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

Right now, there is 1 Maine firefighter opening with a listed yearly salary on FireJobs (updated Oct 7, 2026); the newest, from Ogunquit Fire Department, starts at $69,669. 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 Maine. Let's break it all down.

The average firefighter salary in Maine is $50,230 per year (BLS, May 2025, published 2026), which is below the national average of $63,630. Maine ranks #37 out of 50 states for firefighter pay. Entry level firefighters can expect to earn around $35,740, while the most experienced firefighters earn up to $63,740 annually.

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

There is 1 current firefighter posting in Maine with a listed yearly salary, at $69,669. 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
Ogunquit Fire Department	Town of Ogunquit - Firefighter \| Paramedic \| A EMT Positions	$69,669 to $91,946	Sep 8

See all current firefighter openings in Maine 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 Maine?

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

Metric	Maine	National
Average (mean) annual salary	$50,230	$63,630
Median annual salary	$48,290	$59,280
Entry level (10th percentile)	$35,740	$34,910
Top earners (90th percentile)	$63,740	$101,040
Firefighters employed	2,480	,

Federal data: BLS, May 2025 (published 2026)

The median is often the more useful number. Half of Maine firefighters earn more than $48,290 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 Maine

Entry level: Around $35,740. This is what a probationary firefighter at a smaller or rural department can expect in year one.
Mid career: Around $48,290. Most firefighters with five to ten years on the job land in this range.
Experienced / senior: Up to $63,740 and beyond. Top step firefighters, engineers, and lieutenants at the largest departments, especially with overtime and paramedic pay, sit here.

Portland, Bangor, Lewiston, and Augusta run the only sizable career departments in the state. Most of Maine is protected by volunteer and call departments, and career positions are limited and competitive.

Maine vs. National Average

At $50,230, the average Maine firefighter earns about $13,400 (21%) less than the national average of $63,630. That puts Maine at #37 of 50 states. For comparison, California leads the country at $95,090 and the lowest paying state comes in at $36,610.

Maine's cost of living is moderate, but Portland housing has become expensive. The rest of the state is affordable.

Factors That Affect Firefighter Pay in Maine

Department size and location. Big city departments pay the most. The largest employers are in Portland, Bangor, Lewiston, South Portland, Augusta.
Union representation. Maine's career firefighters are unionized and the state has collective bargaining for municipal employees. Portland's contract sets the benchmark for the 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 Maine's large departments earn well into six figures.

How to Become a Firefighter in Maine

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 Maine 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 Maine.

Is Being a Firefighter in Maine Worth It?

Pay is only part of the picture. Firefighters in Maine 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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