Firefighter & EMS Tool
Firefighter Salary Comparison by State
Compare firefighter pay across U.S. states using cost-of-living (US=100) and state income tax snapshots. See the equivalent pay you’d need for the same purchasing power.
Data: MERIC (COL, 2025 Q3) + FTA (income tax, tax year 2024).
Estimated annual hours: —
Tip: You can share this tool with the URL (it keeps your selections).
State A
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State B
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Comparison
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COL-adjusted math: pay × (COL_B / COL_A). COL index is US=100.
How to compare firefighter pay by state
Firefighter pay can look higher in one state and lower in another, but the real question is what that pay buys you. This tool compares your pay across U.S. states using a cost of living index (US=100) and a simple state income tax snapshot so you can estimate equivalent purchasing power.
1) Choose your pay type and schedule
- Annual if you know your yearly base pay.
- Hourly if you know your hourly rate. The tool converts hourly to annual using the schedule hours.
- If your department uses a different setup, select Custom annual hours.
2) Compare State A vs State B
- Select State A (your current state).
- Select State B (where you might move or apply).
- Use Swap A ↔ B to flip the comparison instantly.
3) Read the results (what matters)
- Equivalent pay shows what you’d need in State B to maintain the same purchasing power as State A.
- COL-adjusted pay (US=100) normalizes your pay to the national baseline so two states are easier to compare.
- State income tax snapshot is a quick reference. Your actual tax depends on brackets, filing status, deductions, and local rules.
Important notes
- Overtime, step increases, specialty pay, and differentials vary by department and are not included unless you add them into your pay input.
- City/metro costs can differ a lot inside the same state. Use this as a state-level comparison, then check the specific city you’re considering.
- If you want a more realistic estimate, try running the tool with base pay and then again with base + typical OT.
FAQ
Not automatically. Enter your estimated annual pay including overtime if you want overtime reflected in the comparison.
A higher salary doesn’t always mean higher purchasing power. Cost of living helps estimate what that salary can actually buy.
No. The tool shows a tax-rate snapshot (type and range). Your actual tax depends on brackets, filing status, deductions, credits, and local taxes.
Yes. Choose a schedule (or custom annual hours) so hourly vs annual conversions are more realistic for your department.
Narrow down to a city/metro area, check local housing costs, and compare department pay scales (steps, longevity, incentives) before deciding.