Fire Chief
Overtime 8%- Median base
- $176,400
- Entry step
- $157,200
- 90th percentile
- $192,100
Suburban chiefs include vehicle allowances and technology stipends.
View fire chief salaryIllinois salary guideUpdated Dec 29, 2024
Illinois Firefighter Salary (2025)
Illinois leverages strong collective bargaining and Tier 2 pension adjustments, creating steady wage growth even in suburban combination departments.
Median base pay
$78,500
+3.1% YoY
Average overtime
$9,800
From 16 union agencies
Quick facts
- Chicago–NapervilleTop paying metro
- $4,800Average specialty pay
- 2.5% per year of servicePension accrual
- 6% premiumMandatory paramedic pay
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 10%- Median base
- $136,200
- Entry step
- $122,400
- 90th percentile
- $148,800
Battalion chiefs rotate through city-wide incident command posts.
View battalion chief salaryCaptain
Overtime 11%- Median base
- $126,500
- Entry step
- $112,800
- 90th percentile
- $138,600
Captains collect inspection stipends and drill instructor premiums.
View captain salaryEngineer / Driver
Overtime 12%- Median base
- $98,600
- Entry step
- $87,200
- 90th percentile
- $109,800
Chicago Fire Department driver operators earn extra aerial differentials.
View engineer / driver salaryFirefighter / Paramedic
Overtime 10%- Median base
- $78,900
- Entry step
- $66,400
- 90th percentile
- $86,700
Dual-role firefighter-paramedics receive mandatory 6% pay bumps.
View firefighter / paramedic salaryProbationary Firefighter
Overtime 6%- Median base
- $56,800
- Entry step
- $50,900
- 90th percentile
- $62,300
Probation lasts 9-12 months with quarterly evaluations and step raises.
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.
Chicago · CFD
4,780 career
$121,900 total comp
Average base pay$88,600
Overtime share 15% · Specialty pay included in total comp.
Aurora · AFD
210 career
$108,200 total comp
Average base pay$79,800
Overtime share 16% · Specialty pay included in total comp.
Naperville · NFD
203 career
$110,400 total comp
Average base pay$81,200
Overtime share 16% · Specialty pay included in total comp.
Rockford · RFD
291 career
$104,500 total comp
Average base pay$76,800
Overtime share 17% · Specialty pay included in total comp.
Springfield · SFD
220 career
$100,100 total comp
Average base pay$74,300
Overtime share 18% · 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deputy District Chief | Chicago Fire Department | Chicago | $150,400 | $15,700 | $166,100 | Promotion roster refreshed January 2025 |
| Captain | Aurora Fire Department | Aurora | $128,200 | $13,100 | $141,300 | Assessment center March 2025 |
| Engineer / Driver | Naperville Fire Department | Naperville | $99,800 | $11,400 | $111,200 | Driver promotion register valid through 2026 |
| Firefighter / Paramedic | Rockford Fire Department | Rockford | $78,200 | $9,200 | $87,400 | Lateral hiring closes April 2025 |
| Probationary Firefighter | Springfield Fire Department | Springfield | $56,200 | $6,100 | $62,300 | Recruit academy begins August 2025 |
Contract updates & budget highlights
Track adjustments that influence upcoming negotiations and pay plan refreshes.
September 2024 addendum
Chicago Fire Department CBA
Secured 3.5% annual raises through 2026 and added mobile clinic stipend.
Ratified October 2024
Aurora IAFF Local 99 Contract
Introduced wellness incentive of $1,200 and increased vacation banking.
State statute January 2025
Illinois Tier 2 Pension Update
Lowered retirement age to 50 with 25 years of service for Tier 2 members.
Frequently asked questions
Answers sourced from contracts, HR briefings, and state statutes to help HR partners, union stewards, and candidates understand compensation.
How is overtime computed in Illinois?
Contracts follow FLSA 207(k) guidelines with overtime after 204 hours in 27 days. Many locals also negotiate constant staffing clauses that generate additional overtime.
What is Tier 2 pension reform?
It reduces the age differential between Tier 1 and Tier 2 firefighters, increasing pension accrual and early retirement options for post-2011 hires.
Are there residency requirements?
Many Illinois departments require residence within city limits or a defined radius by the end of probation; some suburbs have relaxed requirements to expand recruitment.
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.
- Chicago Firefighters Union Local 2 Contract · Updated Sep 2024
- Aurora City Council Labor Agreements · October 2024
- Illinois Department of Insurance Pension Reports · Accessed Jan 2025
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