Firefighters pay range in Sioux Falls
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $34,980 a year or less, while the top 10% make $61,420 or more. The middle half of firefighters in Sioux Falls earn between $46,960 and $61,420.
- $35K10th
- $47K25th
- $51KMedian
- $61K75th
- $61K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $52,600 | $4,383 | $25.29 |
| Median | $50,840 | $4,237 | $24.44 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $46,960 | $3,913 | $22.58 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $61,420 | $5,118 | $29.53 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Firefighters pay in Sioux Falls vs. South Dakota and the U.S.
Firefighters in Sioux Falls earn about the same as the South Dakota average ($51,180) and 17% less than the U.S. average ($63,630). At the median the gap is -14% against the U.S. median of $59,280.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sioux Falls | $52,600 | $50,840 | $34,980 | $61,420 | 190 |
| South Dakota | $51,180 | $48,160 | $39,240 | $61,420 | 610 |
| 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 Sioux Falls
On the average salary of $52,600, a single filer in Sioux Falls takes home about $44,444 a year, or $3,704 a month and $1,709 every two weeks. Taxes take 16% of gross pay.
The Sioux Falls, SD-MN metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in SD | $44,444 | $3,704 |
| Working in MN | $42,391 | $3,533 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Sioux Falls a good place for firefighters? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Sioux Falls area are 9% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 90.6), so the average $52,600 buys what about $58,038 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Sioux Falls ($47,970). A typical home costs $342,936, or 6.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Firefighters salary in other South Dakota cities
Sioux Falls ranks 2nd of 2 South Dakota metro areas for this job; Rapid City pays the most ($53,540).
- Rapid City$53,540
- Sioux Falls$52,600
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 Sioux Falls: questions
How much do firefighters make an hour in Sioux Falls?
$25.29 an hour on average, and $24.44 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level firefighters salary in Sioux Falls?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $34,980 a year and the 25th percentile is $46,960, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the firefighters take-home pay in Sioux Falls?
About $44,444 a year ($3,704 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $52,600. South Dakota has no state income tax.
Do firefighters earn more in Sioux Falls than elsewhere?
The average here is 17% 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 Sioux Falls, SD-MN (43620). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.6%.
- 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 no state income tax.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.47, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.47).
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