Firefighters Pay Range in Iowa
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$32,240
- 25th Percentile — Junior$46,020
- 50th Percentile — Median$55,810
- 75th Percentile — Senior$63,280
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$87,720
Half of Firefighters in Iowa earn more than $55,810. The top 10% make $87,720 or more, while entry-level workers start around $32,240.
Firefighters in Iowa: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- Iowa ranks 25th of 50 states for Firefighters pay, at $57,240 per year (10.0% below the U.S. average of $63,630).
- 2,170 people work as Firefighters in Iowa — 0.6% of all U.S. Firefighters jobs.
- Location quotient 0.63: Firefighters jobs are less concentrated in Iowa than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $32,240; the top 10% earn over $87,720.
- Hourly equivalent: $27.52 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is California at $95,090.
- Among public safety jobs in Iowa, First-Line Supervisors of Police pays the most ($101,540).
Firefighters Job Market in Iowa
Key factors affecting compensation
Iowa's key industries are Agriculture, Manufacturing, Finance, and its job market is rated moderate. Firefighters here earn $57,240 on average, placing the state 25th nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 0.86 (U.S. = 1.00), a Iowa salary of $57,240 is roughly equivalent to $66,558 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Virginia ($58,240), Ohio ($58,130), North Dakota ($57,980) 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 Iowa
Related career salary benchmarks
- First-Line Supervisors of Police $101,540/yr Iowa +77.4% vs this role
- Detectives and Criminal Investigators $87,110/yr Iowa +52.2% vs this role
- First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting $83,040/yr Iowa +45.1% vs this role
- Police Officers $76,280/yr Iowa +33.3% vs this role
- Correctional Officers and Jailers $57,140/yr Iowa 0.2% vs this role
- Private Detectives and Investigators $48,190/yr Iowa 15.8% vs this role
- Security Guards $42,220/yr Iowa 26.2% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Firefighters salary in Iowa?
The average Firefighters salary in Iowa is $57,240 per year (median $55,810), which is 10.0% below the national average of $63,630.
How does Iowa rank for Firefighters pay?
Iowa ranks 25th out of 50 states. The highest-paying state is California ($95,090/yr).
How much do entry-level Firefighters make in Iowa?
The lowest-paid 10% of Firefighters in Iowa earn about $32,240 per year and the 25th percentile is $46,020.
How much do Firefighters make per hour in Iowa?
About $27.52 per hour, based on the $57,240 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Firefighters work in Iowa?
BLS counts 2,170 Firefighters jobs in Iowa (OEWS May 2025).
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