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

Right now, Kansas fire departments are advertising a median starting salary of $44,624 across 9 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 Kansas. Let's break it all down.

The average firefighter salary in Kansas is $49,110 per year (BLS, May 2025, published 2026), which is below the national average of $63,630. Kansas ranks #40 out of 50 states for firefighter pay. Entry level firefighters can expect to earn around $32,810, while the most experienced firefighters earn up to $76,110 annually.

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

The median advertised starting salary across 9 current firefighter postings in Kansas is $44,624, ranging from $41,171 to $57,141.

Recent postings:

Department	Position	Posted pay (yearly)	Listed
Sedgwick County Fire District #1	Firefighter/EMT	$54,541 to $82,496	Sep 28
Sedgwick County Fire District #1	Firefighter/AEMT	$57,141 to $85,096	Sep 28
Winfield Fire/EMS Department	Firefighter/Paramedic	$43,162 to $59,796	Sep 15
Winfield Fire/EMS Department	Firefighter/EMT	$41,171 to $54,271	Sep 15
Arkansas City Fire Department	Firefighter/Paramedic	$43,508 to $68,766	May 26

See all current firefighter openings in Kansas 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 Kansas?

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

Metric	Kansas	National
Average (mean) annual salary	$49,110	$63,630
Median annual salary	$45,900	$59,280
Entry level (10th percentile)	$32,810	$34,910
Top earners (90th percentile)	$76,110	$101,040
Firefighters employed	3,360	,

Federal data: BLS, May 2025 (published 2026)

The median is often the more useful number. Half of Kansas firefighters earn more than $45,900 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 Kansas

Entry level: Around $32,810. This is what a probationary firefighter at a smaller or rural department can expect in year one.
Mid career: Around $45,900. Most firefighters with five to ten years on the job land in this range.
Experienced / senior: Up to $76,110 and beyond. Top step firefighters, engineers, and lieutenants at the largest departments, especially with overtime and paramedic pay, sit here.

Wichita, Kansas City (Kansas), Topeka, Overland Park, and Olathe run the largest career departments. The Johnson County suburbs of Kansas City pay the most in the state. Western Kansas is almost entirely volunteer.

Kansas vs. National Average

At $49,110, the average Kansas firefighter earns about $14,520 (23%) less than the national average of $63,630. That puts Kansas at #40 of 50 states. For comparison, California leads the country at $95,090 and the lowest paying state comes in at $36,610.

Kansas has a low cost of living statewide, and housing in Wichita and Topeka is among the cheapest of any midsize metro in the country.

Factors That Affect Firefighter Pay in Kansas

Department size and location. Big city departments pay the most. The largest employers are in Wichita, Overland Park, Kansas City, Olathe, Topeka, Lawrence.
Union representation. Kansas is a right to work state, but the larger cities have IAFF locals and meet and confer arrangements. Pay is set by city commissions.
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 Kansas's large departments earn well into six figures.

How to Become a Firefighter in Kansas

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 Kansas 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 Kansas.

Is Being a Firefighter in Kansas Worth It?

Pay is only part of the picture. Firefighters in Kansas 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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