Fire Chief
Overtime 8%- Median base
- $192,800
- Entry step
- $176,400
- 90th percentile
- $211,600
Major metros offer executive benefits including vehicle and technology allowances.
View fire chief salaryWashington salary guideUpdated Jan 10, 2025
Washington Firefighter Salary (2025)
Washington state leads the nation in entry-level firefighter compensation, with Seattle Fire Department offering starting salaries exceeding $98,000 annually, making it the highest-paying entry point in the United States.
Median base pay
$83,630
+5.1% YoY
Average overtime
$11,200
From 18 metro & county agencies
Quick facts
- Seattle-Tacoma-BellevueTop paying metro
- $98,124Seattle entry salary
- $108,829Average state median
- 8-12% of baseParamedic premium
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
- $162,400
- Entry step
- $149,800
- 90th percentile
- $178,200
Battalion chiefs maintain 24-hour incident command rotations.
View battalion chief salaryCaptain
Overtime 11%- Median base
- $132,600
- Entry step
- $121,800
- 90th percentile
- $146,200
Captain positions include specialty team leadership stipends.
View captain salaryEngineer / Driver
Overtime 12%- Median base
- $118,400
- Entry step
- $108,200
- 90th percentile
- $129,600
Engineers receive apparatus-specific certification pay.
View engineer / driver salaryFirefighter / Paramedic
Overtime 13%- Median base
- $108,829
- Entry step
- $98,124
- 90th percentile
- $118,400
Seattle starting salary of $98,124 is the highest entry-level wage nationwide.
View firefighter / paramedic salaryProbationary Firefighter
Overtime 6%- Median base
- $81,022
- Entry step
- $74,600
- 90th percentile
- $86,900
Probation period typically 12 months with quarterly step increases.
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.
Seattle · Seattle Fire Department
1,100 career
$134,800 total comp
Average base pay$108,200
Overtime share 15% · Specialty pay included in total comp.
Tacoma · Tacoma Fire Department
420 career
$118,600 total comp
Average base pay$96,400
Overtime share 14% · Specialty pay included in total comp.
Spokane · Spokane Fire Department
290 career
$106,200 total comp
Average base pay$88,600
Overtime share 12% · Specialty pay included in total comp.
Bellevue · Bellevue Fire Department
185 career
$126,400 total comp
Average base pay$102,800
Overtime share 13% · 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 | Seattle Fire Department | Seattle | $198,400 | $14,200 | $212,600 | Internal promotion, executive search process |
| Captain | Tacoma Fire Department | Tacoma | $128,600 | $15,800 | $144,400 | Promotional exam Spring 2025 |
| Engineer | Spokane Fire Department | Spokane | $112,400 | $13,600 | $126,000 | Driver certification required, testing ongoing |
| Firefighter / Paramedic | Bellevue Fire Department | Bellevue | $104,800 | $14,200 | $119,000 | Paramedic stipend $8,400, continuous hiring |
| Probationary Firefighter | Seattle Fire Department | Seattle | $98,124 | $7,200 | $105,324 | Academy class starts March 2025 |
Contract updates & budget highlights
Track adjustments that influence upcoming negotiations and pay plan refreshes.
Effective January 2025
Seattle IAFF Local 27 Contract
Secured 5.2% general wage increase plus $3,000 retention bonus for members with 5+ years.
FY 2025
Washington State Firefighter Health Initiative
State-funded cancer screening and behavioral health programs for all career firefighters.
Adopted December 2024
Regional Paramedic Incentive Program
King County agencies standardized 10% paramedic premium to improve recruitment consistency.
Frequently asked questions
Answers sourced from contracts, HR briefings, and state statutes to help HR partners, union stewards, and candidates understand compensation.
Why are Washington firefighter salaries so high?
High cost of living in Seattle metro area, strong union contracts, and competitive recruitment drive salaries upward. Seattle specifically competes with tech sector for talent.
What benefits do Washington firefighters receive?
Comprehensive health coverage, LEOFF pension system (2.0% per year of service), paid family leave, and tuition reimbursement for professional development.
Are paramedic certifications required in Washington?
Most urban departments require EMT at hire and encourage paramedic certification within 2-3 years, offering premium pay between 8-12% of base salary.
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.
- Seattle Fire Department Compensation Plan · Updated Jan 2025
- Washington State LEOFF System · Accessed Jan 2025
- IAFF Local 27 Collective Bargaining Agreement · January 2025
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