Firefighters pay range in Columbus
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $34,220 a year or less, while the top 10% make $78,840 or more. The middle half of firefighters in Columbus earn between $43,510 and $58,980.
- $34K10th
- $44K25th
- $44KMedian
- $59K75th
- $79K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $49,600 | $4,133 | $23.85 |
| Median | $43,510 | $3,626 | $20.92 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $43,510 | $3,626 | $20.92 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $58,980 | $4,915 | $28.36 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Firefighters pay in Columbus vs. Indiana and the U.S.
Firefighters in Columbus earn 21% less than the Indiana average ($62,420) and 22% less than the U.S. average ($63,630). At the median the gap is -27% against the U.S. median of $59,280.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus | $49,600 | $43,510 | $34,220 | $78,840 | 90 |
| Indiana | $62,420 | $62,780 | $38,460 | $81,890 | 8,530 |
| 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 Columbus
On the average salary of $49,600, a single filer in Columbus takes home about $39,725 a year, or $3,310 a month and $1,528 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 (2025 rules). Includes Columbus's local income tax (1.75%).
Is Columbus a good place for firefighters? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Columbus area are 7% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 93.0), so the average $49,600 buys what about $53,332 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Columbus ($48,470). A typical home costs $277,164, or 5.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Firefighters salary in other Indiana cities
Columbus ranks 10th of 11 Indiana metro areas for this job; Fort Wayne pays the most ($70,360).
- Fort Wayne$70,360
- Indianapolis$67,110
- Evansville$67,060
- Michigan City$64,660
- Lafayette$61,520
- Elkhart$60,430
- Muncie$58,750
- South Bend$55,960
- Terre Haute$51,050
- Columbus$49,600
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 Columbus: questions
How much do firefighters make an hour in Columbus?
$23.85 an hour on average, and $20.92 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level firefighters salary in Columbus?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $34,220 a year and the 25th percentile is $43,510, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the firefighters take-home pay in Columbus?
About $39,725 a year ($3,310 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $49,600. Includes Columbus's local income tax (1.75%).
Do firefighters earn more in Columbus than elsewhere?
The average here is 22% less than 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 Columbus, IN (18020). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 5.4%.
- 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 (2025 rules). Includes Columbus's local income tax (1.75%).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.84, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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