Checked September 8, 2026: Kansas' statewide firefighter median is $45,900, but current city pay is much more useful. Wichita is recruiting at $23.17/hour, Shawnee starts recruits at $52,326 and publishes a career ladder reaching $90,025, Lawrence lists Firefighter 1st Class at $61,443–$81,908, and Salina's current Firefighter/Paramedic range reaches $92,373.
Kansas firefighter compensation is shaped by two very different labor markets: Wichita and the rest of central/western Kansas on one side, and the Kansas City suburbs on the other. Shawnee and Overland Park compete in a metro labor market where paramedic credentials are rewarded aggressively, while Wichita uses its own commissioned fire pay structure and its own local police/fire pension plan.
That makes Kansas a poor fit for a generic “entry / mid-career / top step” table. The useful comparison is department by department, with the source's actual pay structure preserved.
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Kansas firefighter pay guide
- Kansas statewide wage benchmark
- Current department pay comparison
- Wichita Fire Recruit and 2026 contract changes
- Shawnee firefighter progression and paramedic stipend
- Lawrence probationary vs. 1st Class pay
- Topeka Firefighter III starting salary
- Salina EMT vs. paramedic pay
- Garden City firefighter range
- Manhattan EMT starting-pay difference
- Overtime and schedule pay
- KP&F vs. Wichita C-79 pension
- Kansas 2026 income tax
- Frequently asked questions
What Does the Kansas Firefighter Average Actually Tell You?
The latest BLS-based 2025 wage data show a Kansas firefighter median of $45,900 per year. The statewide 10th percentile is $32,810 and the 90th percentile is $76,110.
That number is lower than many current municipal career-fire postings. It includes a statewide mix of employers and regions, so it should not be mistaken for a 2026 starting salary in Wichita, Shawnee or Lawrence.
This is especially obvious in Johnson County and the Kansas City metro labor market, where departments compete for experienced firefighter/EMTs and paramedics. A statewide median is useful for context; an active city salary schedule is what an applicant should use.
The old $49,350 BLS mean has been removed. This page uses the 2025 federal wage series and labels it as a statewide occupational benchmark rather than a department salary.
Kansas Firefighter Salary by Department — Current Public Figures
| Department | Published pay | How to read it |
|---|---|---|
| Wichita Fire Department | Fire Recruit $23.17/hr | Active 2026 recruit posting. Wichita uses a separate commissioned fire pay schedule and local Police & Fire Plan C-79. |
| Shawnee Fire Department | Recruit $52,326 7–11 Year / Master FF $82,773–$90,025 | Current City career page. Firefighter-Paramedics receive a 10% stipend on top of base. |
| Lawrence Fire Medical | Probationary $44,972–$70,313 1st Class $61,443–$81,908 | 2026 salary proposal; paramedic specialty pay is $2/hour. |
| Topeka Fire Department | Firefighter III starting $52,715 | Current City recruitment page; 24-hour shifts and KP&F retirement are listed benefits. |
| Salina Fire Department | FF/EMT $49,878–$79,810 FF/Paramedic $57,741–$92,373 | 2026 recruitment flyer; starting salary depends on experience. |
| Garden City Fire Department | $48,776–$68,806.40 | Continuous 2026 Firefighter I or II recruitment. |
| Manhattan Fire Department | $50,086 without EMT $52,736 with EMT | 2026 entry recruitment; a rare public example showing the direct starting-pay value of EMT certification. |
These are not identical classifications. Recruit, probationary firefighter, Firefighter 1st Class and Firefighter/Paramedic may require different experience or EMS credentials.
Wichita Firefighter Pay in 2026
Wichita's active Fire Recruit posting lists $23.1721 per hour. The posting opened in August 2026 and is being used to build the department's recruit pipeline.
Wichita also entered a new three-year labor agreement covering Firefighter, Fire Lieutenant and Fire Captain positions from December 20, 2025 through December 15, 2028.
For eligible employees, the agreement provides:
- 2026: 3.5% general pay adjustment + 2.5% merit step
- 2027: 3.5% general pay adjustment + 2.5% merit step
- 2028: 3.5% general pay adjustment + 2.5% merit step
The agreement also added donning-and-doffing pay. Firefighters on a 24-hour schedule receive 4.6153 additional paid hours per pay period for required pre- and post-shift activities. The City says this compensation is included in the regular rate for overtime and pension calculations.
This is more useful than inventing a Wichita overtime total. The City has actually published how certain additional paid time enters the regular rate. That is a real compensation rule, unlike a generic “Wichita firefighters make $X extra in OT” estimate.
