SOC 33-2011 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Firefighters — Iowa
Iowa · 7 metro areas compared
At $55,810, median pay for Firefighters in Iowa tracks the national median of $59,280 closely.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
At $55,810, median pay for Firefighters in Iowa tracks the national median of $59,280 closely. Pay ranges from under $32,240 at the tenth percentile to more than $87,720 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $46,020 to $63,280.
Employment stands at 2,170, or 1.4 jobs per thousand held locally. Iowa ranks number 26th out of 50 states by median pay for this occupation. Within the state, Ames records the highest median at $86,010. Of the 711 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 384th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $32,240 | −45.6% |
| 25th | $46,020 | −22.4% |
| Median (50th) | $55,810 | −5.9% |
| 75th | $63,280 | +6.7% |
| 90th | $87,720 | +48.0% |
| Mean | $57,240 | −3.4% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Iowa
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ames | $86,010 | 60 | |
| 2 | Cedar Rapids | $61,370 | 170 | |
| 3 | Waterloo | $61,190 | 80 | |
| 4 | Davenport | $60,080 | 410 | |
| 5 | Sioux City | $60,030 | 110 | |
| 6 | Des Moines | $56,910 | 730 | |
| 7 | Iowa City | $50,600 | 90 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Iowa run 12.2% below the national average, so the median of $55,810 goes as far as $63,565 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 7.2% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$55,810as reported by BLSLocal price level
87.8US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$63,565US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $55,810 a year, 5.9% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $32,240 to $87,720 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 2,170 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 26th of 50 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Ames, at $86,010.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Firefighters in Iowa?
The median annual wage is $55,810, or $26.83 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 Iowa is 5.9% lower. 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 Iowa earns more than $87,720 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $32,240 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 Ames, at $86,010 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 2,170 jobs in this occupation in Iowa. 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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