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

Right now, Illinois fire departments are advertising a median starting salary of $81,073 across 19 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 Illinois. Let's break it all down.

The average firefighter salary in Illinois is $76,530 per year (BLS, May 2025, published 2026), which is above the national average of $63,630. Illinois ranks #7 out of 50 states for firefighter pay. Entry level firefighters can expect to earn around $38,900, while the most experienced firefighters earn up to $106,060 annually.

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

The median advertised starting salary across 19 current firefighter postings in Illinois is $81,073, ranging from $65,265 to $88,036.

Recent postings:

Department	Position	Posted pay (yearly)	Listed
Huntley Fire Protection District	Firefighter	$82,029	Oct 5
Limestone Township Fire Protection District	Firefighter	$67,875	Oct 5
City of Rolling Meadows Fire Department	Firefighter/Paramedic	$81,073 to $128,978	Sep 28
Gurnee Fire Department	Firefighter / Paramedic	$87,146 to $128,755	Sep 28
Oak Park Fire Department	Entry Level Firefighter/Paramedic	$80,943	Sep 28

See all current firefighter openings in Illinois 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 Illinois?

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

Metric	Illinois	National
Average (mean) annual salary	$76,530	$63,630
Median annual salary	$78,380	$59,280
Entry level (10th percentile)	$38,900	$34,910
Top earners (90th percentile)	$106,060	$101,040
Firefighters employed	18,400	,

Federal data: BLS, May 2025 (published 2026)

The median is often the more useful number. Half of Illinois firefighters earn more than $78,380 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 Illinois

Entry level: Around $38,900. This is what a probationary firefighter at a smaller or rural department can expect in year one.
Mid career: Around $78,380. Most firefighters with five to ten years on the job land in this range.
Experienced / senior: Up to $106,060 and beyond. Top step firefighters, engineers, and lieutenants at the largest departments, especially with overtime and paramedic pay, sit here.

Chicago Fire Department, one of the largest in the country with roughly 4,500 sworn members, sets the pay ceiling for the state. Suburban departments in Cook, DuPage, and Lake counties often pay close to Chicago rates, while downstate departments in cities like Springfield, Peoria, and Champaign pay noticeably less.

Illinois vs. National Average

At $76,530, the average Illinois firefighter earns about $12,900 (20%) more than the national average of $63,630. That puts Illinois at #7 of 50 states. For comparison, California leads the country at $95,090 and the lowest paying states sit in the low $36,000s.

Cost of living is the catch. Chicago area housing and Illinois property taxes eat into the higher salary, so a firefighter in Peoria making $65,000 may have more spending power than one in the suburbs making $85,000.

Factors That Affect Firefighter Pay in Illinois

Department size and location. Big city departments pay the most. The largest employers are in Chicago, Naperville, Aurora, Rockford, Springfield, Peoria.
Union representation. Illinois has one of the highest union membership rates for firefighters in the country, and IAFF locals negotiate most municipal contracts. That is a big part of why Illinois pay is well above the national average.
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 Illinois's large departments earn well into six figures.

How to Become a Firefighter in Illinois

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 Illinois 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 Illinois.

Is Being a Firefighter in Illinois Worth It?

Pay is only part of the picture. Firefighters in Illinois 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.

Compare firefighter pay