Occupation is in demand.
Wages vary by employer and the firefighter's schedule. Firefighters are paid overtime if they work more than a certain number of hours a week. Firefighters who belong to a union usually earn more than non-union firefighters.
Firefighters usually receive benefits such as health insurance, paid vacation, sick leave, and a retirement plan. Fire departments provide protective clothing and breathing gear to their workers. Many also provide dress uniforms.
Firefighters (SOC 33-2011)
| Location |
Pay Period | |
||
| 25% |
Median |
75% |
||
| Illinois | Hourly | $24.51 | $39.29 | $49.29 |
| Yearly | $50,987 | $81,714 | $102,526 | |
| Champaign Area | Hourly | $15.52 | $33.31 | $36.71 |
| Yearly | $32,278 | $69,300 | $76,345 | |
| Charleston-Effingham-Centralia Area | Hourly | $14.36 | $17.16 | $25.21 |
| Yearly | $29,872 | $35,697 | $52,427 | |
| Cook County | Hourly | $37.51 | $47.86 | $49.29 |
| Yearly | $78,030 | $99,554 | $102,526 | |
| Decatur Area | Hourly | $21.23 | $35.15 | $42.06 |
| Yearly | $44,147 | $73,106 | $87,497 | |
| Dekalb-Elgin-Aurora Area | Hourly | $29.83 | $39.71 | $49.18 |
| Yearly | $62,043 | $82,580 | $102,295 | |
| Du Page County | Hourly | $30.32 | $39.62 | $48.58 |
| Yearly | $63,081 | $82,425 | $101,053 | |
| Edwardsville Area | Hourly | $14.76 | $27.47 | $39.31 |
| Yearly | $30,704 | $57,132 | $81,766 | |
| Jacksonville-Carlinville-Litchfield Area | Hourly | $14.57 | $17.43 | $28.89 |
| Yearly | $30,296 | $36,271 | $60,096 | |
| Kankakee-Morris-Pontiac Area | Hourly | $15.85 | $21.42 | $30.90 |
| Yearly | $32,972 | $44,554 | $64,287 | |
| Lake County | Hourly | $37.06 | $48.44 | $50.44 |
| Yearly | $77,088 | $100,748 | $104,925 | |
| McHenry County | Hourly | $24.86 | $38.67 | $49.15 |
| Yearly | $51,720 | $80,437 | $102,241 | |
| Northwest Illinois Area | Hourly | $14.78 | $18.01 | $26.60 |
| Yearly | $30,738 | $37,473 | $55,345 | |
| Peoria-Bloomington Area | Hourly | $14.57 | $23.95 | $36.84 |
| Yearly | $30,299 | $49,808 | $76,625 | |
| Quincy-Macomb-Galesburg Area | Hourly | $17.42 | $25.75 | $33.73 |
| Yearly | $36,237 | $53,557 | $70,154 | |
| Rock Island-Moline Area | Hourly | $14.29 | $23.88 | $32.40 |
| Yearly | $29,724 | $49,658 | $67,379 | |
| Rockford Area | Hourly | $15.47 | $27.13 | $39.20 |
| Yearly | $32,186 | $56,430 | $81,534 | |
| Shawnee National Forest Area | Hourly | $14.33 | $17.16 | $24.58 |
| Yearly | $29,809 | $35,698 | $51,122 | |
| Springfield Area | Hourly | $16.02 | $33.01 | $33.01 |
| Yearly | $33,317 | $68,646 | $68,646 | |
| Will County | Hourly | $37.55 | $49.11 | $54.51 |
| Yearly | $78,107 | $102,158 | $113,382 | |
| United States | Hourly | $19.34 | $27.46 | $36.21 |
| Yearly | $40,230 | $57,120 | $75,320 | |