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 | $22.63 | $39.10 | $52.96 |
| Yearly | $47,061 | $81,328 | $110,166 | |
| Champaign Area | Hourly | $18.92 | $29.85 | $36.01 |
| Yearly | $39,356 | $62,080 | $74,894 | |
| Charleston-Effingham-Centralia Area | Hourly | $15.43 | $25.79 | $36.11 |
| Yearly | $32,087 | $53,654 | $75,100 | |
| Cook County | Hourly | $37.66 | $47.20 | $52.96 |
| Yearly | $78,326 | $98,177 | $110,171 | |
| Decatur Area | Hourly | $15.43 | $31.23 | $31.23 |
| Yearly | $32,090 | $64,967 | $64,967 | |
| Dekalb-Elgin-Aurora Area | Hourly | $22.63 | $40.85 | $51.73 |
| Yearly | $47,061 | $84,975 | $107,604 | |
| Du Page County | Hourly | $22.63 | $41.16 | $50.86 |
| Yearly | $47,062 | $85,606 | $105,783 | |
| Edwardsville Area | Hourly | $19.54 | $30.73 | $42.19 |
| Yearly | $40,635 | $63,913 | $87,737 | |
| Jacksonville-Carlinville-Litchfield Area | Hourly | $15.42 | $22.57 | $35.05 |
| Yearly | $32,073 | $46,957 | $72,911 | |
| Kankakee-Morris-Pontiac Area | Hourly | $20.46 | $27.14 | $34.05 |
| Yearly | $42,545 | $56,461 | $70,820 | |
| Lake County | Hourly | $22.63 | $46.57 | $57.00 |
| Yearly | $47,061 | $96,863 | $118,558 | |
| McHenry County | Hourly | $22.63 | $39.18 | $54.96 |
| Yearly | $47,061 | $81,494 | $114,314 | |
| Northwest Illinois Area | Hourly | $15.55 | $29.18 | $37.19 |
| Yearly | $32,352 | $60,696 | $77,351 | |
| Peoria-Bloomington Area | Hourly | $16.47 | $30.33 | $39.48 |
| Yearly | $34,237 | $63,079 | $82,116 | |
| Quincy-Macomb-Galesburg Area | Hourly | $15.42 | $27.89 | $38.19 |
| Yearly | $32,075 | $58,006 | $79,428 | |
| Rock Island-Moline Area | Hourly | $20.15 | $29.38 | $37.14 |
| Yearly | $41,897 | $61,110 | $77,248 | |
| Rockford Area | Hourly | $18.86 | $35.56 | $38.60 |
| Yearly | $39,234 | $73,963 | $80,280 | |
| Shawnee National Forest Area | Hourly | $14.71 | $19.09 | $29.83 |
| Yearly | $30,590 | $39,703 | $62,062 | |
| Springfield Area | Hourly | $22.28 | $31.94 | $35.56 |
| Yearly | $46,333 | $66,435 | $73,978 | |
| Vermilion County | Hourly | $17.43 | $28.69 | $37.81 |
| Yearly | $36,264 | $59,676 | $78,639 | |
| Will County | Hourly | $22.63 | $51.44 | $60.88 |
| Yearly | $47,061 | $107,003 | $126,640 | |
| United States | Hourly | $21.24 | $28.62 | $37.22 |
| Yearly | $44,180 | $59,530 | $77,410 | |