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

Right now, there are 4 Missouri firefighter openings with a listed yearly salary on FireJobs (updated Oct 7, 2026); the newest, from Saint Louis Fire Department, starts at $52,286. 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 Missouri. Let's break it all down.

The average firefighter salary in Missouri is $55,240 per year (BLS, May 2025, published 2026), which is below the national average of $63,630. Missouri ranks #29 out of 50 states for firefighter pay. Entry level firefighters can expect to earn around $31,140, while the most experienced firefighters earn up to $79,360 annually.

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

There are 4 current firefighter postings in Missouri with a listed yearly salary, ranging from $34,625 to $69,981. 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 Louis Fire Department	Firefighter	$52,286 to $74,672	Oct 5
City of Saint Charles Fire Department	Firefighter/Paramedic	$69,981 to $94,922	Aug 11
Cape Girardeau Fire Department	Firefighter	$52,131	May 26
Joplin Fire Department	Firefighter/EMT Trainee	$34,625	May 26

See all current firefighter openings in Missouri 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 Missouri?

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

Metric	Missouri	National
Average (mean) annual salary	$55,240	$63,630
Median annual salary	$49,080	$59,280
Entry level (10th percentile)	$31,140	$34,910
Top earners (90th percentile)	$79,360	$101,040
Firefighters employed	6,580	,

Federal data: BLS, May 2025 (published 2026)

The median is often the more useful number. Half of Missouri firefighters earn more than $49,080 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 Missouri

Entry level: Around $31,140. This is what a probationary firefighter at a smaller or rural department can expect in year one.
Mid career: Around $49,080. Most firefighters with five to ten years on the job land in this range.
Experienced / senior: Up to $79,360 and beyond. Top step firefighters, engineers, and lieutenants at the largest departments, especially with overtime and paramedic pay, sit here.

St. Louis Fire Department, Kansas City Fire Department, and the fire protection districts of St. Louis County are the big employers and pay the most. Springfield, Columbia, and Independence are next. Rural Missouri is largely volunteer and fire district coverage.

Missouri vs. National Average

At $55,240, the average Missouri firefighter earns about $8,390 (13%) less than the national average of $63,630. That puts Missouri at #29 of 50 states. For comparison, California leads the country at $95,090 and the lowest paying state comes in at $36,610.

Missouri's cost of living is well below the national average, and both St. Louis and Kansas City are affordable big cities.

Factors That Affect Firefighter Pay in Missouri

Department size and location. Big city departments pay the most. The largest employers are in Kansas City, St. Louis, Springfield, Columbia, Independence.
Union representation. Missouri's career firefighters are represented by IAFF locals, and the St. Louis County fire districts in particular are known for competitive contracts.
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 Missouri's large departments earn well into six figures.

How to Become a Firefighter in Missouri

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 Missouri 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 Missouri.

Is Being a Firefighter in Missouri Worth It?

Pay is only part of the picture. Firefighters in Missouri 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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