How much do firefighters make in Oklahoma City? The average firefighter salary in the Oklahoma City metro area is $58,460 a year (median $61,460), which is below the national average of $63,630 and above the Oklahoma average of $52,280. Entry level firefighters earn around $35,530, and the most experienced earn up to $79,810. The data comes from the Bureau of Labor Statistics survey covering May 2025, the most recent available.
Firefighter Salary in Oklahoma City: The Numbers
| Metric | Oklahoma City metro | Oklahoma | National |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average (mean) | $58,460 | $52,280 | $63,630 |
| Median | $61,460 | n/a | $59,280 |
| Entry level (10th percentile) | $35,530 | n/a | $34,910 |
| Top earners (90th percentile) | $79,810 | n/a | $101,040 |
| Firefighters employed in metro | 1,590 | n/a | n/a |
The metro area figure covers the whole Oklahoma City region, not just the city department, so it blends big city pay with the suburban and county departments around it. The median is usually the better guide to what a midcareer firefighter takes home in base pay.
Who Hires Firefighters in Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City Fire Department is the largest employer, with Norman, Edmond, Moore, and Midwest City nearby.
What Changes the Number
- Overtime. Most departments in the metro run 24 hour shifts, and overtime, holiday, and call back pay commonly add 10 to 30 percent to base salary. None of that is in the BLS figure.
- Paramedic pay. Paramedic certification is the single biggest raise available to a firefighter in Oklahoma City, typically $5,000 to $15,000 a year.
- Rank. Engineer, lieutenant, captain, and chief officer each bring a step up; chief officers at the largest departments in the metro earn well into six figures.
- Cost of living. Oklahoma City has one of the lowest costs of living of any metro its size, which makes a below average wage more competitive than it looks.
How to Get Hired in Oklahoma City
The path is the same as anywhere: meet the age and education requirements, pass a written exam and the CPAT, clear a background and medical, and complete the academy. Most departments in the metro require or strongly prefer EMT certification. Start with how to become a firefighter in Oklahoma, check the full Oklahoma salary breakdown, and use the eligibility checker before you apply.