How much do firefighters make in Atlanta? The average firefighter salary in the Atlanta metro area is $50,410 a year (median $47,300), which is below the national average of $63,630 and above the Georgia average of $47,170. Entry level firefighters earn around $36,920, and the most experienced earn up to $68,680. The data comes from the Bureau of Labor Statistics survey covering May 2025, the most recent available.
Firefighter Salary in Atlanta: The Numbers
| Metric | Atlanta metro | Georgia | National |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average (mean) | $50,410 | $47,170 | $63,630 |
| Median | $47,300 | n/a | $59,280 |
| Entry level (10th percentile) | $36,920 | n/a | $34,910 |
| Top earners (90th percentile) | $68,680 | n/a | $101,040 |
| Firefighters employed in metro | 6,350 | n/a | n/a |
The metro area figure covers the whole Atlanta region, not just the city department, so it blends big city pay with the suburban and county departments around it. The median is usually the better guide to what a midcareer firefighter takes home in base pay.
Who Hires Firefighters in Atlanta
Atlanta Fire Rescue and the large county departments of Cobb, Gwinnett, DeKalb, and Fulton employ most of metro Atlanta's firefighters and compete with each other on starting pay.
What Changes the Number
- Overtime. Most departments in the metro run 24 hour shifts, and overtime, holiday, and call back pay commonly add 10 to 30 percent to base salary. None of that is in the BLS figure.
- Paramedic pay. Paramedic certification is the single biggest raise available to a firefighter in Atlanta, typically $5,000 to $15,000 a year.
- Rank. Engineer, lieutenant, captain, and chief officer each bring a step up; chief officers at the largest departments in the metro earn well into six figures.
- Cost of living. Metro Atlanta housing has risen quickly, but the outer counties still offer a good balance of pay and cost.
How to Get Hired in Atlanta
The path is the same as anywhere: meet the age and education requirements, pass a written exam and the CPAT, clear a background and medical, and complete the academy. Most departments in the metro require or strongly prefer EMT certification. Start with how to become a firefighter in Georgia, check the full Georgia salary breakdown, and use the eligibility checker before you apply.