Current 2026 promotional postings also show Fire Lieutenant at $41.20–$46.14 per hour and Fire Captain at $45.68–$51.16 per hour. Those positions are internal promotions, not entry-level firefighter pay.
Shawnee Firefighter Salary: One of Kansas' Clearest Career Ladders
Shawnee publishes a detailed firefighter progression directly on the City's career page:
| Shawnee stage | Published annual pay |
|---|---|
| Recruit Firefighter | $52,326 |
| 1 Year Firefighter | $57,559–$58,605 |
| 2 Year Firefighter | $62,163–$63,602 |
| 3 Year Firefighter | $66,415–$68,381 |
| 4 Year Firefighter | $71,170–$74,185 |
| 5 Year Firefighter | $75,440–$79,750 |
| 6 Year Firefighter | $79,590–$85,332 |
| 7–11 Year / Master Firefighter | $82,773–$90,025 |
The department also states that Firefighter-Paramedics receive a 10% stipend on top of base pay. Lateral firefighters can receive credit for up to five years of full-time paid experience.
This is a good example of why a Kansas City-suburb firefighter salary cannot be represented by a single statewide median.
Lawrence Firefighter Salary in 2026
Lawrence's 2026 police and fire salary proposal separates probationary firefighters from Firefighter 1st Class:
- Probationary Firefighter: $44,972–$70,313
- Firefighter 1st Class: $61,443–$81,908
- Lieutenant: $73,446–$88,474
- Captain: $77,944–$94,503
The same 2026 schedule lists $2.00 per hour for paramedic specialty pay and $1.00 per hour for Bid Engineer.
Those add-ons matter because they are actual published specialty rates. They should be kept separate from base salary rather than folded into a generic “total compensation” figure.
Topeka Firefighter Starting Salary
Topeka's current entry recruitment lists an annual Firefighter III starting salary of $52,715.
The City also lists 24-hour shifts, Kelly Days, paid holidays, tuition reimbursement and Kansas Police & Fire Retirement among its benefits.
That makes $52,715 the most useful current applicant-facing Topeka number. The old $44,000–$70,000 estimated range has been removed because it was not tied to a specific rank or current recruitment.
Salina Firefighter/EMT vs. Firefighter/Paramedic Pay
Salina's 2026 hiring flyer provides a direct EMS-based comparison:
- Firefighter/EMT starting: $49,878 — full range $49,878–$79,810
- Firefighter/Paramedic starting: $57,741 — full range $57,741–$92,373
The flyer notes that starting salary depends on experience. The difference between the two published starting rates is $7,863, giving applicants a concrete Kansas example of how paramedic certification affects fire-service pay.
Garden City Firefighter Salary
Garden City has a continuous 2026 Firefighter I or II recruitment with a published annual range of $48,776 to $68,806.40.
Firefighter I certification is preferred, but the City says it can train the right candidate. Firefighter II requires additional certification and experience, which explains why the same recruitment spans a wider pay range than a single-step recruit job.
Manhattan: What Is EMT Certification Worth at Hire?
Manhattan's 2026 entry recruitment gives one of the clearest answers in Kansas:
- $50,086 starting without EMT
- $52,736 starting with EMT
That is a $2,650 starting-pay difference tied directly to EMT status in the recruitment information.
The posting also lists KP&F Retirement and a local Fireman's Relief Association benefit. This is more useful than assuming every Kansas department handles EMT or paramedic credentials with the same stipend.
Kansas Firefighter Overtime: Use the Contract, Not a Guess
The old article said Wichita has more overtime than smaller departments and that most Kansas departments have limited overtime. That is too broad to use as salary advice.
Overtime depends on vacancies, staffing minimums, FLSA work cycles, callbacks, holdovers, special events and the local labor agreement.
Wichita's 2026 agreement is a good example of why details matter: the new donning-and-doffing pay is included in the regular rate used for overtime calculations. Shawnee, Lawrence and Topeka use their own structures.
For a real comparison, ask:
- What is the normal 24-hour work cycle?
- Is scheduled FLSA overtime already reflected in annual pay?
- How are callback and holdover hours paid?
- Does paramedic or specialty pay enter the overtime rate?
- Does extra compensation count toward pensionable salary?
That produces better salary guidance than adding a guessed $10,000 or $20,000 to every firefighter's base pay.
Kansas Firefighter Retirement: KP&F Is Common, but Wichita Is Different
The Kansas Police and Firemen's Retirement System (KP&F) is the statewide public-safety retirement system used by many participating Kansas employers.
KPERS' current member guidance says covered KP&F employees contribute 7.15% of gross pay. The contribution rate is set by Kansas law.
