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

Right now, there are 4 Minnesota firefighter openings with a listed yearly salary on FireJobs (updated Oct 7, 2026); the newest, from Saint Cloud Fire Department, starts at $73,883. 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 Minnesota. Let's break it all down.

The average firefighter salary in Minnesota is $45,170 per year (BLS, May 2025, published 2026), which is below the national average of $63,630. Minnesota ranks #42 out of 50 states for firefighter pay. Entry level firefighters can expect to earn around $27,510, while the most experienced firefighters earn up to $70,380 annually.

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

There are 4 current firefighter postings in Minnesota with a listed yearly salary, ranging from $73,883 to $94,563. 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
Saint Cloud Fire Department	Firefighter	$73,883 to $95,508	Sep 28
Saint Cloud Fire Department	Firefighter - St. Cloud	$73,883	Sep 28
Hastings Fire Department	Firefighter/Paramedic	$94,563 to $132,982	Sep 19
St Louis Park Fire Department	Firefighter	$86,990 to $112,282	Sep 19

See all current firefighter openings in Minnesota 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 Minnesota?

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

Metric	Minnesota	National
Average (mean) annual salary	$45,170	$63,630
Median annual salary	$38,110	$59,280
Entry level (10th percentile)	$27,510	$34,910
Top earners (90th percentile)	$70,380	$101,040
Firefighters employed	5,810	,

Federal data: BLS, May 2025 (published 2026)

The median is often the more useful number. Half of Minnesota firefighters earn more than $38,110 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 Minnesota

Entry level: Around $27,510. This is what a probationary firefighter at a smaller or rural department can expect in year one.
Mid career: Around $38,110. Most firefighters with five to ten years on the job land in this range.
Experienced / senior: Up to $70,380 and beyond. Top step firefighters, engineers, and lieutenants at the largest departments, especially with overtime and paramedic pay, sit here.

Minneapolis and St. Paul run the two large career departments, and the Twin Cities suburbs have been steadily converting from paid on call to full time staffing, creating new career positions. Duluth and Rochester are the other major departments. Much of greater Minnesota is paid on call.

Minnesota vs. National Average

At $45,170, the average Minnesota firefighter earns about $18,460 (29%) less than the national average of $63,630. That puts Minnesota at #42 of 50 states. For comparison, California leads the country at $95,090 and the lowest paying state comes in at $36,610.

Minnesota's cost of living is around the national average, with the Twin Cities somewhat higher. Strong pay and benefits keep the package competitive.

Factors That Affect Firefighter Pay in Minnesota

Department size and location. Big city departments pay the most. The largest employers are in Minneapolis, St. Paul, Rochester, Duluth, Bloomington.
Union representation. Minnesota is a strong union state and career firefighters work under negotiated contracts with binding arbitration for essential employees.
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 Minnesota's large departments earn well into six figures.

How to Become a Firefighter in Minnesota

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 Minnesota 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 Minnesota.

Is Being a Firefighter in Minnesota Worth It?

Pay is only part of the picture. Firefighters in Minnesota 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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