Fire Chief
Overtime 8%- Median base
- $165,000
- Entry step
- $145,000
- 90th percentile
- $195,000
Chiefs in Fairfax and Arlington command higher salaries due to larger budgets and metro complexity.
View fire chief salaryVirginia salary guideUpdated Jan 1, 2025
Virginia Firefighter Salary (2025)
Virginia firefighters earn competitive salaries with strong benefits through the Virginia Retirement System (VRS). Northern Virginia departments (Fairfax, Arlington) lead with starting salaries of $60K-70K. IAFF Local 2068 secured landmark first contract in 2024 with enhanced pay scales and education incentives.
Median base pay
$62,634
+3.6% YoY
Average overtime
$9,200
From 4,800+ active personnel
Quick facts
- Fairfax County - DC metroTop paying metro
- Enhanced Hazardous DutyVRS pension system
- $54.4M over 3 yearsIAFF Local 2068 contract
- $43K-$70K by regionStarting salary range
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 12%- Median base
- $107,500
- Entry step
- $95,000
- 90th percentile
- $128,000
Northern Virginia departments offer premium pay for battalion chiefs managing high-call-volume areas.
View battalion chief salaryCaptain
Overtime 15%- Median base
- $85,000
- Entry step
- $75,000
- 90th percentile
- $102,000
Fairfax County captains benefit from new pay scales under IAFF Local 2068 contract with education incentives.
View captain salaryEngineer
Overtime 16%- Median base
- $66,000
- Entry step
- $55,000
- 90th percentile
- $78,000
Premium pay in high-cost Northern Virginia areas, lower in rural regions.
View engineer salaryFirefighter / Paramedic
Overtime 17%- Median base
- $56,000
- Entry step
- $45,000
- 90th percentile
- $70,000
Fairfax starts firefighters at F-18 Step 1, paramedics at F-18 Step 3. Virginia Beach entry pay lags market.
View firefighter / paramedic salaryProbationary Firefighter
Overtime 10%- Median base
- $48,000
- Entry step
- $43,000
- 90th percentile
- $58,000
New contract provisions include training pay and structured annual raises for first 25 years of service.
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.
Fairfax County · Fairfax County Fire & Rescue
1,700+ career
$72,927 total comp
Average base pay$60,927
Overtime share 16% · Specialty pay included in total comp.
Virginia Beach · Virginia Beach Fire Department
650+ career
$66,842 total comp
Average base pay$58,342
Overtime share 13% · Specialty pay included in total comp.
Richmond · Richmond Fire & EMS
750+ career
$69,532 total comp
Average base pay$60,532
Overtime share 13% · Specialty pay included in total comp.
Norfolk · Norfolk Fire-Rescue
550+ career
$66,542 total comp
Average base pay$58,342
Overtime share 12% · 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Battalion Chief | Fairfax County Fire & Rescue | Fairfax County | $112,000 | $15,000 | $127,000 | Internal promotion via competitive process |
| Captain | Virginia Beach Fire Department | Virginia Beach | $89,327 | $12,000 | $101,327 | Pay lags market by 5-10% |
| Engineer | Richmond Fire & EMS | Richmond | $68,000 | $10,000 | $78,000 | Competitive mid-range salaries |
| Firefighter / Paramedic | Fairfax County Fire & Rescue | Fairfax County | $60,927 | $12,000 | $72,927 | Firefighters start F-18 Step 1, Paramedics F-18 Step 3 |
| Probationary Firefighter | Virginia Beach Fire Department | Virginia Beach | $43,166 | $4,500 | $47,666 | Below market average - recruitment challenges |
Contract updates & budget highlights
Track adjustments that influence upcoming negotiations and pay plan refreshes.
Effective July 1, 2024
IAFF Local 2068 Historic First Contract (2024-2027)
Fairfax County firefighters ratified landmark first collective bargaining agreement on Nov 8, 2024. Contract includes new pay plan with higher starting salaries, annual raises for first 25 years, training pay, extended pregnancy light duty, and education incentives. Board approved 9-1 on Dec 5. $54.4M cost over 3 years ($24.7M first year). Covers 1,700+ Fire/Rescue personnel plus 911 dispatchers.
Statewide retirement system
VRS Enhanced Hazardous Duty Pension
Virginia firefighters covered under VRS Enhanced Hazardous Duty plans based on hire date: Plan 1 (hired before 7/1/2010 with 5+ years as of 1/1/2013), Plan 2 (hired after 7/1/2010), or Hybrid (hired after 1/1/2014). Some localities operate separate pension systems (Alexandria). Enhanced benefits for hazardous duty positions.
Statewide variation
Regional Pay Disparities
Northern Virginia departments (Fairfax, Arlington, Alexandria) offer 20-30% higher compensation than southern/rural areas due to DC metro cost of living. Virginia Beach public safety pay identified as 5-10% below market, creating recruitment challenges. Statewide average: $70,573/year, but ranges from $45K (rural) to $90K+ (NoVA metro).
Frequently asked questions
Answers sourced from contracts, HR briefings, and state statutes to help HR partners, union stewards, and candidates understand compensation.
What is the starting salary for Virginia firefighters?
Entry-level firefighter salaries range from $43,000-$45,000 in coastal/southern Virginia (Virginia Beach, Norfolk) to $60,000-$70,000 in Northern Virginia (Fairfax County, Arlington). Under Fairfax's new IAFF Local 2068 contract, firefighters start at pay grade F-18 Step 1, paramedics at F-18 Step 3 with higher base. Statewide average starting salary is approximately $45,000-$52,000.
How does Virginia's VRS pension system work for firefighters?
Virginia Retirement System (VRS) provides Enhanced Hazardous Duty coverage for career firefighters through three plans based on hire date. Plan 1 (pre-7/1/2010 with 5+ years), Plan 2 (post-7/1/2010), and Hybrid (post-1/1/2014). Enhanced benefits include earlier retirement eligibility and higher multipliers than standard VRS. Some cities (Alexandria) operate independent pension systems. All full-time career firefighters receive retirement benefits.
Why does Northern Virginia pay more than other regions?
DC metro area (Fairfax, Arlington, Alexandria, Prince William) has significantly higher cost of living, especially housing. Median home price in Fairfax County exceeds $650,000 vs $330,000 statewide. Departments compete with federal government salaries and neighboring Maryland/DC departments. Fairfax's new 2024 contract specifically addresses retention challenges with premium compensation packages totaling $54.4M over 3 years.
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.
- IAFF Local 2068 - Fairfax County Contract · IAFF Contract Negotiations 2024
- Virginia Retirement System - Enhanced Hazardous Duty · VRS Benefits Guide 2025
- ZipRecruiter Virginia Firefighter Salaries · 2024-2025 Salary Survey Data
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