Firefighters Pay Range in Massachusetts
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$49,730
- 25th Percentile — Junior$61,800
- 50th Percentile — Median$72,800
- 75th Percentile — Senior$80,070
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$98,130
Half of Firefighters in Massachusetts earn more than $72,800. The top 10% make $98,130 or more, while entry-level workers start around $49,730.
Firefighters in Massachusetts: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- Massachusetts ranks 9th of 50 states for Firefighters pay, at $73,220 per year (15.1% above the U.S. average of $63,630).
- 11,940 people work as Firefighters in Massachusetts — 3.5% of all U.S. Firefighters jobs.
- Location quotient 1.48: Firefighters jobs are more concentrated in Massachusetts than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $49,730; the top 10% earn over $98,130.
- Hourly equivalent: $35.2 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is California at $95,090.
- Among public safety jobs in Massachusetts, Detectives and Criminal Investigators pays the most ($118,130).
Firefighters Job Market in Massachusetts
Key factors affecting compensation
Massachusetts's key industries are Healthcare, Education, Technology, and its job market is rated very strong. Firefighters here earn $73,220 on average, placing the state 9th nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 1.3 (U.S. = 1.00), a Massachusetts salary of $73,220 is roughly equivalent to $56,323 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, District of Columbia ($79,550), Colorado ($78,380), Illinois ($76,530) 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 Massachusetts
Related career salary benchmarks
- Detectives and Criminal Investigators $118,130/yr Massachusetts +61.3% vs this role
- First-Line Supervisors of Police $112,480/yr Massachusetts +53.6% vs this role
- First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting $100,680/yr Massachusetts +37.5% vs this role
- Police Officers $83,230/yr Massachusetts +13.7% vs this role
- Correctional Officers and Jailers $82,890/yr Massachusetts +13.2% vs this role
- Private Detectives and Investigators $70,110/yr Massachusetts 4.2% vs this role
- Security Guards $44,760/yr Massachusetts 38.9% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Firefighters salary in Massachusetts?
The average Firefighters salary in Massachusetts is $73,220 per year (median $72,800), which is 15.1% above the national average of $63,630.
How does Massachusetts rank for Firefighters pay?
Massachusetts ranks 9th out of 50 states. The highest-paying state is California ($95,090/yr).
How much do entry-level Firefighters make in Massachusetts?
The lowest-paid 10% of Firefighters in Massachusetts earn about $49,730 per year and the 25th percentile is $61,800.
How much do Firefighters make per hour in Massachusetts?
About $35.2 per hour, based on the $73,220 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Firefighters work in Massachusetts?
BLS counts 11,940 Firefighters jobs in Massachusetts (OEWS May 2025).
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