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

Right now, there are 2 Rhode Island firefighter openings with a listed yearly salary on FireJobs (updated Oct 7, 2026); the newest, from North Smithfield Fire and Rescue Service Inc., starts at $61,042. 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 Rhode Island. Let's break it all down.

The average firefighter salary in Rhode Island is $67,480 per year (BLS, May 2025, published 2026), which is above the national average of $63,630. Rhode Island ranks #14 out of 50 states for firefighter pay. Entry level firefighters can expect to earn around $56,110, while the most experienced firefighters earn up to $76,620 annually.

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

There are 2 current firefighter postings in Rhode Island with a listed yearly salary, ranging from $61,042 to $62,484. 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
North Smithfield Fire and Rescue Service Inc.	Firefighter/AEMT-Cardiac	$61,042 to $64,318	Oct 5
North Kingstown Fire Department	Firefighter/Rescue Person EMT C	$62,484 to $82,545	Sep 30

See all current firefighter openings in Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island?

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

Metric	Rhode Island	National
Average (mean) annual salary	$67,480	$63,630
Median annual salary	$67,380	$59,280
Entry level (10th percentile)	$56,110	$34,910
Top earners (90th percentile)	$76,620	$101,040
Firefighters employed	1,620	,

Federal data: BLS, May 2025 (published 2026)

The median is often the more useful number. Half of Rhode Island firefighters earn more than $67,380 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 Rhode Island

Entry level: Around $56,110. This is what a probationary firefighter at a smaller or rural department can expect in year one.
Mid career: Around $67,380. 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.

Providence, Warwick, Cranston, and Pawtucket run the largest career departments in the state. Rhode Island is small and densely populated, so almost every community has a career or combination department.

Rhode Island vs. National Average

At $67,480, the average Rhode Island firefighter earns about $3,850 (6%) more than the national average of $63,630. That puts Rhode Island at #14 of 50 states. For comparison, California leads the country at $95,090 and the lowest paying state comes in at $36,610.

Rhode Island's cost of living is above average, with housing costs rising, but salaries have kept pace better than in many states.

Factors That Affect Firefighter Pay in Rhode Island

Department size and location. Big city departments pay the most. The largest employers are in Providence, Warwick, Cranston, Pawtucket, East Providence.
Union representation. Rhode Island is a very strong union state and firefighter contracts, including binding arbitration, are well established. Providence's contract sets the tone statewide.
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 Rhode Island's large departments earn well into six figures.

How to Become a Firefighter in Rhode Island

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 Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island.

Is Being a Firefighter in Rhode Island Worth It?

Pay is only part of the picture. Firefighters in Rhode Island 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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