Firefighters Salary in Columbus, IN

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Columbus, IN

Median annual salary $44,020 -26.1% vs national
Median hourly $21.16
10th percentile $33,860
90th percentile $71,480
Employed locally 80
National median $59,530

Compare Firefighters salary & buying power

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

Full tool →
Firefighters
in
Columbus, IN
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $33,860
    25th
    $44,020
    50th (median)
    $44,020
    75th
    $57,190
    90th
    $71,480

    Columbus economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.10% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $80,365 2023 • Census ACS
    Firefighters salary vs area income 55% Median Firefighters salary is 45% 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
    Washington $93,490
    Bellingham, WA $93,170
    Trenton-Princeton, NJ $88,970
    Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN $88,290
    Fort Collins-Loveland, CO $88,270
    Salinas, CA $79,310

    Related occupations in Columbus, IN

    OccupationMedian salary
    Security Guards$36,100
    Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$73,360
    Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers$23,920

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Firefighters make per hour in Columbus?

    The median hourly wage for Firefighters in Columbus, IN is $21.16, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $37.90 or more per hour.

    Is Columbus above or below average for Firefighters salaries?

    The median Firefighters salary in Columbus, IN is 26.1% below 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 Columbus?

    Entry-level Firefighters (10th percentile) earn around $33,860 per year in Columbus, IN. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $44,020.