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

Right now, Florida fire departments are advertising a median starting salary of $57,826 across 37 openings on FireJobs (updated Oct 7, 2026). 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 Florida. Let's break it all down.

The average firefighter salary in Florida is $61,370 per year (BLS, May 2025, published 2026), which is below the national average of $63,630. Florida ranks #16 out of 50 states for firefighter pay. Entry level firefighters can expect to earn around $37,260, while the most experienced firefighters earn up to $93,310 annually.

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

The median advertised starting salary across 37 current firefighter postings in Florida is $57,826, ranging from $43,384 to $87,405.

Recent postings:

Department	Position	Posted pay (yearly)	Listed
Sanford Fire Department	Firefighter/Paramedic	$57,805 to $97,594	Oct 5
Sanford Fire Department	Firefighter/EMT	$56,227 to $90,337	Oct 5
St Pete Beach Fire Department	Firefighter Paramedic	$69,714	Oct 5
Sumter County Fire and EMS	Firefighter - EMT	$52,371 to $86,406	Sep 30
Brevard County Fire Rescue	Fire Fighter/Emt	$57,582	Sep 28

See all current firefighter openings in Florida 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 Florida?

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

Metric	Florida	National
Average (mean) annual salary	$61,370	$63,630
Median annual salary	$58,550	$59,280
Entry level (10th percentile)	$37,260	$34,910
Top earners (90th percentile)	$93,310	$101,040
Firefighters employed	24,570	,

Federal data: BLS, May 2025 (published 2026)

The median is often the more useful number. Half of Florida firefighters earn more than $58,550 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 Florida

Entry level: Around $37,260. This is what a probationary firefighter at a smaller or rural department can expect in year one.
Mid career: Around $58,550. Most firefighters with five to ten years on the job land in this range.
Experienced / senior: Up to $93,310 and beyond. Top step firefighters, engineers, and lieutenants at the largest departments, especially with overtime and paramedic pay, sit here.

Florida has some of the largest county fire departments in the country: Miami Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, Orange, Hillsborough, and Jacksonville. Those departments pay the most and hire in large academy classes. Nearly every career firefighter in Florida is also a paramedic or EMT, and the state's fire based EMS model drives both hiring and pay.

Florida vs. National Average

At $61,370, the average Florida firefighter earns about $2,260 (4%) less than the national average of $63,630. That puts Florida at #16 of 50 states. For comparison, California leads the country at $95,090 and the lowest paying state comes in at $36,610.

Cost of living varies widely. South Florida and the coastal metros are expensive, while inland and panhandle departments offer much cheaper housing at somewhat lower pay. No state income tax.

Factors That Affect Firefighter Pay in Florida

Department size and location. Big city departments pay the most. The largest employers are in Jacksonville, Miami, Tampa, Orlando, St. Petersburg, Fort Lauderdale.
Union representation. Florida is a right to work state but public sector collective bargaining is protected by the state constitution, so most departments have IAFF contracts. Florida also has a strong firefighter cancer presumption law and a state funded pension.
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 Florida's large departments earn well into six figures.

How to Become a Firefighter in Florida

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 Florida 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 Florida.

Is Being a Firefighter in Florida Worth It?

Pay is only part of the picture. Firefighters in Florida 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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