Firefighters pay range in Bowling Green
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $32,250 a year or less, while the top 10% make $93,600 or more. The middle half of firefighters in Bowling Green earn between $35,240 and $46,850.
- $32K10th
- $35K25th
- $35KMedian
- $47K75th
- $94K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $47,720 | $3,977 | $22.94 |
| Median | $35,240 | $2,937 | $16.94 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $35,240 | $2,937 | $16.94 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $46,850 | $3,904 | $22.52 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Firefighters pay in Bowling Green vs. Kentucky and the U.S.
Firefighters in Bowling Green earn 13% more than the Kentucky average ($42,100) and 25% less than the U.S. average ($63,630). At the median the gap is -41% against the U.S. median of $59,280.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bowling Green | $47,720 | $35,240 | $32,250 | $93,600 | 250 |
| Kentucky | $42,100 | $37,150 | $27,870 | $60,720 | 5,150 |
| 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 Bowling Green
On the average salary of $47,720, a single filer in Bowling Green takes home about $38,016 a year, or $3,168 a month and $1,462 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). Includes Bowling Green's local income tax (2%).
Is Bowling Green a good place for firefighters? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Bowling Green area are 10% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 90.2), so the average $47,720 buys what about $52,917 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Bowling Green ($45,040). A typical home costs $267,047, or 5.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Firefighters salary in other Kentucky cities
Bowling Green ranks 1st of 4 Kentucky metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Bowling Green$47,720
- Louisville$47,520
- Elizabethtown$43,990
- Lexington$40,980
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 Bowling Green: questions
How much do firefighters make an hour in Bowling Green?
$22.94 an hour on average, and $16.94 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level firefighters salary in Bowling Green?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $32,250 a year and the 25th percentile is $35,240, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the firefighters take-home pay in Bowling Green?
About $38,016 a year ($3,168 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $47,720. Includes Bowling Green's local income tax (2%).
Do firefighters earn more in Bowling Green than elsewhere?
The average here is 25% 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 Bowling Green, KY (14540). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 11.5%.
- 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). Includes Bowling Green's local income tax (2%).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.37, this job is 1.4 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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