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

Right now, there are 3 Oklahoma firefighter openings with a listed yearly salary on FireJobs (updated Oct 7, 2026); the newest, from Tinker AFB Fire Department, starts at $50,460. 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 Oklahoma. Let's break it all down.

The average firefighter salary in Oklahoma is $52,280 per year (BLS, May 2025, published 2026), which is below the national average of $63,630. Oklahoma ranks #32 out of 50 states for firefighter pay. Entry level firefighters can expect to earn around $31,620, while the most experienced firefighters earn up to $77,560 annually.

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

There are 3 current firefighter postings in Oklahoma with a listed yearly salary, ranging from $41,919 to $55,622. 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
Tinker AFB Fire Department	Firefighter (Hazardous Materials Technician/Basic Life Suppt)	$50,460 to $65,599	Oct 5
Midwest City Fire Department	Firefighter	$55,622 to $62,442	Sep 1
Harrah Fire Department	Probationary Firefighter	$41,919	May 26

See all current firefighter openings in Oklahoma 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 Oklahoma?

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

Metric	Oklahoma	National
Average (mean) annual salary	$52,280	$63,630
Median annual salary	$49,710	$59,280
Entry level (10th percentile)	$31,620	$34,910
Top earners (90th percentile)	$77,560	$101,040
Firefighters employed	4,150	,

Federal data: BLS, May 2025 (published 2026)

The median is often the more useful number. Half of Oklahoma firefighters earn more than $49,710 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 Oklahoma

Entry level: Around $31,620. This is what a probationary firefighter at a smaller or rural department can expect in year one.
Mid career: Around $49,710. Most firefighters with five to ten years on the job land in this range.
Experienced / senior: Up to $77,560 and beyond. Top step firefighters, engineers, and lieutenants at the largest departments, especially with overtime and paramedic pay, sit here.

Oklahoma City and Tulsa run the two big career departments and employ the majority of the state's career firefighters. Norman, Broken Arrow, Edmond, and Lawton are the next tier. Most of rural Oklahoma is protected by volunteers.

Oklahoma vs. National Average

At $52,280, the average Oklahoma firefighter earns about $11,350 (18%) less than the national average of $63,630. That puts Oklahoma at #32 of 50 states. For comparison, California leads the country at $95,090 and the lowest paying state comes in at $36,610.

Oklahoma has one of the lowest costs of living in the country. Housing in Oklahoma City and Tulsa is cheap by any big city standard, which makes the below average salary more competitive than it looks.

Factors That Affect Firefighter Pay in Oklahoma

Department size and location. Big city departments pay the most. The largest employers are in Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Norman, Broken Arrow, Edmond, Lawton.
Union representation. Oklahoma firefighters have collective bargaining rights under state law, and IAFF locals in Oklahoma City and Tulsa negotiate contracts with defined pension benefits through the state firefighter pension system.
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 Oklahoma's large departments earn well into six figures.

How to Become a Firefighter in Oklahoma

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 Oklahoma 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 Oklahoma.

Is Being a Firefighter in Oklahoma Worth It?

Pay is only part of the picture. Firefighters in Oklahoma 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.

Compare firefighter pay