Fire Lieutenant Salary (2025)
Lieutenants are front-line supervisors responsible for crew safety, tactical assignments, and daily training. Pay reflects leadership responsibilities and specialty team oversight.
- 12–16% over engineerPromotion differential
- NFPA Fire Officer I/IIFire Officer certification
- 3–5 personnelAverage crew size
- 77% of positionsUnion coverage
Where Fire Lieutenants earn the most
Coastal metros with strong union contracts, specialty team incentives, and cost-of-living adjustments lead compensation. Use these comparables to inform negotiations and career moves.
Top-paying states pair higher base wages with large overtime budgets. Consider total compensation, not just salary, when benchmarking offers.
90th percentile $134,500
San Francisco-Oakland · Company officers receive 12% ALS or specialty premiums.
View state ladder90th percentile $119,800
Boston-Cambridge · Strong civil service ladder with seniority multipliers.
90th percentile $108,200
Dallas-Fort Worth · Rapid growth and incentive pay for Fire Officer certifications.
View state ladderSalary by state
Compare compensation across leading states. Bars show median base pay; hover notes capture overtime share and hiring highlights.
Assessment centers yearly · bugle pay 10%
Fire Officer II required · assessment Q2 2025
Civil service list; pay includes longevity steps
Captain-track stipend $2,000 for leadership academy
Assessment center March 2025
Education incentive 6% for Fire Officer III
Career responsibilities
Company officer / first-line supervision
- Serve as first-line supervisor on apparatus, directing tactical assignments and ensuring crew accountability.
- Coordinate training drills, probationary evaluations, and daily readiness checks.
- Manage incident command until relieved by chief officers, maintaining communications and resource deployment.
- Handle reporting, inspections, and community engagement tasks for assigned district.
Frequently asked questions
Use these talking points during budget presentations, union briefings, or career counseling sessions.
Do lieutenants receive stipend for acting as battalion chief?
Many agencies pay acting officer differentials when lieutenants cover battalion chief assignments, typically 5–10% per shift.
Are lieutenants still part of the union?
In most IAFF locals, lieutenants remain members, though some states classify officers as management; check local charters.
Is Fire Officer certification mandatory?
Most metro departments require Fire Officer I/II before promotion; some states list requirements through civil service commissions.
Sources & citations
Each data point references an official contract, pay plan, or survey. Cite these documents when validating compensation budgets.
- Boston Fire Department Promotional Bulletin · December 2024
- Dallas Fire-Rescue Pay Ordinance · FY 2025
- Orange County Fire Rescue Captain Track · Updated Nov 2024
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