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Fire chief salary
Average fire chief salary
$69,961
Understanding Fire Chief Salaries
The Fire Chief salary can vary widely depending on factors such as geographic location, years of experience, and the size of the fire department. In many states, fire chiefs in metropolitan areas typically earn higher salaries than those in rural regions. For example, states like California and New York often offer salaries above the national average due to the higher cost of living and demand for experienced professionals.
In addition to base salary, many fire chiefs receive benefits such as health insurance, retirement plans, and paid leave. Career advancement opportunities, including specialized training and certifications, can also lead to increased earning potential. Understanding these dynamics can provide valuable insights for aspiring fire chiefs looking to build a successful career.
Salary by State
Here’s a breakdown of average salaries for fire chiefs by state:
- California: $85,000
- New York: $80,000
- Texas: $75,000
- Florida: $73,000
Researching these figures can help candidates target their job search effectively, ensuring a better match between their skills and local market demands.
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Where can a Fire Chief earn more?
Fire chief salary estimates from across the web
Average fire chief salary by state
The highest-paying states for fire chiefs are California, Virginia, and New Jersey. The lowest average fire chief salary states are Colorado, Nebraska, and Hawaii.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for fire chiefs
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $105,280 | $50.62 |
| 2 | Idaho | $77,624 | $37.32 |
| 3 | Virginia | $86,879 | $41.77 |
| 4 | New York | $86,169 | $41.43 |
| 5 | Arizona | $75,063 | $36.09 |
| 6 | Pennsylvania | $83,337 | $40.07 |
| 7 | Maine | $86,003 | $41.35 |
| 8 | Oregon | $69,927 | $33.62 |
| 9 | Indiana | $83,779 | $40.28 |
| 10 | Washington | $70,583 | $33.93 |
| 11 | New Jersey | $86,835 | $41.75 |
| 12 | North Carolina | $75,706 | $36.40 |
| 13 | North Dakota | $68,504 | $32.93 |
| 14 | Alabama | $66,369 | $31.91 |
| 15 | Florida | $69,390 | $33.36 |
| 16 | Michigan | $62,507 | $30.05 |
| 17 | Iowa | $60,778 | $29.22 |
| 18 | Georgia | $64,210 | $30.87 |
| 19 | West Virginia | $60,997 | $29.33 |
| 20 | Delaware | $61,292 | $29.47 |
| 21 | Wyoming | $56,109 | $26.98 |
| 22 | Tennessee | $61,898 | $29.76 |
| 23 | New Mexico | $58,237 | $28.00 |
| 24 | Illinois | $66,547 | $31.99 |
| 25 | District of Columbia | $60,056 | $28.87 |
| 26 | Maryland | $60,408 | $29.04 |
| 27 | Texas | $59,907 | $28.80 |
| 28 | Oklahoma | $59,080 | $28.40 |
| 29 | Connecticut | $60,540 | $29.11 |
| 30 | Kansas | $60,630 | $29.15 |
| 31 | Minnesota | $58,938 | $28.34 |
| 32 | Massachusetts | $57,565 | $27.68 |
| 33 | Rhode Island | $59,323 | $28.52 |
| 34 | South Carolina | $56,479 | $27.15 |
| 35 | Ohio | $59,179 | $28.45 |
| 36 | Nevada | $52,584 | $25.28 |
| 37 | Louisiana | $55,569 | $26.72 |
| 38 | Hawaii | $45,233 | $21.75 |
| 39 | Utah | $49,514 | $23.80 |
| 40 | Wisconsin | $55,525 | $26.69 |
| 41 | Arkansas | $54,648 | $26.27 |
| 42 | Vermont | $50,047 | $24.06 |
| 43 | Montana | $44,384 | $21.34 |
| 44 | Alaska | $43,822 | $21.07 |
| 45 | Kentucky | $54,112 | $26.02 |
| 46 | Mississippi | $53,441 | $25.69 |
| 47 | Colorado | $45,985 | $22.11 |
| 48 | New Hampshire | $55,015 | $26.45 |
| 49 | Nebraska | $45,335 | $21.80 |
| 50 | Missouri | $48,443 | $23.29 |
| 51 | South Dakota | $44,193 | $21.25 |
Highest paying cities for fire chiefs
The highest-paying cities for fire chiefs are Sacramento, CA, Reston, VA, and New York, NY.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sacramento, CA | $111,370 | $53.54 |
| 2 | Reston, VA | $88,751 | $42.67 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $86,878 | $41.77 |
| 4 | Lakeland, FL | $70,366 | $33.83 |
| 5 | Kingsport, TN | $67,164 | $32.29 |
| 6 | Elmhurst, IL | $66,637 | $32.04 |
| 7 | Washington, DC | $60,005 | $28.85 |
| 8 | Keller, TX | $58,343 | $28.05 |
| 9 | Farmington, NM | $56,478 | $27.15 |
| 10 | Cincinnati, OH | $55,794 | $26.82 |
| 11 | Reno, NV | $55,276 | $26.57 |
| 12 | Wentzville, MO | $49,213 | $23.66 |
Fire chief salary details
A fire chief's salary ranges from $40,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $121,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a fire chief's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $121,000 | $10,083 | $58 |
| 75th Percentile | $93,000 | $7,750 | $45 |
| Average | $69,961 | $5,830 | $34 |
| 25th Percentile | $52,000 | $4,333 | $25 |
| 10th Percentile | $40,000 | $3,333 | $19 |
Highest paying fire chief jobs
The highest paying types of fire chiefs are company commander, deputy fire chief, and fire captain.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Company Commander | $109,257 | $9,105 | $52.53 | 10,155 |
Top companies hiring fire chiefs now:
Which companies pay fire chiefs the most?
