How Much Do Firefighters Make in Arizona? 2026 Salary Data

Nationally, firefighters make $63,630 a year on average. See how much firefighters make in every state, ranked.

If you're considering a career in firefighting in Arizona, one of the first questions you probably have is about pay. How much do firefighters actually make in Arizona? Is it enough to support a family? And how does it compare to what firefighters earn in other states?

Right now, there are 4 Arizona firefighter openings with a listed yearly salary on FireJobs (updated Oct 7, 2026); the newest, from Florence Fire Department, starts at $51,211. For the full picture, we pair that with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage survey (May 2025, published 2026), the official average pay for every firefighter in Arizona. Let's break it all down.

The average firefighter salary in Arizona is $60,850 per year (BLS, May 2025, published 2026), which is below the national average of $63,630. Arizona ranks #17 out of 50 states for firefighter pay. Entry level firefighters can expect to earn around $36,700, while the most experienced firefighters earn up to $88,220 annually.

What Departments Are Posting Now (FireJobs, as of October 2026)

There are 4 current firefighter postings in Arizona with a listed yearly salary, ranging from $51,211 to $65,297. We only publish a median with 8 or more postings, because a median of a handful of listings can swing a lot from week to week.

Department	Position	Posted pay (yearly)	Listed
Florence Fire Department	Firefighter	$51,211 to $76,816	Aug 18
Globe Fire Department	Firefighter EMT	$57,184 to $63,046	Aug 11
Rural Metro Fire Department	Firefighter / EMT	$56,947 to $59,786	Jul 29
Rural Metro Fire Department	Firefighter / Paramedic	$65,297 to $68,561	Jul 29

See all current firefighter openings in Arizona on FireJobs

These are advertised starting salaries in current full time, entry level firefighter job postings, not averages of what firefighters earn. Posted pay often excludes overtime and incentives, and the BLS figures below include experienced firefighters, so the two numbers measure different things.

Live postings: FireJobs, updated Oct 7, 2026

How Much Do Firefighters Make in Arizona?

Here are the key numbers for firefighters in Arizona, straight from the BLS:

Metric	Arizona	National
Average (mean) annual salary	$60,850	$63,630
Median annual salary	$59,280	$59,280
Entry level (10th percentile)	$36,700	$34,910
Top earners (90th percentile)	$88,220	$101,040
Firefighters employed	7,500	,

Federal data: BLS, May 2025 (published 2026)

The median is often the more useful number. Half of Arizona firefighters earn more than $59,280 and half earn less. The average gets pulled around by a small number of very high earners in the biggest departments.

Firefighter Salary Breakdown in Arizona

Entry level: Around $36,700. This is what a probationary firefighter at a smaller or rural department can expect in year one.
Mid career: Around $59,280. Most firefighters with five to ten years on the job land in this range.
Experienced / senior: Up to $88,220 and beyond. Top step firefighters, engineers, and lieutenants at the largest departments, especially with overtime and paramedic pay, sit here.

Phoenix Fire Department is the largest employer in the state, and the big suburban departments around it, including Mesa, Chandler, Glendale, Scottsdale, and Tempe, pay close to Phoenix rates. Tucson is the other major department. Rural Arizona is mostly volunteer and fire district coverage.

Arizona vs. National Average

At $60,850, the average Arizona firefighter earns about $2,780 (4%) less than the national average of $63,630. That puts Arizona at #17 of 50 states. For comparison, California leads the country at $95,090 and the lowest paying state comes in at $36,610.

Phoenix housing costs have risen sharply since 2020, which has eaten into what used to be a very comfortable salary. Tucson and the smaller cities remain more affordable.

Factors That Affect Firefighter Pay in Arizona

Department size and location. Big city departments pay the most. The largest employers are in Phoenix, Tucson, Mesa, Chandler, Scottsdale, Glendale.
Union representation. Arizona firefighters have meet and confer rights rather than full collective bargaining, but the metro Phoenix IAFF locals are influential and the region's departments compete hard for recruits.
Certifications. Paramedic certification is the single biggest pay bump for most firefighters, often adding $5,000 to $15,000 a year. Hazmat, technical rescue, and driver/operator certifications add more.
Overtime. Most departments run 24 hour shifts, and overtime, holiday pay, and call back pay can add 10% to 30% on top of base salary.
Rank. Promotion to engineer, lieutenant, captain, and chief officer each brings a meaningful raise. Chief officers in Arizona's large departments earn well into six figures.

How to Become a Firefighter in Arizona

The basic path is the same everywhere: meet the age and education requirements, pass a written test and the CPAT physical ability test, clear a background check and medical exam, and complete a fire academy. Many Arizona departments strongly prefer or require EMT certification, and paramedic certification makes you a much stronger candidate.

We have a full step by step guide: How to Become a Firefighter in Arizona.

Is Being a Firefighter in Arizona Worth It?

Pay is only part of the picture. Firefighters in Arizona typically get a defined benefit pension, employer paid health insurance, and a schedule that leaves plenty of days off for family or a second job. Against that you have to weigh the physical toll, the exposure to trauma, and the long term health risks that come with the job. For most people who want this career, the answer is still yes. Just go in with realistic numbers.

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