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

Right now, Washington fire departments are advertising a median starting salary of $85,776 across 18 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 Washington. Let's break it all down.

The average firefighter salary in Washington is $89,200 per year (BLS, May 2025, published 2026), which is above the national average of $63,630. Washington ranks #2 out of 50 states for firefighter pay. Entry level firefighters can expect to earn around $47,640, while the most experienced firefighters earn up to $123,980 annually.

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

The median advertised starting salary across 18 current firefighter postings in Washington is $85,776, ranging from $71,914 to $108,444.

Recent postings:

Department	Position	Posted pay (yearly)	Listed
City of Walla Walla Fire Department	Entry Level Firefighter - Public Safety Testing	$75,732 to $96,648	Oct 5
City of Walla Walla Fire Department	Firefighter Paramedic	$89,988 to $114,852	Sep 28
Kennewick Fire Department	Firefighter	$88,656 to $116,664	Sep 19
Kennewick Fire Department	Firefighter/Paramedic	$103,822 to $131,830	Sep 19
Moses Lake Fire Department	Firefighter	$74,786 to $106,848	Sep 19

See all current firefighter openings in Washington 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 Washington?

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

Metric	Washington	National
Average (mean) annual salary	$89,200	$63,630
Median annual salary	$94,520	$59,280
Entry level (10th percentile)	$47,640	$34,910
Top earners (90th percentile)	$123,980	$101,040
Firefighters employed	7,560	,

Federal data: BLS, May 2025 (published 2026)

The median is often the more useful number. Half of Washington firefighters earn more than $94,520 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 Washington

Entry level: Around $47,640. This is what a probationary firefighter at a smaller or rural department can expect in year one.
Mid career: Around $94,520. Most firefighters with five to ten years on the job land in this range.
Experienced / senior: Up to $123,980 and beyond. Top step firefighters, engineers, and lieutenants at the largest departments, especially with overtime and paramedic pay, sit here.

Seattle Fire Department, the large regional fire authorities around it (South King, Puget Sound, Valley, Eastside), Tacoma, Spokane, and Vancouver employ most of the state's firefighters. Washington pays among the highest firefighter wages in the country.

Washington vs. National Average

At $89,200, the average Washington firefighter earns about $25,570 (40%) more than the national average of $63,630. That puts Washington at #2 of 50 states. For comparison, California leads the country at $95,090 and the lowest paying state comes in at $36,610.

Seattle area housing costs are among the highest in the country and offset much of the salary advantage. Spokane and the rest of eastern Washington offer a far better balance. No state income tax.

Factors That Affect Firefighter Pay in Washington

Department size and location. Big city departments pay the most. The largest employers are in Seattle, Spokane, Tacoma, Vancouver, Bellevue, Everett.
Union representation. Washington is a strong union state with binding interest arbitration for firefighters, and the Puget Sound departments have consistently rich 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 Washington's large departments earn well into six figures.

How to Become a Firefighter in Washington

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 Washington 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 Washington.

Is Being a Firefighter in Washington Worth It?

Pay is only part of the picture. Firefighters in Washington 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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