Firefighters Salary in Cedar Rapids, IA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Cedar Rapids, IA

Median annual salary $60,690 +1.9% vs national
Median hourly $29.18
10th percentile $36,390
90th percentile $70,530
Employed locally 170
National median $59,530

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Firefighters
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Cedar Rapids, IA
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $36,390
    25th
    $49,830
    50th (median)
    $60,690
    75th
    $60,690
    90th
    $70,530

    Cedar Rapids economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.30% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $77,084 2023 • Census ACS
    Firefighters salary vs area income 79% Median Firefighters salary is 21% 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
    Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA $90,180
    Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO $88,860
    Ames, IA $86,140
    California $83,400
    District of Columbia $79,430
    Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD $78,980

    Related occupations in Cedar Rapids, IA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Security Guards $37,380
    Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers $74,250
    Correctional Officers and Jailers $51,420
    Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers $31,110
    First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives $109,910
    School Bus Monitors $34,640

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Firefighters make per hour in Cedar Rapids?

    The median hourly wage for Firefighters in Cedar Rapids, IA is $29.18, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $35.14 or more per hour.

    Is Cedar Rapids above or below average for Firefighters salaries?

    The median Firefighters salary in Cedar Rapids, IA is 1.9% 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 Cedar Rapids?

    Entry-level Firefighters (10th percentile) earn around $36,390 per year in Cedar Rapids, IA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $49,830.