Wisconsin Firefighter Salary (2026) – City Breakdown, Overtime & Real Take-Home
Last updated:
Wisconsin firefighter compensation varies by department, schedule, overtime policy, and benefits. This guide breaks down what Wisconsin firefighters actually earn — from entry-level pay to top-step with overtime — and what shapes take-home pay across the state's major departments.
Compare all states:Firefighter Salary by State Hub · Calculator:Salary Comparison Tool · Getting hired:How to Become a Firefighter
Wisconsin 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 data compiled across Wisconsin in 2026 shows the statewide average firefighter salary at $60,164, essentially in line with the national figure — Wisconsin firefighters earn close to a typical U.S. paycheck, with Milwaukee and Madison running above that average and smaller departments running somewhat below it.
| Level | Annual Base Pay |
|---|---|
| Entry-level (academy / probation) | $46,000–$58,000 |
| Mid-career (5–10 years) | $62,000–$78,000 |
| Top-step Firefighter | $74,000–$92,000 |
| With overtime (realistic) | $88,000–$115,000 |
| Engineer / Driver-Operator | $80,000–$98,000 |
| Captain | $95,000–$122,000 |
Source: BLS OEWS May 2024 national estimates, ZipRecruiter and Salary.com Wisconsin job-posting data (2026), department civil-service postings, and IAFF union contracts. Numbers reflect base pay; total compensation with overtime and benefits runs higher.
City-by-City Breakdown
| Department | Typical Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee Fire Department | $56,000–$90,000 | Largest department in the state — 29 stations, roughly 93,000 calls a year. High call volume drives consistent overtime; strong IAFF Local 215 contract sets the pay standard for the rest of Wisconsin. |
| Madison Fire Department | $58,000–$92,000 | State capital and university city; a well-funded municipal budget keeps pay above the state average. Consistently one of the most competitive department pay scales in Wisconsin. |
| Green Bay Fire Department | ~$56,900 average (2026 market data) → $85,000+ top step | Northeast Wisconsin's primary career hub. Cost of living runs about 12% below the U.S. average, so this range goes further than the raw numbers suggest. Confirm current step pay directly with the department, as market estimates vary between sources. |
| Kenosha Fire Department | ~$58,100 average (2026 market data) → $84,000+ top step | Southeastern Wisconsin; proximity to the Chicago metro labor market puts modest upward pressure on wages compared to similarly-sized departments elsewhere in the state. |
City figures combine current civil-service postings and department pay scales where published, alongside 2026 job-market data (ZipRecruiter, Salary.com) for departments without a fully public current step table. Pay tables change between budget cycles and union contract negotiations — always confirm exact numbers on the department's own civil-service page before comparing offers.
Overtime and Premium Pay
Milwaukee sees the most consistent overtime in the state, driven by high call volume and staffing patterns across its 29 stations. Madison runs more moderate overtime with a generally well-staffed department. In southeastern Wisconsin, Chicago-metro labor market proximity (Kenosha, Racine) pulls wages and overtime expectations upward compared to similarly-sized departments further from the Illinois border. Most Wisconsin departments run a 24/48 or similar shift schedule that creates regular overtime opportunities beyond call-volume-driven OT.
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
Wisconsin firefighters participate in the Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS), a defined-benefit plan with an additional variable account option; employee contributions run roughly 6.75% of gross pay under current WRS rates. WRS is consistently ranked among the best-funded public pension systems in the United States, which is a genuine long-term advantage over states with underfunded or at-risk pension systems — confirm the current contribution rate and protective-category benefit multiplier with your specific department, since these can shift with WRS rate-setting from year to year.
Cost of Living — What Your Salary Actually Buys
Wisconsin has a moderate cost of living overall. Milwaukee and Madison both run below the national average for housing costs relative to their size as metro areas, and Green Bay runs about 12% below the U.S. average across the board. Property taxes in Wisconsin are above the national average, which is worth factoring into any take-home comparison. Wisconsin winters are also a genuine quality-of-life consideration for firefighters relocating from milder climates.
How to Compare Two Wisconsin 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 contract.
- Get the actual WRS contribution rate and protective-category multiplier — not just the general benefit formula.
- Ask for healthcare premium costs for your specific coverage tier.
- Subtract deductions, then compare realistic take-home against housing costs and property taxes 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 Wisconsin?
Job-posting data across Wisconsin in 2026 puts the statewide average firefighter salary at $60,164, essentially in line with the national BLS median of $59,530 (May 2024). Career firefighters typically earn $62,000–$78,000 in base pay depending on rank, step, and department. With realistic overtime, total compensation ranges from $88,000–$115,000.
Do Wisconsin firefighters get a pension?
Yes. Wisconsin firefighters participate in the Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS), a defined-benefit plan with an additional variable account option, with employee contributions of roughly 6.75% of gross pay. WRS is consistently ranked as one of the best-funded public pension systems in the U.S. — a significant long-term advantage over many other states.
Is Wisconsin a good state for a firefighter career?
Wisconsin offers solid, close-to-national-average compensation combined with one of the best-funded pension systems in the country. Milwaukee and Madison are the primary career markets and pay above the state average, while Green Bay and Kenosha offer smaller but stable career paths with a lower cost of living.
Interested in working as a firefighter in Wisconsin? See our firefighter career guide for 2026 — requirements, CPAT, written exam, and academy explained step by step.
Comments 0
No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts!
Leave a Comment