How much do firefighters make in Chicago? The average firefighter salary in the Chicago metro area is $80,110 a year (median $82,820), which is above the national average of $63,630 and above the Illinois average of $76,530. Entry-level firefighters earn around $42,080, and the most experienced earn up to $112,930. The data comes from the Bureau of Labor Statistics survey covering May 2025, the most recent available.
Firefighter Salary in Chicago: The Numbers
| Metric | Chicago metro | Illinois | National |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average (mean) | $80,110 | $76,530 | $63,630 |
| Median | $82,820 | — | $59,280 |
| Entry level (10th percentile) | $42,080 | — | $34,910 |
| Top earners (90th percentile) | $112,930 | — | $101,040 |
| Firefighters employed in metro | 14,560 | — | — |
The metro area figure covers the whole Chicago 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 Chicago
Chicago Fire Department has roughly 4,500 sworn members and hires through a periodic citywide exam, with waits of several years between lists. The suburban departments in Cook, DuPage, and Lake counties hire more regularly and often pay close to city rates.
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 Chicago, 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. The catch is cost of living: Chicago-area housing and Illinois property taxes take a real bite out of a salary that looks strong on paper.
How to Get Hired in Chicago
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 Illinois, check the full Illinois salary breakdown, and use the eligibility checker before you apply.
