Wyoming Firefighter Salary (2026) – City Breakdown, Overtime & Real Take-Home
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Wyoming firefighter compensation varies by department, schedule, overtime policy, and benefits. This guide breaks down what Wyoming firefighters actually earn — from entry-level pay to top-step with overtime — and what shapes take-home pay across the state's career departments.
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Wyoming Firefighter Salary — Quick Numbers (2026)
Based on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey (May 2024, the most recent state-level data published for Wyoming) and current department pay scales, the statewide median wage for firefighters in Wyoming is $51,850, with a mean of $54,970 across roughly 680 firefighters employed statewide. The bottom 10% of earners make around $38,890; the top 10% make about $70,570 in base pay before overtime. Wyoming ranks below the national average, but current 2026 recruiting postings from the state's two largest career departments show entry pay running noticeably higher than the BLS statewide figure.
| Level | Annual Base Pay |
|---|---|
| Entry-level (academy / probation) | $44,000–$63,000 |
| Mid-career (5–10 years) | $58,000–$72,000 |
| Top-step Firefighter | $68,000–$84,000 |
| With overtime (realistic) | $80,000–$100,000 |
| Engineer / Driver-Operator | $74,000–$90,000 |
| Captain | $88,000–$110,000 |
Source: BLS OEWS May 2024 statewide estimates (most recent published for Wyoming), current department civil-service and NTN job postings, and union pay scales. Numbers reflect base pay; total compensation with overtime and benefits runs higher.
City-by-City Breakdown
| Department | Typical Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Cheyenne Fire Rescue | ~$61,300 probation (Jan 2026 posting) → $84,000+ top step | State capital and largest career department in Wyoming. Hiring runs through National Testing Network with a written exam, CPAT, and oral board; eligibility lists are valid one year. Confirm current step pay on the city's employment page, as posted rates shift between recruitment cycles. |
| Casper Fire-EMS | ~$63,200 trainee (2026 NTN posting, before scheduled OT) → $78,000+ top step | Operates 5 stations with 18 personnel on duty daily. Oil and energy-sector city; municipal budgets and hiring pace can fluctuate with energy prices. Trainee pay excludes 5 hours of scheduled weekly overtime built into the posted rate. |
| Laramie Fire Department | $46,000–$70,000 | University of Wyoming city; smaller department with fewer annual openings. Confirm current step pay directly with the City of Laramie, as a fully public current pay table wasn't available at time of writing. |
City figures combine current NTN/civil-service job postings and department pay scales where published; ranges for departments without a fully public current step table are marked accordingly. Pay tables change between budget cycles — always confirm exact numbers on the department's own hiring page before comparing offers.
Overtime and Premium Pay
Overtime in Wyoming is more limited than in large-metro states simply because departments and call volumes are smaller. Even so, most departments run a 24/48 or similar shift schedule that creates regular overtime opportunities for sick coverage, training backfill, and special details. Wildfire season adds seasonal income for firefighters with wildland certifications, and energy-sector incidents in Casper and other oil and gas hubs can create occasional demand spikes. Industry estimates suggest experienced firefighters commonly add 20–40% to base pay through overtime over a full year, though this varies significantly by department.
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
Wyoming firefighters at career departments participate in the Wyoming Retirement System (WRS) Public Employee Pension Plan under its Fire A or Fire B tier, depending on department and hire date — a defined-benefit plan with mandatory employee and employer contributions. Contribution rates and benefit multipliers differ between the Fire A and Fire B tiers, so confirm the actual current contribution rate and tier assignment with the specific department's HR office rather than assuming one city's terms apply statewide.
Wyoming has no state income tax, which is a real, consistent advantage on take-home pay regardless of which department you join.
Cost of Living — What Your Salary Actually Buys
No state income tax is Wyoming's biggest structural advantage on take-home pay, and it applies statewide regardless of department. Housing is affordable across most of Wyoming compared to national averages, which helps offset a base salary that runs below the national firefighter mean. Cheyenne and Casper offer reasonable cost of living relative to pay. The major exception is Jackson Hole and the Teton County resort corridor, where housing costs are extreme — but that area does not have a comparably-paying career fire department, so it's largely irrelevant to salary comparisons for working firefighters.
How to Compare Two Wyoming 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 or pay policy.
- Get the actual WRS tier and contribution rate — 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 in that specific city — not the state average.
- 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 Wyoming?
The BLS statewide median wage for firefighters in Wyoming is $51,850, with a mean of $54,970 (May 2024 data, the most recent published). Career firefighters typically earn $58,000–$72,000 in base pay depending on rank, step, and department, and current 2026 postings at Cheyenne and Casper show entry pay in the low-to-mid $60,000s. With realistic overtime, total compensation can range from $80,000–$100,000.
Do Wyoming firefighters get a pension?
Yes. Wyoming firefighters at career departments participate in the Wyoming Retirement System (WRS) under its Fire A or Fire B tier, a defined-benefit plan with mandatory contributions. The specific tier and contribution rate depend on department and hire date, so confirm current numbers with the department's HR office. Wyoming also has no state income tax, which meaningfully boosts take-home pay.
Is Wyoming a good state for a firefighter career?
Wyoming is a small state with a limited number of career departments, and base pay runs below the national firefighter average. That said, no state income tax and a generally low cost of living close much of the gap on real take-home pay, wildland certifications carry extra value given the state's fire season, and Cheyenne offers the most career stability as the state's largest career department.
Interested in working as a firefighter in Wyoming? See our guide to starting a firefighter career — requirements, CPAT, written exam, and academy explained step by step.
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