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

Right now, there are 7 Massachusetts firefighter openings with a listed yearly salary on FireJobs (updated Oct 7, 2026); the newest, from City of Watertown Fire Department, starts at $88,014. 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 Massachusetts. Let's break it all down.

The average firefighter salary in Massachusetts is $73,220 per year (BLS, May 2025, published 2026), which is above the national average of $63,630. Massachusetts ranks #9 out of 50 states for firefighter pay. Entry level firefighters can expect to earn around $49,730, while the most experienced firefighters earn up to $98,130 annually.

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

There are 7 current firefighter postings in Massachusetts with a listed yearly salary, ranging from $51,429 to $88,014. 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
City of Watertown Fire Department	Firefighter Paramedic	$88,014	Sep 28
Dennis Fire Department	Firefighter/Paramedic	$78,040 to $95,229	Sep 28
Dennis Fire Department	Firefighter/EMT	$73,783 to $85,480	Sep 28
Hanscom AFB Fire Department	Firefighter (Hazardous Materials Technician)	$51,429 to $74,297	Sep 28
Sudbury Fire Department	Firefighter/Paramedic	$76,029	Sep 21

See all current firefighter openings in Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts?

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

Metric	Massachusetts	National
Average (mean) annual salary	$73,220	$63,630
Median annual salary	$72,800	$59,280
Entry level (10th percentile)	$49,730	$34,910
Top earners (90th percentile)	$98,130	$101,040
Firefighters employed	11,940	,

Federal data: BLS, May 2025 (published 2026)

The median is often the more useful number. Half of Massachusetts firefighters earn more than $72,800 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 Massachusetts

Entry level: Around $49,730. This is what a probationary firefighter at a smaller or rural department can expect in year one.
Mid career: Around $72,800. Most firefighters with five to ten years on the job land in this range.
Experienced / senior: Up to $98,130 and beyond. Top step firefighters, engineers, and lieutenants at the largest departments, especially with overtime and paramedic pay, sit here.

Boston Fire Department is the largest employer, and the cities around it, including Worcester, Springfield, Cambridge, and the inner suburbs, run full career departments with strong pay. Massachusetts has one of the highest concentrations of career firefighters in the country.

Massachusetts vs. National Average

At $73,220, the average Massachusetts firefighter earns about $9,590 (15%) more than the national average of $63,630. That puts Massachusetts at #9 of 50 states. For comparison, California leads the country at $95,090 and the lowest paying state comes in at $36,610.

Boston area housing is among the most expensive in the country, which is the main drag on an otherwise top tier salary. Central and western Massachusetts departments offer a better balance.

Factors That Affect Firefighter Pay in Massachusetts

Department size and location. Big city departments pay the most. The largest employers are in Boston, Worcester, Springfield, Cambridge, Lowell, Quincy.
Union representation. Massachusetts is one of the strongest union states for firefighters. Nearly every department has an IAFF contract with binding arbitration, and the state civil service system governs hiring in most cities.
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 Massachusetts's large departments earn well into six figures.

How to Become a Firefighter in Massachusetts

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 Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts.

Is Being a Firefighter in Massachusetts Worth It?

Pay is only part of the picture. Firefighters in Massachusetts 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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