Fire chief salaries at CVR Energy and Akima Infrastructure Services are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average fire chief salary at companies like Icma-rc and Argonne National Laboratory are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CVR Energy | $174,601 | $83.94 |
| 2 | Akima Infrastructure Services | $107,242 | $51.56 |
| 3 | Icma-rc | $101,246 | $48.68 |
| 4 | Argonne National Laboratory | $96,552 | $46.42 |
| 5 | HollyFrontier | $91,041 | $43.77 |
| 6 | City of Cathedral City | $59,137 | $28.43 |
| 7 | Broward County Public Schools | $59,121 | $28.42 |
| 8 | Day & Zimmermann | $58,669 | $28.21 |
| 9 | SOS International | $56,651 | $27.24 |
| 10 | Ventura County Community Foundation | $56,387 | $27.11 |
| 11 | City of Louisville | $56,289 | $27.06 |
| 12 | City of Reno | $56,235 | $27.04 |
| 13 | IAP Worldwide Services | $54,142 | $26.03 |
| 14 | Air National Guard | $53,516 | $25.73 |
| 15 | Minnesota Limited | $52,334 | $25.16 |
| 16 | NANA | $52,083 | $25.04 |
| 17 | Central Missouri Community Action | $51,931 | $24.97 |
| 18 | City of Cincinnati | $48,141 | $23.14 |
| 19 | City of Farmington | $47,539 | $22.86 |
| 20 | City of Sacramento | $46,858 | $22.53 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Fire chief salary trends
The average fire chief salary has risen by $8,302 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average fire chief earned $61,659 annually, but today, they earn $69,961 a year. That works out to a 6% change in pay for fire chiefs over the last decade.
Compare fire chief salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average fire chief salary over time
Compare fire chief salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Fire chief salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $70,000 | $33.64 | +1.4% |
| 2025 | $69,000 | $33.18 | +1.9% |
| 2024 | $67,700 | $32.55 | +0.2% |
| 2023 | $67,600 | $32.48 | +2.1% |
| 2022 | $66,100 | $31.79 | +3.1% |
Recently added fire chief salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| City of Costa Mesa | Assistant Fire Chief/Fire Marshal | Costa Mesa, CA | 06/28/2025 | $203,412 |
| Department of The Air Force | Fire Chief | Baltimore, MD | 06/28/2025 | $101,401 |
| Department of The Air Force | Fire Chief(T5) | Birmingham, AL | 06/26/2025 | $89,515 |
| International City Management | Fire Chief/Emergency Manager | Nome, TX | 06/25/2025 | $175,000 |
| Mobile County (Al | Fire Chief (City of Creola) | Mobile, AL | 06/18/2025 | $66,293 |
| Mobile County Personnel Board | Fire Chief (City of Creola) | Mobile, AL | 06/18/2025 | $66,293 |
| Department of The Air Force | Fire Chief | Basehor, KS | 05/23/2025 | $90,067 |
| Peckham & McKenney Executive Search | Fire Chief-City of Monterey | Monterey Park, CA | 05/08/2025 | $154,932 |
| Security Director In San Diego, California | Fire Chief | Rossville, IL | 04/30/2025 | $110,240 |
| International City Management | Fire Chief | Upper Darby, PA | 04/26/2025 | $145,000 |
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