Massachusetts salary guideUpdated Jan 10, 2025

Massachusetts Firefighter Salary (2025)

Massachusetts firefighters benefit from strong union representation through IAFF locals, with Boston leading the region in total compensation averaging $118,109 annually when overtime is included, reflecting the high cost of living and competitive metro market.

Median base pay

$67,691

+3.7% YoY

Average overtime

$11,800

From 18 municipal agencies

Quick facts

Boston-Cambridge-Newton
Top paying metro
$118,109
Boston average w/ OT
$65,228
Worcester median
10.6% over 3 years
Recent contract boost

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.

Fire Chief

Overtime 9%

Median base: $165,200
Entry step: $152,800
90th percentile: $179,400

Boston area fire chiefs receive competitive executive packages with strong benefits.

View fire chief salary

Battalion Chief

Overtime 11%

Median base: $142,800
Entry step: $131,600
90th percentile: $156,400

Battalion chiefs coordinate multi-company responses across dense urban areas.

View battalion chief salary

Captain

Overtime 13%

Median base: $118,109
Entry step: $108,400
90th percentile: $128,600

Boston captains average $118,109 annually including overtime and shift differentials.

View captain salary

Engineer / Driver

Overtime 14%

Median base: $102,400
Entry step: $94,600
90th percentile: $112,200

Engineers operate specialized apparatus across challenging New England terrain.

View engineer / driver salary

Firefighter / Paramedic

Overtime 15%

Median base: $95,302
Entry step: $84,200
90th percentile: $104,800

Boston Fire recent contract provides 10.6% raise over three years for all members.

View firefighter / paramedic salary

Probationary Firefighter

Overtime 7%

Median base: $61,130
Entry step: $55,400
90th percentile: $66,800

Entry salaries reflect competitive recruiting in high cost-of-living metro areas.

View probationary firefighter salary

Top 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.

Back to national view

Boston · Boston Fire Department

1,520 career

$118,100 total comp

Average base pay$95,300

Overtime share 17% · Specialty pay included in total comp.

Worcester · Worcester Fire Department

480 career

$79,800 total comp

Average base pay$65,200

Overtime share 14% · Specialty pay included in total comp.

Springfield · Springfield Fire Department

340 career

$78,400 total comp

Average base pay$64,500

Overtime share 13% · Specialty pay included in total comp.

Cambridge · Cambridge Fire Department

280 career

$108,200 total comp

Average base pay$88,600

Overtime share 16% · 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
Fire Chief	Boston Fire Department	Boston	$172,400	$12,800	$185,200	Internal promotion, executive recruitment
Battalion Chief	Cambridge Fire Department	Cambridge	$148,600	$16,200	$164,800	Promotional exam, spring 2025
Captain	Worcester Fire Department	Worcester	$102,800	$14,600	$117,400	Internal promotional list
Firefighter / Paramedic	Springfield Fire Department	Springfield	$62,400	$9,800	$72,200	Paramedic premium $4,200, continuous recruitment
Probationary Firefighter	Boston Fire Department	Boston	$64,800	$4,200	$69,000	Academy class starts March 2025

Contract updates & budget highlights

Track adjustments that influence upcoming negotiations and pay plan refreshes.

July 2021 - June 2024

Boston IAFF Local 718 Contract

Three-year agreement provides 10.6% total wage increase plus $27.35 million funding package including enhanced death benefits and sick leave conversion options.

Active statewide

Massachusetts Firefighter Cancer Presumption Law

Comprehensive presumptive coverage for line-of-duty cancer diagnoses with streamlined workers' compensation and disability pension processing.

Effective 2025

Regional Paramedic Incentive Programs

Boston metro departments standardizing paramedic premiums at $4,000-$4,500 annually to improve recruitment consistency across the region.

Frequently asked questions

Answers sourced from contracts, HR briefings, and state statutes to help HR partners, union stewards, and candidates understand compensation.

What are Boston firefighter starting salaries?

Boston Fire recruits start around $64,800, progressing to over $95,000 base salary within 5 years. Total compensation averages $118,109 when including overtime, night differentials, and specialty pay.

What pension benefits do Massachusetts firefighters receive?

Career firefighters participate in contributory retirement systems offering approximately 50% of final average salary after 20 years of service, with COLA adjustments and enhanced disability benefits.

How competitive is Boston Fire Department hiring?

Boston FD receives thousands of applications for limited academy positions. Recent civil service exams had over 10,000 applicants competing for approximately 100-150 academy slots per recruiting cycle.

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.

Boston Fire Department Contract Information · Updated 2024
IAFF Local 718 - Boston Firefighters · Accessed Jan 2025
Massachusetts Department of Labor Standards · 2025 Municipal Data

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