Firefighters pay range in Wausau
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $29,650 a year or less, while the top 10% make $77,000 or more. The middle half of firefighters in Wausau earn between $35,610 and $59,970.
- $30K10th
- $36K25th
- $47KMedian
- $60K75th
- $77K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $48,180 | $4,015 | $23.16 |
| Median | $46,820 | $3,902 | $22.51 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $35,610 | $2,968 | $17.12 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $59,970 | $4,998 | $28.83 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Firefighters pay in Wausau vs. Wisconsin and the U.S.
Firefighters in Wausau earn 5% less than the Wisconsin average ($50,710) and 24% less than the U.S. average ($63,630). At the median the gap is -21% against the U.S. median of $59,280.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wausau | $48,180 | $46,820 | $29,650 | $77,000 | 260 |
| Wisconsin | $50,710 | $46,850 | $29,390 | $77,050 | 8,120 |
| 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 Wausau
On the average salary of $48,180, a single filer in Wausau takes home about $39,406 a year, or $3,284 a month and $1,516 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).
Is Wausau a good place for firefighters? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Wausau area are 7% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.7), so the average $48,180 buys what about $52,002 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Wausau ($48,790). A typical home costs $274,194, or 5.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Firefighters salary in other Wisconsin cities
Wausau ranks 10th of 13 Wisconsin metro areas for this job; Sheboygan pays the most ($59,450).
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 Wausau: questions
How much do firefighters make an hour in Wausau?
$23.16 an hour on average, and $22.51 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level firefighters salary in Wausau?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $29,650 a year and the 25th percentile is $35,610, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the firefighters take-home pay in Wausau?
About $39,406 a year ($3,284 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $48,180.
Do firefighters earn more in Wausau than elsewhere?
The average here is 24% 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 Wausau, WI (48140). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.0%.
- 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 1.66, this job is 1.7 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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