Fire Chief
Overtime 6%- Median base
- $154,700
- Entry step
- $138,600
- 90th percentile
- $171,900
County chiefs receive vehicle stipends and hurricane emergency activation pay.
View fire chief salaryFlorida salary guideUpdated Jan 4, 2025
Florida Firefighter Salary (2025)
Florida's coastal departments leverage specialty pay for paramedics and hurricane response deployments, keeping total earnings competitive despite lower base wages.
Median base pay
$66,200
+4.7% YoY
Average overtime
$9,100
From 17 county & city agencies
Quick facts
- Miami–Fort LauderdaleTop paying metro
- 12% of base payALS premium
- 3-4 per engine (urban)Minimum staffing
- $1,500State EMT recert bonus
Salary snapshot by rank
Promotions add education incentives, specialty pay, and overtime opportunities. Use these benchmarks when budgeting for recruitment, retention, or union negotiations.
Analyst note
Overtime share rises rapidly for mid-career officers due to constant staffing and deployment rosters. Include projected overtime when evaluating total compensation.
Battalion Chief
Overtime 8%- Median base
- $118,500
- Entry step
- $105,200
- 90th percentile
- $131,800
Battalion chiefs rotate as county duty officers during hurricane season.
View battalion chief salaryCaptain
Overtime 9%- Median base
- $108,900
- Entry step
- $96,100
- 90th percentile
- $119,700
Captains in tourist corridors earn resort district supplements.
View captain salaryEngineer
Overtime 11%- Median base
- $84,200
- Entry step
- $75,600
- 90th percentile
- $95,100
Engineer differential averages 8% with aerial operator incentive.
View engineer salaryFirefighter / Paramedic
Overtime 13%- Median base
- $64,200
- Entry step
- $55,600
- 90th percentile
- $72,400
ALS stipend and Sunshine State pension contributions boost totals.
View firefighter / paramedic salaryProbationary Firefighter
Overtime 5%- Median base
- $48,500
- Entry step
- $43,100
- 90th percentile
- $52,900
Recruit academies often offer housing partnerships with local colleges.
View probationary firefighter salaryTop cities by firefighter pay
Metro departments with specialty teams and higher cost-of-living deliver the largest base pay. Bars below represent average base wages, with notes on overtime share.
Miami · Miami-Dade Fire Rescue
2,550 career
$98,900 total comp
Average base pay$71,200
Overtime share 16% · Specialty pay included in total comp.
Orlando · Orlando Fire Department
714 career
$92,300 total comp
Average base pay$66,800
Overtime share 17% · Specialty pay included in total comp.
Tampa · Tampa Fire Rescue
751 career
$90,100 total comp
Average base pay$65,400
Overtime share 17% · Specialty pay included in total comp.
Jacksonville · JFRD
1,400 career
$89,400 total comp
Average base pay$64,600
Overtime share 16% · Specialty pay included in total comp.
Fort Lauderdale · FLFR
420 career
$95,300 total comp
Average base pay$70,100
Overtime share 15% · Specialty pay included in total comp.
Detailed compensation table
Compare rank-by-rank compensation, including overtime trends and hiring notes that impact career planning.
| Rank | Department | City | Base pay | Overtime | Total comp | Hiring / promotion note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division Chief | Miami-Dade Fire Rescue | Miami-Dade County | $142,800 | $9,500 | $152,300 | Internal promotion list through August 2025 |
| Captain | Orange County Fire Rescue | Orlando Metro | $112,400 | $10,800 | $123,200 | Assessment center April 2025 |
| Engineer | Tampa Fire Rescue | Tampa | $87,200 | $11,400 | $98,600 | Driver operator process February 2025 |
| Firefighter / Paramedic | Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue | Fort Lauderdale | $66,900 | $12,300 | $79,200 | ALS stipend $6,500, sign-on $3,000 |
| Probationary Firefighter | Palm Beach County Fire Rescue | Palm Beach County | $49,800 | $6,200 | $56,000 | Academy 83 starts June 2025 |
Contract updates & budget highlights
Track adjustments that influence upcoming negotiations and pay plan refreshes.
Effective October 2024
Miami-Dade IAFF Local 1403 Agreement
Implemented 12% ALS premium and hurricane deployment stipend of $350 per day.
Ratified August 2024
Orange County Fire Rescue Contract
Added $2,000 retention bonus and 1.5% quarterly performance incentive for captains.
FY 2024-2025
Florida State Firefighter Incentive Program
State-funded EMT/Paramedic recertification scholarship covering tuition and exam fees.
Frequently asked questions
Answers sourced from contracts, HR briefings, and state statutes to help HR partners, union stewards, and candidates understand compensation.
How do hurricane deployments impact pay?
Counties reimburse overtime at time-and-a-half plus a daily deployment stipend ranging from $200-$350. Deployments also accrue pensionable service time.
Do Florida firefighters receive pension COLA?
The Florida Retirement System provides cost-of-living adjustments for pre-2011 service. Many counties add supplemental post-retirement adjustments for newer hires.
Is relocation assistance available?
Tourism-driven counties offer relocation packages, housing partnerships, or signing bonuses to out-of-state recruits, especially for paramedic-certified candidates.
Sources & methodology
We compile collective bargaining agreements, municipal pay plans, and state payroll disclosures. Each dataset is timestamped so you can cite the most recent update in labor talks.
- Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Collective Bargaining Agreement · Updated Oct 2024
- Orange County Commission Meeting Minutes · September 2024
- Florida Department of Financial Services · Accessed Jan 2025
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- ✓Negotiation talking points with current comparables
- ✓Overtime and staffing analysis pulled from payroll releases
- ✓Early notice when new hiring incentives or stipends launch
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