How Much Do Firefighters Make in Connecticut? 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 Connecticut, one of the first questions you probably have is about pay. How much do firefighters actually make in Connecticut? Is it enough to support a family? And how does it compare to what firefighters earn in other states?

Right now, there are 4 Connecticut firefighter openings with a listed yearly salary on FireJobs (updated Oct 7, 2026); the newest, from Town of Manchester Fire- Rescue- EMS Department, starts at $68,260. 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 Connecticut. Let's break it all down.

The average firefighter salary in Connecticut is $73,760 per year (BLS, May 2025, published 2026), which is above the national average of $63,630. Connecticut ranks #8 out of 50 states for firefighter pay. Entry level firefighters can expect to earn around $51,320, while the most experienced firefighters earn up to $85,500 annually.

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

There are 4 current firefighter postings in Connecticut with a listed yearly salary, ranging from $68,260 to $73,379. 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
Town of Manchester Fire- Rescue- EMS Department	Firefighter - Paramedic	$68,260	Sep 28
Town of Manchester Fire- Rescue- EMS Department	Firefighter Paramedic / EMT Recruit Academy Training Program Completion	$68,260	Sep 28
Pratt & Whitney Fire Department	Firefighter/Paramedic	$73,379 to $84,653	Jul 28
East Hartford Fire Department	Firefighter/Paramedic	$73,379 to $84,653	May 26

See all current firefighter openings in Connecticut 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 Connecticut?

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

Metric	Connecticut	National
Average (mean) annual salary	$73,760	$63,630
Median annual salary	$77,630	$59,280
Entry level (10th percentile)	$51,320	$34,910
Top earners (90th percentile)	$85,500	$101,040
Firefighters employed	2,970	,

Federal data: BLS, May 2025 (published 2026)

The median is often the more useful number. Half of Connecticut firefighters earn more than $77,630 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 Connecticut

Entry level: Around $51,320. This is what a probationary firefighter at a smaller or rural department can expect in year one.
Mid career: Around $77,630. Most firefighters with five to ten years on the job land in this range.
Experienced / senior: Up to $85,500 and beyond. Top step firefighters, engineers, and lieutenants at the largest departments, especially with overtime and paramedic pay, sit here.

Hartford, New Haven, Bridgeport, Stamford, and Waterbury run the largest career departments. Connecticut also has a long volunteer tradition, and many suburban towns run combination departments with a small career core.

Connecticut vs. National Average

At $73,760, the average Connecticut firefighter earns about $10,130 (16%) more than the national average of $63,630. That puts Connecticut at #8 of 50 states. For comparison, California leads the country at $95,090 and the lowest paying state comes in at $36,610.

Connecticut's cost of living is high, especially in Fairfield County, but the salaries generally track it. The state pension system and strong contracts make the total package competitive.

Factors That Affect Firefighter Pay in Connecticut

Department size and location. Big city departments pay the most. The largest employers are in Bridgeport, New Haven, Hartford, Stamford, Waterbury, Norwalk.
Union representation. Connecticut is a strong union state, and career firefighters work under negotiated contracts with binding arbitration. Pay in the Fairfield County departments near New York is among the highest in New England.
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 Connecticut's large departments earn well into six figures.

How to Become a Firefighter in Connecticut

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 Connecticut 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 Connecticut.

Is Being a Firefighter in Connecticut Worth It?

Pay is only part of the picture. Firefighters in Connecticut 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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