionals should look at the remaining income after essential expenses rather than just the paycheck face value. Always verify your specific tax situation, as this information is provided for educational purposes and is not tax advice, ensuring you have a clear picture of your actual take-home earnings.

Firefighter pay after tax: common questions

Does the $59,280 median wage reflect a typical starting salary?

No, this figure represents the national median for all firefighters, not the starting pay. It is the midpoint of the distribution, meaning half of the workforce earns more and half earns less. Always check your specific municipal pay scale.

Why is my take-home pay different in Oregon compared to Alaska?

The primary difference is the state income tax. Alaska has no state income tax, while Oregon imposes a tax that can reach $4,150 at the national median wage. This changes your monthly take-home significantly.

Are federal taxes and FICA the same for every firefighter?

Yes. Regardless of which state you serve in, your federal tax and FICA contributions are identical. These deductions total $4,934 for federal tax and $4,535 for FICA at the national median wage.

Do states with no income tax always offer the best financial situation?

Often, yes, as they allow you to keep more of your gross pay. However, you should also consider the local cost of living, specifically rent, which can vary wildly between states like Nevada and the District of Columbia.

How does rent impact my take-home pay calculation?

Rent is often the largest monthly expense. In places like the District of Columbia, high rent costs leave you with $16,762 annually, whereas in South Carolina, you might have $27,426 left after one year of rent.

What should I verify before accepting a job in a new state?

Confirm the base salary, check if the state has an income tax, and research the local cost of housing. Compare the final take-home amount rather than just the gross salary to ensure the move makes financial sense.

Sources for this page

Wage data: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), national estimates, May 2025 — series OEUN000000000000033201113 (annual median) and OEUN000000000000033201104 (annual mean), retrieved 2026-09-21 via the BLS Public Data API v2 — https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_nat.htm · Occupation titles: O*NET 29.0 Database — https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html · Take-home figures: AfterTaxLab 2026 engine (/assets/js/tax-2026.js), single filer, no pre-tax contributions · Rents: Zillow Research ZORI (Metro), kamuya açık araştırma dosyası (Aug 2026).

Estimates for planning only — not tax advice. Tax year 2026, single filer, no pre-tax contributions, no city or county tax. Same engine as every AfterTaxLab calculator · methodology.

Firefighter after tax: what $59,280 becomes in every state

Firefighter take-home at $59,280 — strongest and weakest states

Best and worst states for Firefighter

Where Firefighter pay sits nationally

The same $59,280 under different state tax models

All 51 states, ranked for Firefighter

What this means in practice for Firefighter

Firefighter pay after tax: common questions

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