Fire Chief
Overtime 7%- Median base
- $168,900
- Entry step
- $149,400
- 90th percentile
- $189,600
City-manager forms of government often bundle car allowances with executive pay.
View fire chief salaryTexas salary guideUpdated Dec 18, 2024
Texas Firefighter Salary (2025)
Texas departments lean on fast growth, ALS incentives, and step raises every 12 months to stay competitive with booming metro populations.
Median base pay
$72,600
+5.4% YoY
Average overtime
$8,900
From 18 metro agencies
Quick facts
- Austin–Round RockTop paying metro
- $154 / monthAverage longevity pay
- $5,400 annuallyParamedic incentive
- 8% employee / 18% employerPension contribution
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 9%- Median base
- $124,800
- Entry step
- $112,500
- 90th percentile
- $138,700
Houston and Austin shift commanders earn additional tech rescue stipends.
View battalion chief salaryCaptain
Overtime 10%- Median base
- $118,200
- Entry step
- $104,500
- 90th percentile
- $132,400
Promotions tied to Fire Officer II credential and quarterly leadership panels.
View captain salaryEngineer / Driver
Overtime 11%- Median base
- $93,600
- Entry step
- $83,400
- 90th percentile
- $107,800
Driver operators receive 8% incentive plus apparatus-specific premiums.
View engineer / driver salaryFirefighter / Paramedic
Overtime 12%- Median base
- $69,800
- Entry step
- $58,900
- 90th percentile
- $79,600
Most metro agencies require dual EMT-P certification within 24 months.
View firefighter / paramedic salaryProbationary Firefighter
Overtime 6%- Median base
- $52,300
- Entry step
- $46,500
- 90th percentile
- $57,100
Academy pay increases after 6 months; lateral hires start at Step 3.
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.
Austin · AFD
1,350 career
$109,500 total comp
Average base pay$81,200
Overtime share 18% · Specialty pay included in total comp.
Houston · HFD
3,796 career
$104,200 total comp
Average base pay$76,500
Overtime share 19% · Specialty pay included in total comp.
Dallas · DFR
1,945 career
$101,900 total comp
Average base pay$75,100
Overtime share 18% · Specialty pay included in total comp.
San Antonio · SAFD
1,844 career
$99,100 total comp
Average base pay$73,400
Overtime share 17% · Specialty pay included in total comp.
Fort Worth · FWFD
988 career
$95,100 total comp
Average base pay$70,800
Overtime share 17% · 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 | Houston Fire Department | Houston | $196,500 | $12,200 | $208,700 | Appointment, 2025 contract includes 5% merit raise potential |
| Battalion Chief | Austin Fire Department | Austin | $132,800 | $14,600 | $147,400 | Promotional testing scheduled April 2025 |
| Captain | Dallas Fire-Rescue | Dallas | $119,400 | $13,800 | $133,200 | Assessment centers ongoing through Q2 2025 |
| Engineer / Driver | Fort Worth Fire Department | Fort Worth | $94,800 | $10,400 | $105,200 | Driver operator academy begins May 2025 |
| Firefighter / Paramedic | San Antonio Fire Department | San Antonio | $70,400 | $9,300 | $79,700 | Hiring incentive $5,000 for certified paramedics |
Contract updates & budget highlights
Track adjustments that influence upcoming negotiations and pay plan refreshes.
Ratified September 2024
Austin IAFF Local 975 CBA
4% general wage increase plus $450 monthly housing stipend for new lieutenants.
Extended through 2026
Houston Fire Meet & Confer
Longevity pay increased to $5/month per year of service capped at 25 years.
Adopted November 2024
Dallas Firefighter Pay Ordinance
Instituted 12-step pay scale and added $2,400 annual bilingual stipend.
Frequently asked questions
Answers sourced from contracts, HR briefings, and state statutes to help HR partners, union stewards, and candidates understand compensation.
Do Texas firefighters participate in Social Security?
Most large cities do not participate in Social Security and instead contribute to a separate defined benefit pension system with generous employer matches.
How fast can I promote to engineer in Texas?
Departments commonly require 3-5 years of service, completion of TEEX Driver/Operator coursework, and successful performance on promotional exams.
Are Texas firefighter salaries negotiable?
Texas follows meet-and-confer arrangements. Pay is set by ordinance or contract, but departments offer hiring incentives, relocation bonuses, and lateral entry at higher steps.
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.
- City of Austin – Firefighter Contract Summary · Updated Sep 2024
- Houston Fire Department Meet & Confer Agreement · Accessed Dec 2024
- Dallas City Council Pay Ordinance FY 2025 · Published Nov 2024
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- ✓Overtime and staffing analysis pulled from payroll releases
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