Firefighters pay range in Lexington
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $29,460 a year or less, while the top 10% make $58,170 or more. The middle half of firefighters in Lexington earn between $34,630 and $46,520.
- $29K10th
- $35K25th
- $36KMedian
- $47K75th
- $58K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $40,980 | $3,415 | $19.70 |
| Median | $36,490 | $3,041 | $17.54 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $34,630 | $2,886 | $16.65 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $46,520 | $3,877 | $22.37 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Firefighters pay in Lexington vs. Kentucky and the U.S.
Firefighters in Lexington earn about the same as the Kentucky average ($42,100) and 36% less than the U.S. average ($63,630). At the median the gap is -38% against the U.S. median of $59,280.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lexington | $40,980 | $36,490 | $29,460 | $58,170 | 940 |
| 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 Lexington
On the average salary of $40,980, a single filer in Lexington takes home about $32,664 a year, or $2,722 a month and $1,256 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 Lexington's local income tax (2.75%).
Is Lexington a good place for firefighters? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Lexington area are 7% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.9), so the average $40,980 buys what about $44,117 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Lexington ($48,620). A typical home costs $327,671, or 8.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Firefighters salary in other Kentucky cities
Lexington ranks 4th of 4 Kentucky metro areas for this job; Bowling Green pays the most ($47,720).
- 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 Lexington: questions
How much do firefighters make an hour in Lexington?
$19.70 an hour on average, and $17.54 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level firefighters salary in Lexington?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $29,460 a year and the 25th percentile is $34,630, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the firefighters take-home pay in Lexington?
About $32,664 a year ($2,722 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $40,980. Includes Lexington's local income tax (2.75%).
Do firefighters earn more in Lexington than elsewhere?
The average here is 36% 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 Lexington-Fayette, KY (30460). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.6%.
- 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 Lexington's local income tax (2.75%).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.47, this job is 1.5 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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