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

Right now, Texas fire departments are advertising a median starting salary of $69,840 across 44 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 Texas. Let's break it all down.

The average firefighter salary in Texas is $60,390 per year (BLS, May 2025, published 2026), which is below the national average of $63,630. Texas ranks #18 out of 50 states for firefighter pay. Entry level firefighters can expect to earn around $40,020, while the most experienced firefighters earn up to $77,170 annually.

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

The median advertised starting salary across 44 current firefighter postings in Texas is $69,840, ranging from $35,000 to $87,156.

Recent postings:

Department	Position	Posted pay (yearly)	Listed
Channelview Fire Department	Firefighter/Paramedic	$82,089 to $89,825	Oct 5
Lake Cities Fire Department	Firefighter Paramedic	$63,918	Oct 5
Melissa Fire Department	Fire Fighter Paramedic	$76,144	Oct 5
Randall County Fire Department	Fire Department - Firefighter	$53,601	Oct 5
Addison Fire Department	Firefighter Paramedic	$84,372 to $104,361	Oct 5

See all current firefighter openings in Texas 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 Texas?

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

Metric	Texas	National
Average (mean) annual salary	$60,390	$63,630
Median annual salary	$60,180	$59,280
Entry level (10th percentile)	$40,020	$34,910
Top earners (90th percentile)	$77,170	$101,040
Firefighters employed	28,170	,

Federal data: BLS, May 2025 (published 2026)

The median is often the more useful number. Half of Texas firefighters earn more than $60,180 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 Texas

Entry level: Around $40,020. This is what a probationary firefighter at a smaller or rural department can expect in year one.
Mid career: Around $60,180. Most firefighters with five to ten years on the job land in this range.
Experienced / senior: Up to $77,170 and beyond. Top step firefighters, engineers, and lieutenants at the largest departments, especially with overtime and paramedic pay, sit here.

Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, Austin, and Fort Worth each run departments with well over 1,000 firefighters, and the suburban departments around them have grown fast. Texas employs more firefighters than any state but California, and nearly all career firefighters are also EMTs or paramedics.

Texas vs. National Average

At $60,390, the average Texas firefighter earns about $3,240 (5%) less than the national average of $63,630. That puts Texas at #18 of 50 states. For comparison, California leads the country at $95,090 and the lowest paying state comes in at $36,610.

Texas has no state income tax and a moderate cost of living, though Austin and parts of Dallas have become expensive. Houston and San Antonio remain affordable for the pay.

Factors That Affect Firefighter Pay in Texas

Department size and location. Big city departments pay the most. The largest employers are in Houston, San Antonio, Dallas, Austin, Fort Worth, El Paso.
Union representation. Texas is a right to work state, but many cities have adopted civil service and meet and confer or collective bargaining under state law, and the big city IAFF locals negotiate contracts.
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 Texas's large departments earn well into six figures.

How to Become a Firefighter in Texas

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 Texas 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 Texas.

Is Being a Firefighter in Texas Worth It?

Pay is only part of the picture. Firefighters in Texas 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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