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

Right now, there are 2 Nevada firefighter openings with a listed yearly salary on FireJobs (updated Oct 7, 2026); the newest, from Storey County Fire Department, starts at $86,374. 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 Nevada. Let's break it all down.

The average firefighter salary in Nevada is $70,510 per year (BLS, May 2025, published 2026), which is above the national average of $63,630. Nevada ranks #13 out of 50 states for firefighter pay. Entry level firefighters can expect to earn around $47,600, while the most experienced firefighters earn up to $101,450 annually.

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

There are 2 current firefighter postings in Nevada with a listed yearly salary, ranging from $67,558 to $86,374. 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
Storey County Fire Department	Firefighter - Paramedic	$86,374 to $99,116	Sep 28
Reno Fire Department	Firefighter	$67,558 to $91,611	Jun 22

See all current firefighter openings in Nevada 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 Nevada?

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

Metric	Nevada	National
Average (mean) annual salary	$70,510	$63,630
Median annual salary	$66,570	$59,280
Entry level (10th percentile)	$47,600	$34,910
Top earners (90th percentile)	$101,450	$101,040
Firefighters employed	2,640	,

Federal data: BLS, May 2025 (published 2026)

The median is often the more useful number. Half of Nevada firefighters earn more than $66,570 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 Nevada

Entry level: Around $47,600. This is what a probationary firefighter at a smaller or rural department can expect in year one.
Mid career: Around $66,570. Most firefighters with five to ten years on the job land in this range.
Experienced / senior: Up to $101,450 and beyond. Top step firefighters, engineers, and lieutenants at the largest departments, especially with overtime and paramedic pay, sit here.

Clark County Fire Department, Las Vegas Fire & Rescue, Henderson, and North Las Vegas employ most of the state's firefighters, and they are among the best paying departments in the country. Reno and Sparks are the other major employers.

Nevada vs. National Average

At $70,510, the average Nevada firefighter earns about $6,880 (11%) more than the national average of $63,630. That puts Nevada at #13 of 50 states. For comparison, California leads the country at $95,090 and the lowest paying state comes in at $36,610.

Las Vegas housing costs have risen, but Nevada has no state income tax and the cost of living remains below California's, which makes the high salary go far.

Factors That Affect Firefighter Pay in Nevada

Department size and location. Big city departments pay the most. The largest employers are in Las Vegas, Henderson, Reno, North Las Vegas, Sparks.
Union representation. Nevada firefighters have strong collective bargaining rights, and the Las Vegas valley departments have historically had some of the richest contracts in the fire service.
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 Nevada's large departments earn well into six figures.

How to Become a Firefighter in Nevada

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 Nevada 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 Nevada.

Is Being a Firefighter in Nevada Worth It?

Pay is only part of the picture. Firefighters in Nevada 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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