Oregon Firefighter Salary (2026) – City Breakdown, Overtime & Real Take-Home
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Oregon firefighter pay runs well above the national average, and Portland Fire & Rescue's official pay scale now clears six figures at every step past the first year. This guide breaks down what Oregon firefighters actually earn in Portland, Salem, Eugene, Gresham, and beyond — from entry-level pay to top-step with overtime.
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Oregon 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). Oregon runs well above that: Glassdoor's 2026 statewide average is $72,299, Indeed's job-posting average is $75,021, and FirefighterNow cites a BLS-derived state median of $73,270 — Oregon ranks among the top dozen states nationally for firefighter pay by that measure, even though ZipRecruiter's broader "fire department" job category (which includes non-firefighter roles) ranks the state near the bottom for its category average. The clearest picture comes from actual department pay scales: Portland's is now a five-step ladder running from $83,930 to $111,538.
| Level | Annual Base Pay |
|---|---|
| Entry-level (academy / step 1) | $62,000–$84,000 |
| Mid-career (5–10 years) | $72,000–$96,000 |
| Top-step Firefighter | $85,000–$112,000 |
| With overtime (realistic) | $100,000–$135,000 |
| Firefighter/Paramedic (13% premium, Portland) | $94,000–$126,000 |
| Captain | $115,000–$145,000 |
Source: BLS OEWS May 2024 national estimates, official Portland Fire & Rescue and Eugene Springfield Fire pay scales (2026), City of Salem lateral-hire posting, Glassdoor and Indeed Oregon job-posting data. Numbers reflect base pay; total compensation with overtime and premiums runs higher.
City-by-City Breakdown
| Department | Typical Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Portland Fire & Rescue | $83,930 (step 1) → $111,538 (step 5), per current IAFF Local 43 CBA | Largest fire/EMS provider in Oregon — 31 stations, roughly 91,000 calls a year, 699 uniformed members. Firefighter-paramedics earn a 13% premium over top-step base pay; a DPSST Apparatus Operator certification adds another 3%. Projected to hire 30–70 firefighters for 2025–2026 academies. |
| Eugene Springfield Fire | $68,023 (step 1) → $92,870 (step 6), official 2026 posting | Joint department serving both Eugene and Springfield under one hiring process; candidates don't choose which city hires them. University of Oregon city with an active, EMS-heavy call profile. Firefighter-paramedic roles run meaningfully higher than the base EMT-track scale. |
| Salem Fire Department | ~$92,400 base + 9% paramedic premium → $100,777 for lateral paramedic hires (2026 posting) | State capital; IAFF Local 314. Runs a 56-hour average work week schedule. Actively recruits lateral firefighter/paramedics with prior career experience in addition to entry-level academy hires. |
| Gresham Fire & Emergency Services | $53,000–$79,000 typical range (2026 market data) → described by the department as among the best wage/benefit packages in Oregon | Oregon's 4th-largest city; also serves Troutdale, Fairview, Wood Village, and unincorporated Multnomah County. Notably, Gresham contracts ambulance transport out to AMR, so firefighters run calls without handling routine transport. Specialty teams include HazMat, Water Rescue, USAR/Technical Rescue, and SWAT Medic. |
City figures combine official department pay scales (Portland, Eugene Springfield) and current civil-service/NTN postings (Salem, Gresham) with 2026 job-market data where a fully public current table wasn't available. Pay tables change with contract renewals — always confirm exact numbers on the department's own hiring page before comparing offers.
Overtime and Premium Pay
Portland runs a 1-3-2-3 shift schedule for Emergency Operations members, and its high call volume (roughly 91,000 calls a year across 31 stations) generates consistent overtime on top of an already strong base pay scale. Wildfire season is a major overtime driver statewide — Oregon has some of the most active wildfire seasons in the country, and wildland certifications are genuinely valuable both for direct wildfire assignments and for the overtime opportunities that come with them. Paramedic and apparatus-operator premiums (13% and 3% respectively at Portland, 9% at Salem) function as predictable add-on pay layered on top of base steps, separate from overtime.
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
Oregon career firefighters participate in the Oregon Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) under its Police Officer & Firefighter (P&F) category, which carries an enhanced benefit formula reflecting the physical demands of the job. Employees hired under the older Tier One or Tier Two plans generally have contributions covered by the employer in many jurisdictions, while newer hires fall under the Oregon Public Service Retirement Plan (OPSRP), which combines a smaller defined-benefit pension with an Individual Account Program (IAP) defined-contribution component. Portland firefighters' retirement benefits are further shaped by City Charter Section 5-304. Because Oregon PERS tiers differ significantly by hire date, confirm your specific tier and contribution structure with your department's HR office rather than assuming a single statewide formula applies.
Cost of Living — What Your Salary Actually Buys
Portland housing costs are high relative to most of the country, though still below San Francisco and Seattle. Oregon has no sales tax, which helps day-to-day purchasing power, but state income tax runs relatively high — up to 9.9% at the top bracket — which takes a real bite out of Portland's strong headline salaries. Eugene, Salem, and Gresham all offer a somewhat lower cost of living than Portland proper while still paying competitively. Wildfire smoke season has become an increasing quality-of-life factor across the state during summer months, worth factoring in alongside the financial numbers.
How to Compare Two Oregon Departments
- Match the same rank and step (entry vs. 5-year vs. top step) — comparing an entry rate at one department to a top-step rate at another isn't a fair comparison.
- Confirm the schedule type and how overtime is calculated under the current union contract.
- Get your actual PERS tier (Tier One/Two vs. OPSRP) — the contribution structure and benefit formula differ meaningfully by hire date.
- Add up paramedic and apparatus-operator premiums separately from base pay — they can add 10%+ at departments like Portland and Salem.
- Subtract Oregon's state income tax and other deductions, then compare realistic take-home against housing costs in that specific city.
- 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 Oregon?
Oregon's statewide average runs well above the national BLS median of $59,530 (May 2024) — Glassdoor puts the 2026 state average at $72,299 and Indeed at $75,021. Portland Fire & Rescue's official pay scale runs from $83,930 at step 1 to $111,538 at step 5, with firefighter-paramedics earning an additional 13% premium. Career firefighters statewide typically earn $72,000–$96,000 in base pay depending on rank, step, and department, and with realistic overtime, total compensation can range from $100,000–$135,000 at busier departments.
Do Oregon firefighters get a pension?
Yes. Oregon firefighters participate in the Oregon Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) under its Police Officer & Firefighter (P&F) category, which includes an enhanced benefit formula. Older Tier One/Tier Two hires often have employer-covered contributions, while newer hires fall under the OPSRP hybrid plan with a defined-contribution IAP component. Oregon PERS is generally regarded as one of the more generous public-safety pension systems nationally.
Is Oregon a good state for a firefighter career?
Oregon is a strong, upper-tier state for firefighter compensation — Portland's current pay scale is among the more competitive in the Pacific Northwest, and Oregon PERS is a genuinely strong pension system. Wildfire exposure creates both real risk and real overtime/wildland-assignment opportunity. The main trade-offs are Oregon's relatively high state income tax and Portland's above-average housing costs, both of which take a bite out of the strong headline salaries.
Interested in working as a firefighter in Oregon? See our firefighter requirements and hiring guide — requirements, CPAT, written exam, and academy explained step by step.
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