Firefighters Pay Range in Illinois
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$38,900
- 25th Percentile — Junior$47,910
- 50th Percentile — Median$78,380
- 75th Percentile — Senior$103,530
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$106,060
Half of Firefighters in Illinois earn more than $78,380. The top 10% make $106,060 or more, while entry-level workers start around $38,900.
Firefighters in Illinois: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- Illinois ranks 7th of 50 states for Firefighters pay, at $76,530 per year (20.3% above the U.S. average of $63,630).
- 18,400 people work as Firefighters in Illinois — 5.3% of all U.S. Firefighters jobs.
- Location quotient 1.36: Firefighters jobs are more concentrated in Illinois than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $38,900; the top 10% earn over $106,060.
- Hourly equivalent: $36.79 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is California at $95,090.
- Among public safety jobs in Illinois, First-Line Supervisors of Police pays the most ($126,760).
Firefighters Job Market in Illinois
Key factors affecting compensation
Illinois's key industries are Finance, Manufacturing, Agriculture, and its job market is rated strong. Firefighters here earn $76,530 on average, placing the state 7th nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 1.05 (U.S. = 1.00), a Illinois salary of $76,530 is roughly equivalent to $72,886 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, New York ($87,150), New Jersey ($85,810), District of Columbia ($79,550) 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 Illinois
Related career salary benchmarks
- First-Line Supervisors of Police $126,760/yr Illinois +65.6% vs this role
- First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting $115,980/yr Illinois +51.5% vs this role
- Detectives and Criminal Investigators $97,480/yr Illinois +27.4% vs this role
- Police Officers $92,450/yr Illinois +20.8% vs this role
- Correctional Officers and Jailers $78,080/yr Illinois +2.0% vs this role
- Private Detectives and Investigators $64,440/yr Illinois 15.8% vs this role
- Security Guards $44,240/yr Illinois 42.2% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Firefighters salary in Illinois?
The average Firefighters salary in Illinois is $76,530 per year (median $78,380), which is 20.3% above the national average of $63,630.
How does Illinois rank for Firefighters pay?
Illinois ranks 7th out of 50 states. The highest-paying state is California ($95,090/yr).
How much do entry-level Firefighters make in Illinois?
The lowest-paid 10% of Firefighters in Illinois earn about $38,900 per year and the 25th percentile is $47,910.
How much do Firefighters make per hour in Illinois?
About $36.79 per hour, based on the $76,530 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Firefighters work in Illinois?
BLS counts 18,400 Firefighters jobs in Illinois (OEWS May 2025).
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