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

Right now, there are 5 Louisiana firefighter openings with a listed yearly salary on FireJobs (updated Oct 7, 2026); the newest, from Prairieville Volunteer Fire Department, starts at $33,000. 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 Louisiana. Let's break it all down.

The average firefighter salary in Louisiana is $36,610 per year (BLS, May 2025, published 2026), which is below the national average of $63,630. Louisiana ranks #50 out of 50 states for firefighter pay. Entry level firefighters can expect to earn around $22,510, while the most experienced firefighters earn up to $56,670 annually.

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

There are 5 current firefighter postings in Louisiana with a listed yearly salary, ranging from $31,933 to $45,734. 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
Prairieville Volunteer Fire Department	Firefighter	$33,000	Oct 5
NASJRB New Orleans Fire Department	Firefighter I (Entrance) (Class Code 7210)	$45,734	Jun 3
Houma Fire Department	Entry Level Firefighter	$31,933 to $39,133	May 26
Prairieville Volunteer Fire Department	Full Time Firefighter	$33,000	May 26
Fort Pike Volunteer Fire Department	Firefighter I (Entrance) (Class Code 7210)	$45,734	May 26

See all current firefighter openings in Louisiana 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 Louisiana?

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

Metric	Louisiana	National
Average (mean) annual salary	$36,610	$63,630
Median annual salary	$33,120	$59,280
Entry level (10th percentile)	$22,510	$34,910
Top earners (90th percentile)	$56,670	$101,040
Firefighters employed	5,230	,

Federal data: BLS, May 2025 (published 2026)

The median is often the more useful number. Half of Louisiana firefighters earn more than $33,120 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 Louisiana

Entry level: Around $22,510. This is what a probationary firefighter at a smaller or rural department can expect in year one.
Mid career: Around $33,120. Most firefighters with five to ten years on the job land in this range.
Experienced / senior: Up to $56,670 and beyond. Top step firefighters, engineers, and lieutenants at the largest departments, especially with overtime and paramedic pay, sit here.

New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Shreveport, and Lafayette run the largest career departments, along with the parish fire districts around Baton Rouge and the industrial fire brigades along the Mississippi River petrochemical corridor, which pay well for hazmat trained firefighters.

Louisiana vs. National Average

At $36,610, the average Louisiana firefighter earns about $27,020 (42%) less than the national average of $63,630. That puts Louisiana at #50 of 50 states. For comparison, California leads the country at $95,090 and the lowest paying state comes in at $36,610.

Louisiana's cost of living is low, and housing outside New Orleans is very affordable. Insurance costs on the coast are the main exception.

Factors That Affect Firefighter Pay in Louisiana

Department size and location. Big city departments pay the most. The largest employers are in New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Shreveport, Lafayette, Lake Charles.
Union representation. Louisiana firefighters have civil service protection under state law, which sets minimum pay and the state supplemental pay program adds a monthly stipend for certified firefighters.
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 Louisiana's large departments earn well into six figures.

How to Become a Firefighter in Louisiana

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 Louisiana 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 Louisiana.

Is Being a Firefighter in Louisiana Worth It?

Pay is only part of the picture. Firefighters in Louisiana 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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