Rhode Island Firefighter Salary (2026) – City Breakdown, Overtime & Real Take-Home
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Rhode Island is a small state, but it packs some of New England's highest firefighter pay ceilings into a handful of departments. This guide breaks down what Rhode Island firefighters actually earn in Providence, Warwick, Cranston, and beyond — from entry-level pay to top-step with overtime — and what shapes real take-home pay in the Ocean State.
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Rhode Island 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). Rhode Island runs above that: CareerExplorer's BLS-sourced state figure puts the average firefighter salary in Rhode Island around $63,080, with a typical range of $48,070 to $78,310, and Indeed's 2026 job-posting average (which weights toward experienced roles) runs considerably higher at $84,978. As with most of New England, dense population, strong IAFF contracts, and high call volume push pay well above the regional cost-of-living-adjusted norm.
| Level | Annual Base Pay |
|---|---|
| Entry-level (academy / probation) | $52,000–$66,000 |
| Mid-career (5–10 years) | $68,000–$86,000 |
| Top-step Firefighter | $80,000–$106,000 |
| With overtime (realistic) | $96,000–$130,000 |
| EMT-Cardiac / Paramedic stipend | +$1,300–$3,900/yr |
| Captain / Lieutenant | $104,000–$135,000 |
Source: BLS OEWS May 2024 national estimates, official Providence Fire Department CBA pay steps (effective July 2026) and FirefighterApp postings for Warwick, Barrington, and Cranston, ZipRecruiter and CareerExplorer Rhode Island data. Numbers reflect base pay; total compensation with overtime runs higher.
City-by-City Breakdown
| Department | Typical Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Providence Fire Department | $53,827 post-academy → $82,000+ at 5 years → $86,200+ as Rescue Technician | Largest department in Rhode Island — 12 stations, roughly 45,750 calls a year. Per the current IAFF Local 799 contract (effective July 2026), base weekly pay is $1,034.15 for new hires, rising to $1,155.82 after 3 years with EMT-Cardiac certification, and $1,578.74 after 5 years. Add weekly stipends for HazMat Ops ($10), EMT-Basic ($25), or EMT-Cardiac/Paramedic ($75). |
| Warwick Fire Department | $800/week during academy → $72,000 (FF3) → $78,000 (FF2) → $106,000 (FF1) | Rhode Island's second-largest city; one of the highest top-step ceilings in the state once a firefighter reaches FF1 rank. T.F. Green International Airport proximity adds ARFF/aviation-incident training requirements for some assignments. |
| Cranston Fire Department | ~$58,000 average (2026 market data) → $92,000+ top step | Providence suburb and the state's third-largest city; competitive compensation that tracks closely with the Providence market. Confirm current step pay directly with the department, as a fully public current step table wasn't available at time of writing. |
| Pawtucket Fire Department | $56,000–$88,000 | Dense urban department bordering Providence; consistent call volume typical of the core Providence metro. Confirm current step pay directly with the department. |
| Barrington Fire Department | $64,543–$78,736 (2026 posted range) | East Bay suburb with a smaller call volume than the core Providence-area departments, but a competitive posted pay range for a town of its size. Good example of how strong even Rhode Island's smaller suburban departments can pay. |
City figures combine the official Providence IAFF Local 799 collective bargaining agreement and current FirefighterApp/civil-service postings (Warwick, Barrington) with 2026 job-market data (ZipRecruiter) where a fully public current step 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
Rhode Island is a small, dense state, and Providence sees the most consistent overtime given its 45,000+ annual call volume across 12 stations. EMS-heavy assignments — Providence's Rescue Technician role, for instance — carry meaningfully higher base pay than structural-only assignments, and certification stipends (HazMat Ops, EMT-Basic, EMT-Cardiac/Paramedic) function as a predictable form of add-on pay layered on top of the base contract rate. Massachusetts border proximity and regional mutual-aid agreements create additional staffing demand for departments near the state line, such as Woonsocket and Pawtucket.
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
Rhode Island career firefighters generally participate in the Employees' Retirement System of Rhode Island (ERSRI), a defined-benefit plan with hybrid elements introduced for many members by the 2011 Rhode Island Retirement Security Act (RIRSA). Employee contribution rates have historically run in the high single digits of gross pay, but the exact tier, contribution rate, and benefit multiplier depend heavily on when you're hired and which municipal plan applies — some Rhode Island cities, including Providence, maintain locally-administered plans separate from the statewide ERSRI system. Because RIRSA materially changed benefits for both active and some retired members, confirm the current plan structure and contribution rate directly with your specific department's HR office rather than assuming a single statewide number applies.
Cost of Living — What Your Salary Actually Buys
Rhode Island has relatively high housing and living costs compared to the national average, particularly in and around Providence, though it remains more affordable than neighboring Boston. Southern Rhode Island (Barrington, East Bay towns) sees some Boston-commuter housing pressure despite the distance. Property taxes across the state run above the national average, which is worth factoring into any real take-home comparison alongside the state's relatively high base pay.
How to Compare Two Rhode Island 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 CBA.
- Get the actual pension plan (ERSRI vs. a locally-administered plan) and current contribution rate — not just the general benefit formula.
- Add up certification stipends (HazMat, EMT-Basic, EMT-Cardiac/Paramedic) separately from base pay — they can meaningfully change total compensation.
- Subtract 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 Rhode Island?
Rhode Island's statewide average runs above the national BLS median of $59,530 (May 2024) — CareerExplorer puts it around $63,080, while 2026 job-posting data on Indeed runs considerably higher at $84,978. Career firefighters typically earn $68,000–$86,000 in base pay depending on rank, step, and department, and Warwick's top FF1 step reaches $106,000. With realistic overtime, total compensation ranges from $96,000–$130,000.
Do Rhode Island firefighters get a pension?
Most Rhode Island career firefighters participate in the Employees' Retirement System of Rhode Island (ERSRI) or a locally-administered municipal plan, such as Providence's own system. The 2011 RIRSA pension reform introduced hybrid defined-benefit/defined-contribution elements and reduced benefits for many active and some retired employees, so confirm the current tier and contribution rate with your specific department.
Is Rhode Island a good state for a firefighter career?
Rhode Island is a small state, but pay is genuinely strong, driven by New England market rates — Warwick's FF1 top step and Providence's Rescue Technician pay both clear six figures before overtime. The main trade-offs are a relatively high cost of living and pension benefits that were reduced by the RIRSA reform, so it's worth understanding your specific plan's current tier before counting on long-term retirement numbers. Providence and Warwick are the clearest primary career markets.
Interested in working as a firefighter in Rhode Island? See our firefighter career guide for 2026 — requirements, CPAT, written exam, and academy explained step by step.
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