Firefighters Salary in Denver, CO

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO

Median annual salary $88,860 +49.3% vs national
Median hourly $42.72
10th percentile $52,370
90th percentile $116,500
Employed locally 2,900
National median $59,530

Compare Firefighters salary & buying power

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

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Firefighters
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Denver, CO
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $52,370
    25th
    $75,310
    50th (median)
    $88,860
    75th
    $109,460
    90th
    $116,500

    Denver economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.20% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $102,339 2023 • Census ACS
    Firefighters salary vs area income 87% Median Firefighters salary is 13% 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
    Fort Collins-Loveland, CO $88,270
    Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $85,300
    Corvallis, OR $83,680
    Boulder, CO $80,330

    Related occupations in Denver, CO

    OccupationMedian salary
    Security Guards $46,270
    Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers $103,170
    Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers $36,810
    Protective Service Workers, All Other $42,440
    Correctional Officers and Jailers $64,210
    Detectives and Criminal Investigators $108,360

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Firefighters make per hour in Denver?

    The median hourly wage for Firefighters in Denver, CO is $42.72, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $59.02 or more per hour.

    Is Denver above or below average for Firefighters salaries?

    The median Firefighters salary in Denver, CO is 49.3% 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 Denver?

    Entry-level Firefighters (10th percentile) earn around $52,370 per year in Denver, CO. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $75,310.