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

Right now, there are 5 Idaho firefighter openings with a listed yearly salary on FireJobs (updated Oct 7, 2026); the newest, from Blackfoot Fire Department, starts at $50,768. 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 Idaho. Let's break it all down.

The average firefighter salary in Idaho is $54,470 per year (BLS, May 2025, published 2026), which is below the national average of $63,630. Idaho ranks #30 out of 50 states for firefighter pay. Entry level firefighters can expect to earn around $30,280, while the most experienced firefighters earn up to $81,190 annually.

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

There are 5 current firefighter postings in Idaho with a listed yearly salary, ranging from $50,768 to $98,937. 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
Blackfoot Fire Department	Firefighter/EMT	$50,768 to $62,695	Sep 30
Blackfoot Fire Department	Firefighter	$50,768 to $62,695	Sep 19
Northern Lakes Fire Protection District	Firefighter/EMT	$77,938 to $93,935	Sep 19
Northern Lakes Fire Protection District	Firefighter/Paramedic	$98,937 to $104,749	Sep 19
Teton County Fire Protection District	Firefighter/Paramedic	$71,194 to $80,984	Sep 19

See all current firefighter openings in Idaho 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 Idaho?

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

Metric	Idaho	National
Average (mean) annual salary	$54,470	$63,630
Median annual salary	$47,320	$59,280
Entry level (10th percentile)	$30,280	$34,910
Top earners (90th percentile)	$81,190	$101,040
Firefighters employed	2,240	,

Federal data: BLS, May 2025 (published 2026)

The median is often the more useful number. Half of Idaho firefighters earn more than $47,320 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 Idaho

Entry level: Around $30,280. This is what a probationary firefighter at a smaller or rural department can expect in year one.
Mid career: Around $47,320. Most firefighters with five to ten years on the job land in this range.
Experienced / senior: Up to $81,190 and beyond. Top step firefighters, engineers, and lieutenants at the largest departments, especially with overtime and paramedic pay, sit here.

Boise Fire Department is the largest employer, followed by the fire districts around it in Meridian, Nampa, and Caldwell, plus Idaho Falls, Pocatello, and Coeur d'Alene. Idaho also hires a large seasonal wildland workforce through the Bureau of Land Management and the state Department of Lands.

Idaho vs. National Average

At $54,470, the average Idaho firefighter earns about $9,160 (14%) less than the national average of $63,630. That puts Idaho at #30 of 50 states. For comparison, California leads the country at $95,090 and the lowest paying state comes in at $36,610.

Boise's cost of living has climbed fast with the region's growth, but it remains below the coastal West. The smaller cities are very affordable.

Factors That Affect Firefighter Pay in Idaho

Department size and location. Big city departments pay the most. The largest employers are in Boise, Meridian, Nampa, Idaho Falls, Pocatello, Coeur d'Alene.
Union representation. Idaho's career firefighters are represented by IAFF locals, and the state allows firefighter collective bargaining under a specific statute even though it is otherwise a right to work state.
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 Idaho's large departments earn well into six figures.

How to Become a Firefighter in Idaho

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 Idaho 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 Idaho.

Is Being a Firefighter in Idaho Worth It?

Pay is only part of the picture. Firefighters in Idaho 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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