Firefighters pay range in Helena
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $37,060 a year or less, while the top 10% make $64,730 or more. The middle half of firefighters in Helena earn between $48,030 and $64,730.
- $37K10th
- $48K25th
- $54KMedian
- $65K75th
- $65K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $53,740 | $4,478 | $25.84 |
| Median | $54,260 | $4,522 | $26.09 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $48,030 | $4,002 | $23.09 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $64,730 | $5,394 | $31.12 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Firefighters pay in Helena vs. Montana and the U.S.
Firefighters in Helena earn 7% less than the Montana average ($57,660) and 16% less than the U.S. average ($63,630). At the median the gap is -8% against the U.S. median of $59,280.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Helena | $53,740 | $54,260 | $37,060 | $64,730 | 80 |
| Montana | $57,660 | $59,310 | $32,810 | $76,620 | 1,010 |
| 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 Helena
On the average salary of $53,740, a single filer in Helena takes home about $43,591 a year, or $3,633 a month and $1,677 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Helena a good place for firefighters? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Helena area are 4% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 95.7), so the average $53,740 buys what about $56,169 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Helena ($55,040). A typical home costs $477,996, or 8.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Firefighters salary in other Montana cities
Helena ranks 5th of 5 Montana metro areas for this job; Bozeman pays the most ($76,280).
- Bozeman$76,280
- Missoula$69,650
- Billings$63,060
- Great Falls$60,860
- Helena$53,740
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 Helena: questions
How much do firefighters make an hour in Helena?
$25.84 an hour on average, and $26.09 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level firefighters salary in Helena?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $37,060 a year and the 25th percentile is $48,030, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the firefighters take-home pay in Helena?
About $43,591 a year ($3,633 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $53,740.
Do firefighters earn more in Helena than elsewhere?
The average here is 16% 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 Helena, MT (25740). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.4%.
- 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 (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.79, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.79).
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