Firefighter Salary in Raleigh, NC: 2026
Firefighter salary data for Raleigh, NC, adjusted for local cost of living. Entry-level to senior pay ranges, take-home pay calculator, and local job market insights.
The median Firefighter salary in Raleigh, NC is $45,640 per year ($3,803/month, $21.94/hr). That is the BLS OEWS May 2025 median annual wage for Firefighters in the Raleigh-Cary, NC metropolitan area, which covers Raleigh. Salario's cost-of-living model (index 102) would have estimated $60,466; the entry, senior and top tiers below are Salario estimates rescaled to the BLS median.
Also known as: Fire Fighter, Fire Officer, Engine Crew, Fire Department Officer. The estimates on this page are used for these related job titles in Raleigh, NC, although actual pay can differ by title and scope.
Median: BLS OEWS May 2025, Firefighters (SOC 33-2011), Raleigh-Cary, NC MSA. Entry, senior and top earner are Salario estimates rescaled to the BLS median.
Firefighter Take-Home Pay in Raleigh
Tax Breakdown (Median Salary)
| Gross Annual | $45,640 |
| Federal Tax | -$3,297 |
| State Tax (2.9% eff.) | -$1,312 |
| FICA (SS + Medicare) | -$3,491 |
| Annual Take-Home | $37,539 |
| Monthly Take-Home | $3,128 |
Living Cost Comparison
Firefighter Requirements
Key Skills
Firefighter salary search terms in Raleigh
People comparing Firefighter pay in Raleigh, NC may use related job-title wording. Salario keeps the main estimate tied to the Firefighter role, then treats the terms below as comparison phrases that should be checked for licensing, employer type, seniority, and role scope.
| Comparison point | How to use it |
|---|---|
| Primary local answer | $45,640 median salary, $30,900-$64,400 modeled range, and $37,539 estimated take-home pay in Raleigh. |
| Title variants | Fire Fighter, Fire Officer, Engine Crew, Fire Department Officer can point to similar searches, but some variants may represent a narrower specialty or a higher/lower seniority band. |
| Offer comparison | Compare base salary, hourly equivalent, take-home pay, certifications, local cost of living, and whether the job is employee, contractor, public-sector, commission-heavy, or management-level. |
Raleigh Job Market Overview
Raleigh, North Carolina has a population of 467,665 and an unemployment rate of 2.8%. The top industries are Technology, Government, Education. The local job growth rate is 3.0%, and the average commute time is 24minutes. These local figures come from Salario's city dataset; verify current values with BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics and Census QuickFacts.
Related Government Salaries in Raleigh
Firefighter Salary in Nearby North Carolina Cities
Salary Percentile Breakdown: Firefighter in Raleigh
Based on Salario's cost-of-living-adjusted salary tiers for Firefighter in Raleigh, NC, here is an estimated percentile breakdown:
| Percentile | Annual Salary | Hourly Equivalent | Career Stage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th (lowest) | $30,900 | $15/hr | Entry-level, < 1 yr exp. |
| 25th | $38,270 | $18/hr | Junior, 1-3 yrs exp. |
| 50th (median) | $45,640 | $22/hr | Mid-career, Fire Academy |
| 75th | $64,400 | $31/hr | Senior, 5-10 yrs exp. |
| 90th (top) | $84,800 | $41/hr | Lead/Principal, 10+ yrs |
P50 is the measured BLS OEWS May 2025 metro median; P10, P25, P75 and P90 are approximations, not measured local percentiles: they map to Salario's entry, senior and top tiers rescaled to the BLS median, with P25 interpolated halfway between entry and median. Top earners (P90) typically include managers, specialists with rare skills, or those at high-paying employers in Raleigh's Technology sector.
5-Year Salary Trajectory
Salario's national dataset models approximately 12.0% salary growth for Firefighters over the past 5 years. That national assumption is applied to the Raleigh estimate below; it is not a measured local trend, and it should be compared with cumulative CPI inflation before treating it as a real-terms gain:
Year-over-year, an average Firefighter can expect a 8.5% annual increase moving from entry to senior level over 9 years in Raleigh. Negotiation, certifications (EMT-B, Firefighter I/II), and changing employers strategically can accelerate this trajectory.
Raleigh vs National Average
The national median Firefighter salary is $59,280 (BLS OEWS May 2025, Firefighters). In the Raleigh-Cary, NC metro, the BLS median of $45,640 is 23.0% below the national figure. Raleigh's cost of living index is 102 (higher than the national average of 100), so the wage premium and the cost premium do not necessarily cancel out.
For Firefighters, this means: rent typically consumes 47.9% of take-home pay (households spending >30% are considered rent-burdened), and a median home in Raleigh costs about 10.1× annual take-home. Homeownership in Raleigh on this salary is challenging, most experts recommend keeping home costs to 3-4× income.
