Firefighters Salary in Rockford, IL

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Rockford, IL

Median annual salary $78,060 +31.1% vs national
Median hourly $37.53
10th percentile $31,110
90th percentile $89,230
Employed locally 360
National median $59,530

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Firefighters
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Rockford, IL
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $31,110
    25th
    $34,480
    50th (median)
    $78,060
    75th
    $78,060
    90th
    $89,230

    Rockford economic context

    Unemployment rate 5.60% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $66,571 2023 • Census ACS
    Firefighters salary vs area income 117% Median Firefighters salary is 17% above 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
    Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA $108,320
    Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA $100,040
    Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN $88,290
    Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $85,300
    Abilene, TX $79,310
    Illinois $79,080

    Related occupations in Rockford, IL

    OccupationMedian salary
    Security Guards $38,080
    Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers $77,750
    Correctional Officers and Jailers $68,540
    Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers $31,200
    School Bus Monitors $32,950
    Detectives and Criminal Investigators $105,380

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Firefighters make per hour in Rockford?

    The median hourly wage for Firefighters in Rockford, IL is $37.53, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $42.74 or more per hour.

    Is Rockford above or below average for Firefighters salaries?

    The median Firefighters salary in Rockford, IL is 31.1% 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 Rockford?

    Entry-level Firefighters (10th percentile) earn around $31,110 per year in Rockford, IL. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $34,480.