SOC 33-2011 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Firefighters — Illinois
Illinois · 8 metro areas compared
At $78,380 a year, the median wage for Firefighters in Illinois sits 32.2% above the national figure of $59,280.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
At $78,380 a year, the median wage for Firefighters in Illinois sits 32.2% above the national figure of $59,280. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $47,910 and $103,530. The lowest tenth earn under $38,900, while the highest tenth earn more than $106,060.
The area has 18,400 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 3.0 of every thousand jobs. Illinois ranks number 5th out of 50 states by median pay for this occupation. Within the state, Chicago records the highest median at $82,820. Of the 747 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 250th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $38,900 | −34.4% |
| 25th | $47,910 | −19.2% |
| Median (50th) | $78,380 | +32.2% |
| 75th | $103,530 | +74.6% |
| 90th | $106,060 | +78.9% |
| Mean | $76,530 | +29.1% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Illinois
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chicago | $82,820 | 14,560 | |
| 2 | Rockford | $77,150 | 410 | |
| 3 | Peoria | $73,670 | 490 | |
| 4 | Bloomington | $69,270 | 170 | |
| 5 | Springfield | $65,330 | 240 | |
| 6 | Decatur | $62,430 | 120 | |
| 7 | Champaign | $62,190 | 340 | |
| 8 | Kankakee | $59,850 | 120 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Illinois sit close to the national average, so $78,380 is worth roughly its face value against pay elsewhere.
Published median
$78,380as reported by BLSLocal price level
100.0US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$78,380US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $78,380 a year, 32.2% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $38,900 to $106,060 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 18,400 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 5th of 50 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Chicago, at $82,820.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Firefighters in Illinois?
The median annual wage is $78,380, or $37.68 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $59,280, so pay in Illinois is 32.2% higher. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Illinois earns more than $106,060 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $38,900 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Chicago, at $82,820 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 18,400 jobs in this occupation in Illinois. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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