Firefighters Salary in Milwaukee, WI

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI

Median annual salary $49,210 -17.3% vs national
Median hourly $23.66
10th percentile $35,570
90th percentile $81,270
Employed locally 2,010
National median $59,530

Compare Firefighters salary & buying power

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

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Firefighters
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Milwaukee, WI
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $35,570
    25th
    $39,510
    50th (median)
    $49,210
    75th
    $70,560
    90th
    $81,270

    Milwaukee economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.20% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $76,404 2023 • Census ACS
    Firefighters salary vs area income 64% Median Firefighters salary is 36% 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
    Sheboygan, WI $79,620
    Kennewick-Richland, WA $79,210
    Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD $78,980
    Providence-Warwick, RI-MA $68,250
    Janesville-Beloit, WI $66,100
    Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT $63,300

    Related occupations in Milwaukee, WI

    OccupationMedian salary
    Security Guards $40,790
    Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers $91,670
    Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers $30,050
    Correctional Officers and Jailers $68,050
    First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives $108,130
    Detectives and Criminal Investigators $98,970

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Firefighters make per hour in Milwaukee?

    The median hourly wage for Firefighters in Milwaukee, WI is $23.66, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $38.61 or more per hour.

    Is Milwaukee above or below average for Firefighters salaries?

    The median Firefighters salary in Milwaukee, WI is 17.3% 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 Milwaukee?

    Entry-level Firefighters (10th percentile) earn around $35,570 per year in Milwaukee, WI. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $39,510.