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

Right now, no Montana departments have a firefighter opening with a listed yearly salary on FireJobs (updated Oct 7, 2026). 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 Montana. Let's break it all down.

The average firefighter salary in Montana is $57,660 per year (BLS, May 2025, published 2026), which is below the national average of $63,630. Montana ranks #24 out of 50 states for firefighter pay. Entry level firefighters can expect to earn around $32,810, while the most experienced firefighters earn up to $76,620 annually.

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

Right now there are no current entry level firefighter postings in Montana on FireJobs that list a yearly salary. Departments hire on their own schedules, so this changes week to week. See every current firefighter opening in Montana.

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 Montana?

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

Metric	Montana	National
Average (mean) annual salary	$57,660	$63,630
Median annual salary	$59,310	$59,280
Entry level (10th percentile)	$32,810	$34,910
Top earners (90th percentile)	$76,620	$101,040
Firefighters employed	1,010	,

Federal data: BLS, May 2025 (published 2026)

The median is often the more useful number. Half of Montana firefighters earn more than $59,310 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 Montana

Entry level: Around $32,810. This is what a probationary firefighter at a smaller or rural department can expect in year one.
Mid career: Around $59,310. Most firefighters with five to ten years on the job land in this range.
Experienced / senior: Up to $76,620 and beyond. Top step firefighters, engineers, and lieutenants at the largest departments, especially with overtime and paramedic pay, sit here.

Billings, Missoula, Great Falls, Bozeman, and Helena run the state's career departments. Montana also has a large wildland firefighting workforce through the state DNRC and federal agencies, and many career firefighters started on hand crews.

Montana vs. National Average

At $57,660, the average Montana firefighter earns about $5,970 (9%) less than the national average of $63,630. That puts Montana at #24 of 50 states. For comparison, California leads the country at $95,090 and the lowest paying state comes in at $36,610.

Montana's cost of living used to be low, but Bozeman and Missoula housing has become expensive in the last several years. Billings and Great Falls remain affordable.

Factors That Affect Firefighter Pay in Montana

Department size and location. Big city departments pay the most. The largest employers are in Billings, Missoula, Great Falls, Bozeman, Helena.
Union representation. Montana's career firefighters are represented by IAFF locals, and the state allows collective bargaining for public 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 Montana's large departments earn well into six figures.

How to Become a Firefighter in Montana

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 Montana 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 Montana.

Is Being a Firefighter in Montana Worth It?

Pay is only part of the picture. Firefighters in Montana 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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