Massachusetts Firefighter Salary (2026) – City Breakdown, Overtime & Real Take-Home
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Boston firefighters are among the highest-paid in the country once you look at actual city payroll records rather than headline base salary alone. This guide breaks down what Massachusetts firefighters actually earn in Boston, Worcester, Springfield, and Cambridge — from entry-level pay to top-step with overtime — and what shapes real take-home pay in one of the strongest firefighter compensation states in the nation.
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Massachusetts Firefighter Salary — Quick Numbers (2026)
Nationally, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics puts the median firefighter wage at $59,530 (May 2024, the most recent OEWS data published). Job-posting estimates for Massachusetts (ZipRecruiter, Salary.com) tend to show statewide averages in the $63,000–$68,000 range — deceptively modest for a state widely regarded as one of the best-compensated in the fire service. Actual public payroll records tell a very different story for Boston specifically: GovSalaries' compilation of city payroll data shows the average Boston Fire Department firefighter earning $117,907, and independent analysis of 2024 city payroll records found total gross pay (base, overtime, detail work, retroactive contract pay, and injury pay combined) averaging approximately $183,552 per firefighter.
| Level | Annual Base Pay |
|---|---|
| Entry-level (probation / step 1) | $56,000–$70,000 |
| Mid-career (5–10 years) | $74,000–$94,000 |
| Top-step Firefighter (base only) | $88,000–$110,000 |
| Boston, actual average (base + OT + all pay) | $117,907–$183,552 |
| Engineer / Driver-Operator | $96,000–$118,000 |
| Captain | $112,000–$148,000 |
Source: BLS OEWS May 2024 national estimates, GovSalaries public payroll data for Boston Fire Department, 2024 Boston open-payroll analysis (Bandana Resources), ZipRecruiter and Salary.com statewide and city-level job-market data (2026). Numbers reflect base pay unless noted; Boston's actual total-compensation figures include overtime, detail pay, retroactive contract pay, and injury pay.
City-by-City Breakdown
| Department | Typical Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Boston Fire Department | $117,907 average actual pay (GovSalaries) → $183,552 average total gross pay (2024 payroll analysis) | Iconic department with a strong IAFF Local 718 contract. Analysis of 2024 city payroll data breaks the average total down: roughly $24,700 in overtime, $17,791 in retroactive contract pay, $15,516 in detail pay (fire watch, construction sites, special events), and $10,477 in injury/miscellaneous pay stacked on top of base. This makes Boston firefighter compensation among the strongest in the country once total pay is counted, not just posted base salary. |
| Worcester Fire Department | $59,000–$65,000 average (2026 market data) → $76,081 Fire Engineer average | Central Massachusetts's largest department — established 1835, 10 stations, roughly 424 employees, serving 183,000 residents across 39 square miles. IAFF Local 1009, BLS-level EMS. Strong union contract with an active call profile typical of a mid-size New England city. |
| Springfield Fire Department | $58,000–$66,000 typical range → $72,700–$72,950 average (Glassdoor, 2026) | Western Massachusetts's largest urban department; high call volume typical of a dense post-industrial New England city. Pay estimates vary noticeably between data sources — confirm current step pay directly with the department. |
| Cambridge Fire Department | $70,000–$108,000 | Harvard and MIT's home city, directly across the Charles River from Boston. Above-average pay reflects the metro Boston cost of living and labor market. Confirm current step pay directly with the department, as a fully public current pay table wasn't available at time of writing. |
City figures combine GovSalaries public payroll data and independent payroll analysis for Boston with 2026 job-market data (ZipRecruiter, Glassdoor, Salary.com) for Worcester, Springfield, and Cambridge. Pay tables and total compensation change between budget cycles and contract negotiations — always confirm exact numbers on the department's own civil-service page before comparing offers.
