Firefighters Salary in Des Moines, IA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA

Median annual salary $51,580 -13.4% vs national
Median hourly $24.80
10th percentile $36,810
90th percentile $103,520
Employed locally 740
National median $59,530

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Firefighters
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Des Moines, IA
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $36,810
    25th
    $42,020
    50th (median)
    $51,580
    75th
    $87,840
    90th
    $103,520

    Des Moines economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.00% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $84,209 2023 • Census ACS
    Firefighters salary vs area income 61% Median Firefighters salary is 39% 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 Des Moines, IA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Security Guards $37,410
    Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers $85,420
    Correctional Officers and Jailers $56,590
    First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives $117,020
    Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers $26,520
    Detectives and Criminal Investigators $79,640

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Firefighters make per hour in Des Moines?

    The median hourly wage for Firefighters in Des Moines, IA is $24.80, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $49.70 or more per hour.

    Is Des Moines above or below average for Firefighters salaries?

    The median Firefighters salary in Des Moines, IA is 13.4% 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 Des Moines?

    Entry-level Firefighters (10th percentile) earn around $36,810 per year in Des Moines, IA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $42,020.