How much do firefighters make in Boston? The average firefighter salary in the Boston metro area is $75,400 a year (median $73,990), which is above the national average of $63,630 and above the Massachusetts average of $73,220. Entry level firefighters earn around $49,700, and the most experienced earn up to $118,540. The data comes from the Bureau of Labor Statistics survey covering May 2025, the most recent available.
Firefighter Salary in Boston: The Numbers
| Metric | Boston metro | Massachusetts | National |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average (mean) | $75,400 | $73,220 | $63,630 |
| Median | $73,990 | n/a | $59,280 |
| Entry level (10th percentile) | $49,700 | n/a | $34,910 |
| Top earners (90th percentile) | $118,540 | n/a | $101,040 |
| Firefighters employed in metro | 8,510 | n/a | n/a |
The metro area figure covers the whole Boston 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 Boston
Boston Fire Department, Cambridge, Quincy, Somerville, and the inner ring cities run full career departments with strong union contracts and civil service hiring.
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 Boston, 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. Boston area housing is among the most expensive in the country and is the main drag on an otherwise top tier salary.
How to Get Hired in Boston
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 Massachusetts, check the full Massachusetts salary breakdown, and use the eligibility checker before you apply.
