Fire Chief
Overtime 5%- Median base
- $142,600
- Entry step
- $129,400
- 90th percentile
- $158,700
Chiefs often take on emergency management roles for county coordination.
View fire chief salaryNorth Carolina salary guideUpdated Jan 2, 2025
North Carolina Firefighter Salary (2025)
North Carolina blends municipal and combination departments with Relief Fund stipends and rapid growth around the Research Triangle driving wage gains.
Median base pay
$59,800
+6.3% YoY
Average overtime
$6,200
From 14 combination agencies
Quick facts
- Raleigh–CaryTop paying metro
- $1,200Average Relief Fund stipend
- $50 per nightVolunteer shift premium
- Local Government Employees' Retirement SystemState retirement
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 7%- Median base
- $108,400
- Entry step
- $99,500
- 90th percentile
- $117,900
Combined departments offer stipend for managing volunteer reserve programs.
View battalion chief salaryCaptain
Overtime 8%- Median base
- $97,300
- Entry step
- $88,100
- 90th percentile
- $106,800
Captains receive education incentives for Fire Officer III/IV certifications.
View captain salaryEngineer
Overtime 9%- Median base
- $75,600
- Entry step
- $68,800
- 90th percentile
- $83,800
Engineer promotion requires NC Driver/Operator and pump/aerial endorsements.
View engineer salaryFirefighter / EMT
Overtime 11%- Median base
- $58,400
- Entry step
- $51,200
- 90th percentile
- $65,700
Combination departments add stipend for volunteer shift coverage.
View firefighter / emt salaryProbationary Firefighter
Overtime 4%- Median base
- $43,900
- Entry step
- $39,200
- 90th percentile
- $47,100
Recruits must complete NC Firefighter Certification within first year.
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.
Raleigh · Raleigh Fire Department
650 career
$85,200 total comp
Average base pay$63,200
Overtime share 13% · Specialty pay included in total comp.
Charlotte · Charlotte Fire Department
1,200 career
$87,600 total comp
Average base pay$64,800
Overtime share 13% · Specialty pay included in total comp.
Durham · Durham Fire Department
402 career
$80,300 total comp
Average base pay$58,600
Overtime share 14% · Specialty pay included in total comp.
Greensboro · GFD
595 career
$78,800 total comp
Average base pay$57,100
Overtime share 14% · Specialty pay included in total comp.
Wilmington · WFD
229 career
$76,900 total comp
Average base pay$55,800
Overtime share 14% · 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assistant Chief | Raleigh Fire Department | Raleigh | $138,900 | $7,400 | $146,300 | Promotion roster closes July 2025 |
| Battalion Chief | Charlotte Fire Department | Charlotte | $115,800 | $8,600 | $124,400 | Assessment process April 2025 |
| Captain | Durham Fire Department | Durham | $97,800 | $8,200 | $106,000 | Command school stipend $1,000 |
| Engineer | Greensboro Fire Department | Greensboro | $74,800 | $6,400 | $81,200 | Promotion workbook released February 2025 |
| Firefighter / EMT | New Hanover County Fire Rescue | Wilmington Metro | $56,800 | $5,800 | $62,600 | Volunteer stipend $50 per overnight shift |
Contract updates & budget highlights
Track adjustments that influence upcoming negotiations and pay plan refreshes.
Effective October 2024
Charlotte Fire Meet & Confer
Added 4% market adjustment and $1,500 education bonus for college degree completion.
FY 2025 allocation
North Carolina Firefighter's Relief Fund
Increased annual stipend to $1,200 for departments maintaining Relief Fund certification.
Adopted December 2024
Raleigh Fire Pay Plan Update
Implemented 5-step firefighter progression with 3% raises each step plus 6% EMT premium.
Frequently asked questions
Answers sourced from contracts, HR briefings, and state statutes to help HR partners, union stewards, and candidates understand compensation.
Do North Carolina firefighters get hazard pay?
Counties authorize hazard premiums during hurricanes and winter storms. Combination departments also compensate volunteers covering shift vacancies.
What retirement plan covers firefighters?
Career firefighters participate in the Local Government Employees' Retirement System with 6% employee contribution and employer match around 12%.
Are EMS certifications required?
Most departments require EMT within 12 months of hire and paramedic incentives are available but optional depending on staffing.
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.
- Charlotte Fire Department Pay Plan · Updated Oct 2024
- Raleigh City Council Meeting Minutes · December 2024
- North Carolina Firefighter's Relief Fund · Accessed Jan 2025
Stay ahead of North Carolina pay negotiations
Join our salary briefing list for quarterly contract alerts, overtime trends, and retention incentives across North Carolina.
- ✓Negotiation talking points with current comparables
- ✓Overtime and staffing analysis pulled from payroll releases
- ✓Early notice when new hiring incentives or stipends launch
Quarterly updates. Unsubscribe anytime. Includes spreadsheet templates.