Firefighters Pay Range in Colorado
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$47,000
- 25th Percentile — Junior$60,970
- 50th Percentile — Median$74,170
- 75th Percentile — Senior$101,260
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$114,170
Half of Firefighters in Colorado earn more than $74,170. The top 10% make $114,170 or more, while entry-level workers start around $47,000.
Firefighters in Colorado: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- Colorado ranks 6th of 50 states for Firefighters pay, at $78,380 per year (23.2% above the U.S. average of $63,630).
- 6,510 people work as Firefighters in Colorado — 1.9% of all U.S. Firefighters jobs.
- Location quotient 1.02: Firefighters jobs are more concentrated in Colorado than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $47,000; the top 10% earn over $114,170.
- Hourly equivalent: $37.68 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is California at $95,090.
- Among public safety jobs in Colorado, First-Line Supervisors of Police pays the most ($124,850).
Firefighters Job Market in Colorado
Key factors affecting compensation
Colorado's key industries are Technology, Aerospace, Tourism, and its job market is rated very strong. Firefighters here earn $78,380 on average, placing the state 6th nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 1.1 (U.S. = 1.00), a Colorado salary of $78,380 is roughly equivalent to $71,255 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Washington ($89,200), New York ($87,150), New Jersey ($85,810) are the closest alternatives for Firefighters weighing a move.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
Other Public Safety Jobs in Colorado
Related career salary benchmarks
- First-Line Supervisors of Police $124,850/yr Colorado +59.3% vs this role
- Detectives and Criminal Investigators $109,010/yr Colorado +39.1% vs this role
- First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting $105,920/yr Colorado +35.1% vs this role
- Police Officers $90,550/yr Colorado +15.5% vs this role
- Correctional Officers and Jailers $66,360/yr Colorado 15.3% vs this role
- Private Detectives and Investigators $58,910/yr Colorado 24.8% vs this role
- Security Guards $45,870/yr Colorado 41.5% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Firefighters salary in Colorado?
The average Firefighters salary in Colorado is $78,380 per year (median $74,170), which is 23.2% above the national average of $63,630.
How does Colorado rank for Firefighters pay?
Colorado ranks 6th out of 50 states. The highest-paying state is California ($95,090/yr).
How much do entry-level Firefighters make in Colorado?
The lowest-paid 10% of Firefighters in Colorado earn about $47,000 per year and the 25th percentile is $60,970.
How much do Firefighters make per hour in Colorado?
About $37.68 per hour, based on the $78,380 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Firefighters work in Colorado?
BLS counts 6,510 Firefighters jobs in Colorado (OEWS May 2025).
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