Firefighters Pay Range in Montana
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$32,810
- 25th Percentile — Junior$47,770
- 50th Percentile — Median$59,310
- 75th Percentile — Senior$68,100
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$76,620
Half of Firefighters in Montana earn more than $59,310. The top 10% make $76,620 or more, while entry-level workers start around $32,810.
Firefighters in Montana: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- Montana ranks 24th of 50 states for Firefighters pay, at $57,660 per year (9.4% below the U.S. average of $63,630).
- 1,010 people work as Firefighters in Montana — 0.3% of all U.S. Firefighters jobs.
- Location quotient 0.89: Firefighters jobs are less concentrated in Montana than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $32,810; the top 10% earn over $76,620.
- Hourly equivalent: $27.72 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is California at $95,090.
- Among public safety jobs in Montana, Detectives and Criminal Investigators pays the most ($93,800).
Firefighters Job Market in Montana
Key factors affecting compensation
Montana's key industries are Agriculture, Tourism, Energy, and its job market is rated moderate. Firefighters here earn $57,660 on average, placing the state 24th nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 0.95 (U.S. = 1.00), a Montana salary of $57,660 is roughly equivalent to $60,695 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Nebraska ($59,190), Virginia ($58,240), Ohio ($58,130) 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 Montana
Related career salary benchmarks
- Detectives and Criminal Investigators $93,800/yr Montana +62.7% vs this role
- First-Line Supervisors of Police $93,560/yr Montana +62.3% vs this role
- First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting $85,620/yr Montana +48.5% vs this role
- Police Officers $69,540/yr Montana +20.6% vs this role
- Correctional Officers and Jailers $52,980/yr Montana 8.1% vs this role
- Private Detectives and Investigators $52,540/yr Montana 8.9% vs this role
- Security Guards $42,270/yr Montana 26.7% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Firefighters salary in Montana?
The average Firefighters salary in Montana is $57,660 per year (median $59,310), which is 9.4% below the national average of $63,630.
How does Montana rank for Firefighters pay?
Montana ranks 24th out of 50 states. The highest-paying state is California ($95,090/yr).
How much do entry-level Firefighters make in Montana?
The lowest-paid 10% of Firefighters in Montana earn about $32,810 per year and the 25th percentile is $47,770.
How much do Firefighters make per hour in Montana?
About $27.72 per hour, based on the $57,660 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Firefighters work in Montana?
BLS counts 1,010 Firefighters jobs in Montana (OEWS May 2025).
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