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

Right now, North Carolina fire departments are advertising a median starting salary of $50,523 across 23 openings 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 North Carolina. Let's break it all down.

The average firefighter salary in North Carolina is $43,060 per year (BLS, May 2025, published 2026), which is below the national average of $63,630. North Carolina ranks #46 out of 50 states for firefighter pay. Entry level firefighters can expect to earn around $29,360, while the most experienced firefighters earn up to $61,940 annually.

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

The median advertised starting salary across 23 current firefighter postings in North Carolina is $50,523, ranging from $42,464 to $64,876.

Recent postings:

Department	Position	Posted pay (yearly)	Listed
Wake New Hope Fire Department	Certified Firefighter	$57,615	Oct 5
Fairview Fire Department	Full Time Firefighter II/EMT	$57,615	Sep 28
Smithfield Fire Department	Firefighter I	$51,503	Sep 28
Town of Harrisburg Fire Department	Firefighter EMT	$50,950 to $63,688	Sep 28
Morrisville Fire & Rescue Department	Certified Firefighter	$53,658	Sep 28

See all current firefighter openings in North Carolina 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 North Carolina?

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

Metric	North Carolina	National
Average (mean) annual salary	$43,060	$63,630
Median annual salary	$37,940	$59,280
Entry level (10th percentile)	$29,360	$34,910
Top earners (90th percentile)	$61,940	$101,040
Firefighters employed	19,410	,

Federal data: BLS, May 2025 (published 2026)

The median is often the more useful number. Half of North Carolina firefighters earn more than $37,940 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 North Carolina

Entry level: Around $29,360. This is what a probationary firefighter at a smaller or rural department can expect in year one.
Mid career: Around $37,940. Most firefighters with five to ten years on the job land in this range.
Experienced / senior: Up to $61,940 and beyond. Top step firefighters, engineers, and lieutenants at the largest departments, especially with overtime and paramedic pay, sit here.

Charlotte, Raleigh, Greensboro, Durham, and Winston Salem run the largest career departments, and the Charlotte and Raleigh metros have been raising pay to keep up with their growth. Much of rural North Carolina still depends on volunteer departments.

North Carolina vs. National Average

At $43,060, the average North Carolina firefighter earns about $20,570 (32%) less than the national average of $63,630. That puts North Carolina at #46 of 50 states. For comparison, California leads the country at $95,090 and the lowest paying state comes in at $36,610.

North Carolina's cost of living is around the national average, with Charlotte and Raleigh housing rising fast. Smaller cities offer a better balance.

Factors That Affect Firefighter Pay in North Carolina

Department size and location. Big city departments pay the most. The largest employers are in Charlotte, Raleigh, Greensboro, Durham, Winston Salem, Fayetteville.
Union representation. North Carolina prohibits collective bargaining for public employees, so pay is set by city councils. Firefighter associations still lobby actively, and the big metros compete with each other for recruits.
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 North Carolina's large departments earn well into six figures.

How to Become a Firefighter in North Carolina

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 North Carolina 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 North Carolina.

Is Being a Firefighter in North Carolina Worth It?

Pay is only part of the picture. Firefighters in North Carolina 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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