Overtime and Premium Pay
Boston's overtime economics are genuinely exceptional and well-documented through the city's open payroll data: the average firefighter adds roughly $24,700 in overtime, plus detail pay (fire watch, construction site coverage, special events) worth another $15,516 on average, plus retroactive contract adjustments that can add substantial one-time amounts when new labor agreements are finalized. This combination is why Boston firefighter total compensation regularly clears $150,000–$180,000+, well above the posted base salary alone. Worcester and Springfield see more moderate but still meaningful overtime tied to their own call volumes. Strong union contracts and periodic staffing challenges drive consistent overtime availability across most of the state's larger departments.
Use the Salary Comparison Tool to model different overtime assumptions before comparing departments — treat any overtime figure as a range, not a guarantee.
Retirement and Pension
Massachusetts public pension systems vary by municipality rather than following a single statewide structure. Boston and many larger cities administer their own locally-run retirement systems, while the Massachusetts State Employees' Retirement System (MSERS) covers some smaller communities. Massachusetts does not tax pension income from Massachusetts public retirement systems, which is a meaningful and often-overlooked take-home advantage for firefighters who retire in-state. Because contribution rates and benefit formulas differ between Boston's system and smaller municipal plans, confirm the specific terms with your target department.
Cost of Living — What Your Salary Actually Buys
Greater Boston has very high housing costs — consistently among the highest in the continental United States — which is part of why Boston firefighter total compensation runs so far above the state average. Western Massachusetts, including Springfield and Worcester, is significantly more affordable than metro Boston, though still somewhat above the national average overall. Cambridge tracks closely with Boston on cost of living given its direct proximity across the Charles River. Massachusetts levies a 5% flat state income tax, which is worth factoring into any take-home comparison against no-income-tax states.
How to Compare Two Massachusetts Departments
- Match the same rank and step (entry vs. 5-year vs. top step) — comparing a posted base rate at one department to Boston's actual total-pay average isn't a fair comparison.
- Confirm the schedule type and how overtime, detail pay, and retroactive contract adjustments are calculated under the current agreement.
- Get the actual pension system (a city-specific fund vs. MSERS) and contribution rate — not just the general benefit formula.
- Ask for healthcare premium costs for your specific coverage tier.
- Subtract deductions, including the 5% state income tax, then compare realistic take-home against housing costs in that specific city — Boston and Cambridge are not comparable to Worcester or Springfield.
- Add conservative overtime and detail-pay assumptions — Boston's numbers are real and well-documented, but treat them as an experienced-firefighter outcome, not a guaranteed year-one figure.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average firefighter salary in Massachusetts?
Job-posting estimates for Massachusetts typically show a statewide average around $63,000-$68,000, close to the national BLS median of $59,530 (May 2024). But actual public payroll data for Boston tells a very different story: GovSalaries shows Boston Fire Department firefighters averaging $117,907 in actual pay, and independent analysis of 2024 city payroll data found total gross pay (base, overtime, detail work, and other pay combined) averaging roughly $183,552. Career firefighters statewide typically earn $74,000-$94,000 in base pay.
Do Massachusetts firefighters get a pension?
Yes. Massachusetts public pension systems vary by municipality — Boston and many larger cities run their own locally-administered systems, while the Massachusetts State Employees' Retirement System (MSERS) covers some smaller communities. Massachusetts does not tax pension income from Massachusetts public systems, a meaningful take-home advantage for in-state retirees.
Is Massachusetts a good state for a firefighter career?
Massachusetts is a top-tier firefighter compensation state, and Boston in particular is one of the best-paying departments in the country once actual total compensation — not just posted base salary — is counted. Strong unions, solid pension benefits, and no state tax on Massachusetts pension income are all genuine advantages. Boston metro housing costs are the main challenge, though Worcester and Springfield offer considerably more affordable alternatives at somewhat lower pay.
Interested in working as a firefighter in Massachusetts? See our complete guide to becoming a firefighter in 2026 — requirements, CPAT, written exam, and academy explained step by step.
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