Firefighters pay range in Rochester
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $27,540 a year or less, while the top 10% make $70,380 or more. The middle half of firefighters in Rochester earn between $28,940 and $61,480.
- $28K10th
- $29K25th
- $35KMedian
- $61K75th
- $70K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $44,730 | $3,728 | $21.50 |
| Median | $35,200 | $2,933 | $16.92 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $28,940 | $2,412 | $13.91 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $61,480 | $5,123 | $29.56 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Firefighters pay in Rochester vs. Minnesota and the U.S.
Firefighters in Rochester earn about the same as the Minnesota average ($45,170) and 30% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rochester | $44,730 | $35,200 | $27,540 | $70,380 | 230 |
| Minnesota | $45,170 | $38,110 | $27,510 | $70,380 | 5,810 |
| 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 Rochester
On the average salary of $44,730, a single filer in Rochester takes home about $36,546 a year, or $3,046 a month and $1,406 every two weeks. Taxes take 18% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Minnesota Paid Leave premiums are not included.
Is Rochester a good place for firefighters? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Rochester area are 9% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 90.8), so the average $44,730 buys what about $49,251 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Rochester ($60,620). A typical home costs $343,121, or 7.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Firefighters salary in other Minnesota cities
Rochester ranks 2nd of 5 Minnesota metro areas for this job; Minneapolis pays the most ($47,580).
- Minneapolis$47,580
- Rochester$44,730
- Duluth$42,720
- Mankato$40,480
- St. Cloud$38,730
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 Rochester: questions
How much do firefighters make an hour in Rochester?
$21.50 an hour on average, and $16.92 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level firefighters salary in Rochester?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $27,540 a year and the 25th percentile is $28,940, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the firefighters take-home pay in Rochester?
About $36,546 a year ($3,046 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $44,730. Minnesota Paid Leave premiums are not included.
Do firefighters earn more in Rochester than elsewhere?
The average here is 30% 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 Rochester, MN (40340). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.5%.
- 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). Minnesota Paid Leave premiums are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.83, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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