Firefighters pay range in Louisville
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $35,700 a year or less, while the top 10% make $65,720 or more. The middle half of firefighters in Louisville earn between $37,120 and $56,560.
- $36K10th
- $37K25th
- $45KMedian
- $57K75th
- $66K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $47,520 | $3,960 | $22.85 |
| Median | $45,160 | $3,763 | $21.71 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $37,120 | $3,093 | $17.85 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $56,560 | $4,713 | $27.19 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Firefighters pay in Louisville vs. Kentucky and the U.S.
Firefighters in Louisville 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 -24% against the U.S. median of $59,280.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Louisville | $47,520 | $45,160 | $35,700 | $65,720 | 1,640 |
| 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 Louisville
On the average salary of $47,520, a single filer in Louisville takes home about $37,771 a year, or $3,148 a month and $1,453 every two weeks. Taxes take 21% of gross pay.
The Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in IN | $38,967 | $3,247 |
| Working in KY | $37,771 | $3,148 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Includes Louisville's local income tax (2.2%).
Is Louisville a good place for firefighters? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Louisville area are 7% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 93.1), so the average $47,520 buys what about $51,056 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Louisville ($48,370). A typical home costs $283,232, or 6.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Firefighters salary in other Kentucky cities
Louisville ranks 2nd 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 Louisville: questions
How much do firefighters make an hour in Louisville?
$22.85 an hour on average, and $21.71 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level firefighters salary in Louisville?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $35,700 a year and the 25th percentile is $37,120, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the firefighters take-home pay in Louisville?
About $37,771 a year ($3,148 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $47,520. Includes Louisville's local income tax (2.2%).
Do firefighters earn more in Louisville 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 Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN (31140). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.7%.
- 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 Louisville's local income tax (2.2%).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.07, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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