Firefighters Pay Range in Kentucky
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$27,870
- 25th Percentile — Junior$33,390
- 50th Percentile — Median$37,150
- 75th Percentile — Senior$48,120
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$60,720
Half of Firefighters in Kentucky earn more than $37,150. The top 10% make $60,720 or more, while entry-level workers start around $27,870.
Firefighters in Kentucky: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- Kentucky ranks 47th of 50 states for Firefighters pay, at $42,100 per year (33.8% below the U.S. average of $63,630).
- 5,150 people work as Firefighters in Kentucky — 1.5% of all U.S. Firefighters jobs.
- Location quotient 1.16: Firefighters jobs are more concentrated in Kentucky than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $27,870; the top 10% earn over $60,720.
- Hourly equivalent: $20.24 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is California at $95,090.
- Among public safety jobs in Kentucky, First-Line Supervisors of Police pays the most ($88,030).
Firefighters Job Market in Kentucky
Key factors affecting compensation
Kentucky's key industries are Manufacturing, Healthcare, Agriculture, and its job market is rated moderate. Firefighters here earn $42,100 on average, placing the state 47th nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 0.83 (U.S. = 1.00), a Kentucky salary of $42,100 is roughly equivalent to $50,723 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, South Carolina ($43,900), Arkansas ($43,380), New Mexico ($43,180) 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 Kentucky
Related career salary benchmarks
- First-Line Supervisors of Police $88,030/yr Kentucky +109.1% vs this role
- Detectives and Criminal Investigators $86,900/yr Kentucky +106.4% vs this role
- First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting $67,280/yr Kentucky +59.8% vs this role
- Police Officers $59,840/yr Kentucky +42.1% vs this role
- Private Detectives and Investigators $51,130/yr Kentucky +21.4% vs this role
- Correctional Officers and Jailers $44,870/yr Kentucky +6.6% vs this role
- Security Guards $38,540/yr Kentucky 8.5% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Firefighters salary in Kentucky?
The average Firefighters salary in Kentucky is $42,100 per year (median $37,150), which is 33.8% below the national average of $63,630.
How does Kentucky rank for Firefighters pay?
Kentucky ranks 47th out of 50 states. The highest-paying state is California ($95,090/yr).
How much do entry-level Firefighters make in Kentucky?
The lowest-paid 10% of Firefighters in Kentucky earn about $27,870 per year and the 25th percentile is $33,390.
How much do Firefighters make per hour in Kentucky?
About $20.24 per hour, based on the $42,100 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Firefighters work in Kentucky?
BLS counts 5,150 Firefighters jobs in Kentucky (OEWS May 2025).
Related Salary Pages
Explore more salary data