Firefighters pay range in Tuscaloosa
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,530 a year or less, while the top 10% make $87,400 or more. The middle half of firefighters in Tuscaloosa earn between $46,200 and $87,400.
- $37K10th
- $46K25th
- $58KMedian
- $87K75th
- $87K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $64,370 | $5,364 | $30.95 |
| Median | $58,400 | $4,867 | $28.08 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $46,200 | $3,850 | $22.21 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $87,400 | $7,283 | $42.02 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Firefighters pay in Tuscaloosa vs. Alabama and the U.S.
Firefighters in Tuscaloosa earn 29% more than the Alabama average ($49,720) and about the same as the U.S. average ($63,630). At the median the gap is -1% against the U.S. median of $59,280.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuscaloosa | $64,370 | $58,400 | $36,530 | $87,400 | 450 |
| Alabama | $49,720 | $47,600 | $29,770 | $76,190 | 7,260 |
| United States | $63,630 | $59,280 | $34,910 | $101,040 | 345,990 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Firefighters salary after taxes in Tuscaloosa
On the average salary of $64,370, a single filer in Tuscaloosa takes home about $51,200 a year, or $4,267 a month and $1,969 every two weeks. Taxes take 20% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). City occupational taxes (for example in Birmingham and Gadsden) are not included.
Is Tuscaloosa a good place for firefighters? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Tuscaloosa area are 12% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 87.7), so the average $64,370 buys what about $73,380 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.3 times the median wage of all jobs in Tuscaloosa ($45,220). A typical home costs $223,201, or 3.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Firefighters salary in other Alabama cities
Tuscaloosa ranks 1st of 12 Alabama metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Tuscaloosa$64,370
- Birmingham$54,420
- Huntsville$51,780
- Mobile$50,510
- Montgomery$47,490
- Daphne$47,410
- Decatur$45,700
- Florence$45,180
- Anniston$44,630
- Auburn$43,330
Highest-paying cities for firefighters
Bakersfield, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($199,490).
- Bakersfield, CA$199,490
- San Jose, CA$134,270
- San Francisco, CA$110,590
- Los Angeles, CA$108,860
- Seattle, WA$100,450
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Firefighters salary in Tuscaloosa: questions
How much do firefighters make an hour in Tuscaloosa?
$30.95 an hour on average, and $28.08 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level firefighters salary in Tuscaloosa?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,530 a year and the 25th percentile is $46,200, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the firefighters take-home pay in Tuscaloosa?
About $51,200 a year ($4,267 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $64,370. City occupational taxes (for example in Birmingham and Gadsden) are not included.
Do firefighters earn more in Tuscaloosa than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as the U.S. average for this job ($63,630).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 33-2011; area Tuscaloosa, AL (46220). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.9%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). City occupational taxes (for example in Birmingham and Gadsden) are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.85, this job is 1.9 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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