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 | — | $59,280 |
| Entry level (10th percentile) | $49,700 | — | $34,910 |
| Top earners (90th percentile) | $118,540 | — | $101,040 |
| Firefighters employed in metro | 8,510 | — | — |
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 mid-career 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.