The old 7.15% figure was actually correct for KP&F. What needed correction was the implication that every Kansas career firefighter necessarily uses that same retirement plan.
Wichita is an important exception. City benefit materials identify a separate Commissioned Police & Fire Plan C-79, a defined-benefit plan shared by the employee and City. Wichita's fire labor agreement also states that certain donning-and-doffing compensation affects pension calculations.
So when estimating take-home pay:
- Topeka and many other participating employers: verify KP&F coverage and use the 7.15% member rate.
- Wichita: use the City's C-79 plan rules and current payroll contribution instead of assuming KP&F.
Kansas Income Tax in 2026
Kansas considered automatic rate reductions, but the Department of Revenue announced that the statutory revenue trigger was not met for tax year 2026. As a result, there is no 2026 rate reduction.
The individual income-tax structure remains:
| Filing status | 2026 Kansas taxable income | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Single / Head of Household / Married Filing Separate | Up to $23,000 | 5.2% |
| Single / Head of Household / Married Filing Separate | Over $23,000 | $1,196 + 5.58% of excess |
| Married Filing Joint | Up to $46,000 | 5.2% |
| Married Filing Joint | Over $46,000 | $2,392 + 5.58% of excess |
The 2026 estimated-tax form also lists standard deductions of $3,605 for Single, $8,240 for Married Filing Joint, $4,120 for Married Filing Separate and $6,180 for Head of Household.
That means a Kansas firefighter's take-home pay should not be modeled with a flat state-tax percentage alone.
How to Compare Two Kansas Fire Departments
- Start with the actual recruit or first-step rate from the current posting.
- Check whether the number is hourly, annual, probationary or 1st Class.
- Separate EMT, AEMT and paramedic compensation.
- Identify the actual pension system — KP&F or a local plan such as Wichita C-79.
- Use the department's FLSA and overtime rules rather than a statewide estimate.
- Apply Kansas tax brackets to your own filing status.
- Then compare housing and commute costs in Wichita, Topeka, Lawrence or the Kansas City suburbs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average firefighter salary in Kansas?
The latest BLS-based 2025 data show a Kansas firefighter median of $45,900, with a statewide 10th-to-90th percentile range of $32,810–$76,110.
How much does a Wichita firefighter make in 2026?
Wichita's active Fire Recruit posting lists $23.17 per hour. The City's current fire agreement also provides a 3.5% general pay adjustment and 2.5% merit step for eligible employees in 2026.
How much does a Shawnee firefighter make?
Shawnee lists $52,326 for Recruit Firefighter and up to $90,025 in the 7–11 year / Master Firefighter band. Firefighter-Paramedics receive a 10% stipend.
How much does a Lawrence firefighter make?
Lawrence's 2026 schedule lists $44,972–$70,313 for Probationary Firefighter and $61,443–$81,908 for Firefighter 1st Class.
How much does a Salina firefighter paramedic make?
Salina's 2026 recruitment lists $57,741 starting and a full Firefighter/Paramedic range to $92,373.
How much do Kansas firefighters contribute to KP&F?
Covered KP&F members contribute 7.15% of gross pay. Wichita commissioned firefighters use the City's separate C-79 police/fire pension plan instead.
What are Kansas income tax rates in 2026?
Kansas retained the current two-rate structure for 2026: 5.2% in the lower taxable-income bracket and 5.58% above the applicable threshold.
Sources and Data Notes
- CareerOneStop / BLS 2025 firefighter wage data — Kansas statewide row.
- Wichita Fire Recruit — 2026.
- Wichita 2026 commissioned/non-exempt salary ordinance.
- Wichita 2025–2028 fire labor agreement summary.
- Shawnee Fire career salary progression.
- Lawrence 2026 Police and Fire Salary Proposal.
- Topeka Firefighter recruitment.
- Salina Fire Department 2026 hiring flyer.
- Garden City Firefighter I or II — 2026.
- Manhattan Firefighter recruitment — 2026.
- KPERS — KP&F member contribution.
- City of Wichita benefits — Police & Fire Plan C-79.
- Kansas Department of Revenue — no individual rate reduction for 2026.
- Kansas 2026 individual estimated-tax schedule.
Editorial note: Kansas fire pay is published through job bulletins, city salary ordinances, bargaining agreements and career-step pages. This article preserves those differences instead of forcing every department into one statewide salary template. Figures were checked against public information available September 8, 2026.
Preparing for a Kansas fire-service hiring process? Our firefighter hiring guide covers CPAT, written testing, EMS credentials and academy basics.
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