Montana Firefighter Salary (2026) – City Breakdown, Overtime & Real Take-Home
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Montana firefighter pay sits close to the national average once you look past the entry-level headline numbers, and wildland fire certifications can meaningfully supplement a career firefighter's income in a state built around fire season. This guide breaks down what Montana firefighters actually earn in Billings, Missoula, Bozeman, and Great Falls — from probationary pay through top step — and what shapes real take-home pay in a state where housing costs have changed dramatically in recent years.
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Montana 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). Montana runs close to that figure: Glassdoor's 2026 data puts the average firefighter salary in Montana at $71,758, just 1% below the national average by their measure, with top earners reaching $110,428. Official department pay scales tell a more granular story — Billings' current posted rate runs from $24.1525 to $33.5525 an hour ($50,237–$69,795 annually) across the Probationary Firefighter to Firefighter II progression, while Missoula Rural Fire District's current base for a Probationary Firefighter I/Paramedic is $69,027.
| Level | Annual Base Pay |
|---|---|
| Entry-level (probationary) | $50,000–$65,000 |
| Mid-career (5–10 years) | $58,000–$76,000 |
| Top-step Firefighter | $66,000–$88,000 |
| With overtime + wildland season (realistic) | $78,000–$105,000 |
| Firefighter/Paramedic (Missoula Rural example) | $69,027 starting |
| Captain | $82,000–$104,000 |
Source: BLS OEWS May 2024 national estimates, official City of Billings pay scale (2026), official Missoula Rural Fire District salary posting (2026), Glassdoor and Salary.com Great Falls and Bozeman job-market data. Numbers reflect base pay; wildland mutual-aid income and overtime run higher during fire season.
City-by-City Breakdown
| Department | Typical Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Billings Fire Department | $50,237 starting ($24.1525/hr) → $69,795 top firefighter pay ($33.5525/hr) | Largest city in Montana and the state's primary career department. Requires Montana EMT-Basic certification within six months of hire. Part of the Montana Firefighters Testing Consortium (MFTC), so a single CPAT can qualify applicants across multiple Montana departments. Pay continues to climb with promotion to Engineer and beyond. |
| Missoula Rural Fire District | $64,227 Probationary Firefighter I → $69,027 Probationary Firefighter I/Paramedic (2026 official posting) | University city with significant wildland-urban interface exposure; U.S. Forest Service proximity creates valuable cross-training and mutual-aid opportunities. The paramedic-track starting pay is a genuinely strong number for a Montana department this size, and pay increases further with additional qualifications. |
| Great Falls Fire Rescue | $56,269 average (Fire Fighter II, Salary.com) → $69,451 average (Glassdoor) → $105,155 top earners | Central Montana's primary career hub; smaller department than Billings or Missoula with a correspondingly lower cost of living. Pay ranges vary noticeably depending on source and years of experience — confirm current step pay directly with the department for the most accurate figure. |
| Bozeman Fire Department | $46,400–$90,314 (ZipRecruiter range, 2026), $60,828 average | Fastest-growing city in Montana. Runs a 48/96 schedule following a 10-week academy, with an established path to paramedic licensure. IAFF Local 613. Hiring is seasonal — recruit academies typically start in March and August, with the department's next full-time hiring cycle reopening in spring 2027 at time of writing, so plan applications around that window. |
City figures combine official City of Billings and Missoula Rural Fire District postings with 2026 job-market data (Glassdoor, Salary.com, ZipRecruiter) for Great Falls and Bozeman. Pay tables and hiring windows change between budget cycles — always confirm exact numbers and current openings on the department's own hiring page.
Overtime and Premium Pay
Wildfire season is the single biggest overtime and premium-pay driver in Montana. Many Montana departments participate in U.S. Forest Service mutual-aid agreements, and firefighters who hold wildland certifications (Red Card, Incident Command System quals) can pick up substantial summer income beyond their structural firefighting base pay — Missoula's proximity to national forest land makes this especially relevant there. Billings sees the most consistent year-round overtime given its size. Most Montana departments run 24/48 shifts, though Bozeman's 48/96 rotation is a notable exception that changes the annual-hours picture.
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
Montana career firefighters participate in the Montana Public Employee Retirement Administration (MPERA) under its Firefighters' Unified Retirement System (FURS) tier, a defined-benefit plan. Employee contribution rates generally run in the 6–8% of gross pay range, though the exact rate and benefit multiplier can vary by department and hire date. Confirm the current contribution rate and vesting schedule with your specific department's HR office rather than assuming a single statewide number applies uniformly.
Cost of Living — What Your Salary Actually Buys
Montana housing costs have risen sharply since 2020, particularly in Bozeman, Missoula, and to a lesser extent Billings — the state is no longer the affordable mountain retreat it was a decade ago. Bozeman in particular now carries a housing cost-to-income ratio that rivals some coastal markets, driven by lifestyle-migration demand and limited housing supply. Great Falls and Billings remain considerably more affordable than Bozeman or Missoula, which is worth weighing heavily against the modest pay differences between Montana's major departments.
How to Compare Two Montana Departments
- Match the same rank and step (entry vs. 5-year vs. top step) — comparing a probationary rate at one department to top-step pay at another isn't a fair comparison.
- Confirm the schedule type (24/48 vs. Bozeman's 48/96) and how overtime is calculated under the current contract.
- Get the actual MPERA/FURS contribution rate — not just the general benefit formula.
- Ask whether wildland mutual-aid and Red Card income is realistically available, and how it's compensated.
- Subtract deductions, then compare realistic take-home against housing costs in that specific city — Bozeman and Missoula are not comparable to Great Falls or Billings on cost of living.
- Add conservative overtime assumptions — use low-end estimates, not maximum-scenario numbers, when deciding between offers.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average firefighter salary in Montana?
Glassdoor's 2026 data puts the average firefighter salary in Montana at $71,758, just 1% below the national BLS median-adjacent average, with top earners reaching $110,428. Official pay scales show Billings running $50,237 to $69,795 across the probationary-to-Firefighter II progression, while Missoula Rural Fire District's paramedic-track starting pay is $69,027. With realistic overtime and wildland season income, total compensation can range from $78,000-$105,000.
Do Montana firefighters get a pension?
Yes. Montana career firefighters participate in the Montana Public Employee Retirement Administration (MPERA) under its Firefighters' Unified Retirement System (FURS) tier, a defined-benefit plan with employee contributions generally in the 6-8% of gross pay range, though the exact rate varies by department.
Is Montana a good state for a firefighter career?
Montana offers pay close to the national average once you look past entry-level headline figures, and wildland fire certifications (Red Card, Incident Command System quals) can substantially supplement career fire income during summer season. The lifestyle appeal of Montana's mountain and river access drives strong competition for positions, and rapidly rising housing costs in Bozeman and Missoula are a genuine trade-off worth weighing against the state's more affordable cities like Billings and Great Falls.
Interested in working as a firefighter in Montana? See our full guide to the firefighter hiring process — requirements, CPAT, written exam, and academy explained step by step.
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