Firefighters Salary in Boulder, CO

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Boulder, CO

Median annual salary $80,330 +34.9% vs national
Median hourly $38.62
10th percentile $51,890
90th percentile $108,280
Employed locally 320
National median $59,530

Compare Firefighters salary & buying power

Type a city below to see how Boulder, CO stacks up on salary and cost of living.

Full tool →
Firefighters
in
Boulder, CO
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $51,890
    25th
    $73,970
    50th (median)
    $80,330
    75th
    $103,610
    90th
    $108,280

    Boulder economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.20% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $102,772 2023 • Census ACS
    Firefighters salary vs area income 78% Median Firefighters salary is 22% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Firefighters

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $164,940
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $121,270
    Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA $108,320
    New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $105,250
    Vallejo, CA $104,460
    Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $102,220

    Nearby metros — Firefighters salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $121,270
    Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $102,220
    Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO $88,860
    Fort Collins-Loveland, CO $88,270
    Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $85,300
    Corvallis, OR $83,680

    Related occupations in Boulder, CO

    OccupationMedian salary
    Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers $36,400
    Security Guards $49,730
    Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers $101,240
    Protective Service Workers, All Other $47,600
    First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers $122,440
    First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives $133,920

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Firefighters make per hour in Boulder?

    The median hourly wage for Firefighters in Boulder, CO is $38.62, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $51.54 or more per hour.

    Is Boulder above or below average for Firefighters salaries?

    The median Firefighters salary in Boulder, CO is 34.9% above the national median of $59,530. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Firefighters in Boulder?

    Entry-level Firefighters (10th percentile) earn around $51,890 per year in Boulder, CO. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $73,970.