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

Right now, there are 2 Iowa firefighter openings with a listed yearly salary on FireJobs (updated Oct 7, 2026); the newest, from Dubuque Regional Airport Fire Department, starts at $70,441. 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 Iowa. Let's break it all down.

The average firefighter salary in Iowa is $57,240 per year (BLS, May 2025, published 2026), which is below the national average of $63,630. Iowa ranks #25 out of 50 states for firefighter pay. Entry level firefighters can expect to earn around $32,240, while the most experienced firefighters earn up to $87,720 annually.

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

There are 2 current firefighter postings in Iowa with a listed yearly salary, ranging from $70,441 to $70,441. 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
Dubuque Regional Airport Fire Department	Firefighter Paramedic	$70,441 to $86,748	Sep 28
Dubuque Fire Department	Firefighter Paramedic	$70,441 to $86,748	May 26

See all current firefighter openings in Iowa 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 Iowa?

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

Metric	Iowa	National
Average (mean) annual salary	$57,240	$63,630
Median annual salary	$55,810	$59,280
Entry level (10th percentile)	$32,240	$34,910
Top earners (90th percentile)	$87,720	$101,040
Firefighters employed	2,170	,

Federal data: BLS, May 2025 (published 2026)

The median is often the more useful number. Half of Iowa firefighters earn more than $55,810 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 Iowa

Entry level: Around $32,240. This is what a probationary firefighter at a smaller or rural department can expect in year one.
Mid career: Around $55,810. Most firefighters with five to ten years on the job land in this range.
Experienced / senior: Up to $87,720 and beyond. Top step firefighters, engineers, and lieutenants at the largest departments, especially with overtime and paramedic pay, sit here.

Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Davenport, Sioux City, and Iowa City run the largest career departments. Much of Iowa is protected by volunteer and paid on call departments, and the state has one of the highest volunteer to career ratios in the country.

Iowa vs. National Average

At $57,240, the average Iowa firefighter earns about $6,390 (10%) less than the national average of $63,630. That puts Iowa at #25 of 50 states. For comparison, California leads the country at $95,090 and the lowest paying state comes in at $36,610.

Iowa's cost of living is low, and housing in particular is affordable in every metro area. A modest salary stretches further here than in most states.

Factors That Affect Firefighter Pay in Iowa

Department size and location. Big city departments pay the most. The largest employers are in Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Davenport, Sioux City, Iowa City, Waterloo.
Union representation. Iowa's career departments are unionized through IAFF locals with negotiated contracts, although the state narrowed public sector bargaining rights in 2017.
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 Iowa's large departments earn well into six figures.

How to Become a Firefighter in Iowa

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 Iowa 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 Iowa.

Is Being a Firefighter in Iowa Worth It?

Pay is only part of the picture. Firefighters in Iowa 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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