Industry Context: Technology in Raleigh
Raleigh's economy is anchored by Technology, Government, Education, with 467,665 residents and an unemployment rate of 2.8% in Salario's city dataset. Pay for Firefighters can differ by sector, so compare Technology employers with other local employers. The local job growth rate in Salario's city dataset is 3.0%, and Salario's job dataset lists a 4.0% growth outlook for Firefighter roles; check the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook for the official 2024-2034 projection for the closest matching occupation.
Methodology & Data Sources
How we calculate Firefighter salaries in Raleigh, NC:
- Local median is the BLS OEWS May 2025 median annual wage for Firefighters (SOC 33-2011) in the Raleigh-Cary, NC metropolitan statistical area, retrieved from the BLS Public Data API on September 17, 2026. BLS reports by metro area, so this is a regional figure, not a Raleigh-only wage.
- Cost-of-living adjustment is shown only for comparison ($60,466 modeled) using the Raleigh index of 102 relative to the national baseline of 100, with local rent, home price, unemployment, and tax inputs stored separately in Salario's city dataset.
- Percentile distribution (P10-P90) estimated from the entry, median, senior, and top compensation tiers in the Salario salary model rescaled to the BLS metro median rather than claimed as exact employer payroll data.
- Take-home pay calculated using 2026 federal tax brackets (10%-37%), NC 2026 state income tax brackets after the standard deduction (top rate 4.0%), and FICA (Social Security 6.2% + Medicare 1.45%).
- Tax brackets and standard deduction ($16,100 single filer for tax year 2026) sourced from IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-32 and updated annually.
Authoritative data sources:
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, national and metro-area salary data
- O*NET OnLine, occupation tasks, alternate job titles, skills, and SOC crosswalks
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, occupation outlook where a matching profile is available
- BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI-U), regional inflation data (CPI measures price changes, not city-to-city price levels)
- U.S. Census Bureau, Raleigh QuickFacts, population and demographic data
- IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-32 summary, 2026 federal tax brackets and standard deductions
- BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, official local unemployment rates to verify the Raleigh figure above
Last reviewed: 2026. Salario's salary dataset is refreshed periodically, not automatically; check the linked BLS releases for the latest official data. Firefighter salaries can vary significantly based on employer, sector (Technology vs others in Raleigh), specific skill set (Fire Suppression, EMT, Rescue Operations), and individual negotiation. Always verify current compensation through multiple sources before making career decisions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average Firefighter salary in Raleigh, NC?
How much does a Firefighter take home in Raleigh after taxes?
Is Raleigh a good city for Firefighters?
What skills are needed for a Firefighter in Raleigh?
How does Firefighter salary in Raleigh compare to the national average?
What job titles are similar to Firefighter in Raleigh?
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average Firefighter salary in Raleigh, NC?
The median Firefighter salary in Raleigh, NC is $45,640 per year: the BLS OEWS May 2025 median annual wage for Firefighters (SOC 33-2011) in the Raleigh-Cary, NC metropolitan area. BLS publishes wages by metro area, not by city. The entry-level estimate of around $30,900 and the senior estimate of $64,400 or more are Salario tiers calibrated to that BLS median, not BLS percentiles.
How much does a Firefighter take home in Raleigh after taxes?
A Firefighter earning the median salary of $45,640 in Raleigh, NC takes home approximately $37,539 per year ($3,128/month) after federal, state, and local taxes. The effective tax rate is 17.7%.
Is Raleigh a good city for Firefighters?
Raleigh, NC has a cost of living index of 102 (above national average). Firefighters here earn below the city median. The local unemployment rate is 2.8% and top industries include Technology, Government, Education.
What skills are needed for a Firefighter in Raleigh?
Key skills for Firefighters include Fire Suppression, EMT, Rescue Operations, Hazmat, Equipment Operation. Typical education requirement is High School Diploma + Fire Academy. Valuable certifications include EMT-B, Firefighter I/II, Hazmat Operations.
How does Firefighter salary in Raleigh compare to the national average?
The national median for Firefighters is $59,280 (BLS OEWS May 2025). In the Raleigh-Cary, NC metro, the BLS median is $45,640, which is 23.0% lower than the national figure. For comparison, Salario's cost-of-living model (index 102) would have estimated $60,466.
What job titles are similar to Firefighter in Raleigh?
Related search terms for Firefighter in Raleigh, NC include Fire Fighter, Fire Officer, Engine Crew, Fire Department Officer. Use them as comparison terms, not always exact matches: licensing, employer type, seniority, public-sector rules, and whether the role is W-2, contractor, clinical, technical, management, or sales-focused can change the salary range.