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

Right now, Virginia fire departments are advertising a median starting salary of $55,057 across 38 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 Virginia. Let's break it all down.

The average firefighter salary in Virginia is $58,240 per year (BLS, May 2025, published 2026), which is below the national average of $63,630. Virginia ranks #21 out of 50 states for firefighter pay. Entry level firefighters can expect to earn around $38,310, while the most experienced firefighters earn up to $77,310 annually.

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

The median advertised starting salary across 38 current firefighter postings in Virginia is $55,057, ranging from $38,900 to $78,143.

Recent postings:

Department	Position	Posted pay (yearly)	Listed
Norfolk Airport Authority Fire Department	Firefighter Recruit	$57,142	Oct 5
Quantico Fire & Emergency Services	Firefighter (Basic Life Support)	$57,736 to $75,059	Oct 5
Virginia Air National Guard Fire and Rescue	Firefighter (Basic Life Support/Hazardous Material Tech)	$52,710 to $68,524	Oct 5
Roanoke Fire- EMS	Firefighter/EMT	$47,150 to $54,530	Oct 5
Fort Lee Fire and Emergency Services	Firefighter (Basic Life Support/Hazardous Material Tech)	$52,710 to $68,524	Sep 28

See all current firefighter openings in Virginia 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 Virginia?

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

Metric	Virginia	National
Average (mean) annual salary	$58,240	$63,630
Median annual salary	$58,670	$59,280
Entry level (10th percentile)	$38,310	$34,910
Top earners (90th percentile)	$77,310	$101,040
Firefighters employed	11,160	,

Federal data: BLS, May 2025 (published 2026)

The median is often the more useful number. Half of Virginia firefighters earn more than $58,670 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 Virginia

Entry level: Around $38,310. This is what a probationary firefighter at a smaller or rural department can expect in year one.
Mid career: Around $58,670. Most firefighters with five to ten years on the job land in this range.
Experienced / senior: Up to $77,310 and beyond. Top step firefighters, engineers, and lieutenants at the largest departments, especially with overtime and paramedic pay, sit here.

Fairfax County, Prince William County, Loudoun County, Arlington, and Alexandria in Northern Virginia pay the most in the state and are among the top paying departments nationally. Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Chesapeake, and Richmond are the other large employers.

Virginia vs. National Average

At $58,240, the average Virginia firefighter earns about $5,390 (8%) less than the national average of $63,630. That puts Virginia at #21 of 50 states. For comparison, California leads the country at $95,090 and the lowest paying state comes in at $36,610.

Northern Virginia's cost of living is very high, while Hampton Roads and Richmond are closer to the national average. The pay gap between the regions roughly tracks the housing gap.

Factors That Affect Firefighter Pay in Virginia

Department size and location. Big city departments pay the most. The largest employers are in Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Chesapeake, Richmond, Arlington, Alexandria.
Union representation. Virginia only allowed local collective bargaining for public employees starting in 2021, and several Northern Virginia jurisdictions have since adopted it. Pay in Northern Virginia was already high because of competition with Maryland and DC departments.
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 Virginia's large departments earn well into six figures.

How to Become a Firefighter in Virginia

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 Virginia 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 Virginia.

Is Being a Firefighter in Virginia Worth It?

Pay is only part of the picture. Firefighters in Virginia 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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