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 | $23.61 | $38.63 | $51.03 |
| Yearly | $49,124 | $80,365 | $106,152 | |
| Champaign Area | Hourly | $23.11 | $30.66 | $37.98 |
| Yearly | $48,064 | $63,761 | $78,984 | |
| Charleston-Effingham-Centralia Area | Hourly | $23.78 | $28.70 | $38.46 |
| Yearly | $49,460 | $59,699 | $79,990 | |
| Cook County | Hourly | $31.01 | $46.31 | $52.28 |
| Yearly | $64,500 | $96,335 | $108,744 | |
| Decatur Area | Hourly | $26.94 | $30.78 | $36.18 |
| Yearly | $56,036 | $64,013 | $75,255 | |
| Dekalb-Elgin-Aurora Area | Hourly | $23.31 | $40.16 | $51.35 |
| Yearly | $48,469 | $83,547 | $106,800 | |
| Du Page County | Hourly | $23.61 | $39.10 | $49.91 |
| Yearly | $49,114 | $81,329 | $103,811 | |
| Edwardsville Area | Hourly | $19.45 | $29.20 | $36.83 |
| Yearly | $40,454 | $60,733 | $76,597 | |
| Kankakee-Morris-Pontiac Area | Hourly | $22.10 | $28.12 | $38.41 |
| Yearly | $45,963 | $58,499 | $79,900 | |
| Lake County | Hourly | $23.01 | $31.20 | $51.17 |
| Yearly | $47,855 | $64,897 | $106,433 | |
| McHenry County | Hourly | $22.80 | $28.80 | $51.03 |
| Yearly | $47,439 | $59,898 | $106,151 | |
| Mt Vernon-Marion-Carbondale Area | Hourly | $22.18 | $25.37 | $30.23 |
| Yearly | $46,133 | $52,773 | $62,873 | |
| Northwest Illinois Area | Hourly | $23.38 | $29.48 | $38.46 |
| Yearly | $48,632 | $61,311 | $79,990 | |
| Peoria-Bloomington Area | Hourly | $20.31 | $36.32 | $46.04 |
| Yearly | $42,245 | $75,538 | $95,763 | |
| Quincy-Macomb-Galesburg Area | Hourly | $23.40 | $28.60 | $38.63 |
| Yearly | $48,664 | $59,481 | $80,361 | |
| Rock Island-Moline Area | Hourly | $25.18 | $30.30 | $37.37 |
| Yearly | $52,375 | $63,024 | $77,736 | |
| Rockford Area | Hourly | $23.14 | $35.40 | $38.03 |
| Yearly | $48,144 | $73,633 | $79,102 | |
| Springfield Area | Hourly | $24.05 | $32.21 | $35.86 |
| Yearly | $50,033 | $66,983 | $74,575 | |
| St Louis-Belleville Area | Hourly | $19.97 | $31.69 | $38.71 |
| Yearly | $41,553 | $65,922 | $80,508 | |
| Vermilion County | Hourly | $24.22 | $28.60 | $37.25 |
| Yearly | $50,370 | $59,481 | $77,484 | |
| Will County | Hourly | $22.84 | $38.41 | $51.86 |
| Yearly | $47,523 | $79,900 | $107,866 | |
| United States | Hourly | $21.39 | $28.50 | $37.14 |
| Yearly | $44,490 | $59,280 | $77,250 | |