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Firefighter salary in Oregon

Updated November 1, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Published by Humblebee.

$70,900median pay per year in Oregon, or $34.09 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $38,800lowest 10% earn less
  2. $49,42025th percentile
  3. $70,900median
  4. $90,98075th percentile
  5. $104,070top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[2]US median for this job, $59,280[3]

The median pay for firefighters in Oregon was $70,900 a year in May 2025[1]. That was $11,620 above the US median[6].

Jobs in OR
3,790[4]
Rank by median pay
12 of 50[5]
Compared with US median
+19.6%[6]

How much do firefighters make in Oregon?

The median is the middle of the pay range. Half of the firefighters in Oregon earned more than $70,900 a year, which is $34.09 an hour, and half earned less[1]. The average was close, at $71,290[7]. The US median was $59,280, so Oregon came out 19.6% higher[3][6]. Oregon had the 12th highest median among the 49 states and DC with a published figure[5]. Against all jobs in Oregon, firefighters earned $13,900 more than the all-occupation median of $57,000[8][9].

At the low end, the lowest-paid 10% earned less than $38,800[2]. At the high end, the top-paid 10% earned more than $104,070[2]. The middle half earned between $49,420 and $90,980[2].

By metro area, Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro had the highest median among the 8 metro areas with a published figure, at $85,170[10]. Corvallis followed at $82,700[11]. Portland also had the largest job count listed, about 1,730[11]. OEWS counts wage and salary workers only. It leaves out the self-employed and owners of unincorporated firms. It also leaves out nonproduction bonuses and the cost of benefits like health insurance or retirement[12].

Oregon vs US pay

Pay for firefighters in Oregon next to the national figures[1][3].

ORUS
Median per year$70,900[1]$59,280[3]
Median per hour$34.09[1]$28.50[3]
Lowest 10% earn less than$38,800[2]$34,910[13]
Top 10% earn more than$104,070[2]$101,040[13]
Jobs3,790[4]345,990[3]

Pay by metro area in Oregon

Metro areas in Oregon with the most jobs for firefighters, and the median pay in each[11]. A metro area that crosses state lines is counted as a whole.

Metro areaMedian per yearJobs
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA[11]$85,1701,730
Salem, OR$64,900330
Eugene-Springfield, OR$72,280300
Bend, OR$62,140250
Medford, OR$63,130150
Albany, OR$61,060100
Corvallis, OR$82,70060
Grants Pass, OR$45,18050

Pay in nearby states

Median pay for firefighters in the states that border Oregon, highest first[14].

StateMedian per yearJobs
Washington[14]$94,5207,560
California$85,12031,470
Nevada$66,5702,640
Idaho$47,3202,240

Median pay for firefighters in every state

Job outlook and training

Across the US, jobs for firefighters are projected to grow 3.7% from 2025 to 2035[15]. BLS does not publish this projection by state. The typical education for entry is: postsecondary nondegree award[16].

How to become one: steps, training and duties

Frequently asked questions

How much does a firefighter make in Oregon?
The median wage for firefighters in Oregon was $70,900 a year in May 2025, and the average was $71,290[1][7].
How much does a firefighter make an hour in Oregon?
The median hourly wage was $34.09[1]. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $18.65 an hour and the top-paid 10% earned more than $50.03[2][17].
Which city in Oregon pays firefighters the most?
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro had the highest median among the 8 Oregon metro areas with a published figure, at $85,170[10].
Is Oregon a good state for firefighters?
Oregon had the 12th highest median for this job among the 49 states and DC with a published median[5]. Its median was 19.6% above the US median[6].
What do you need to become a firefighter in Oregon?
This is a US figure, not an Oregon one. Across the US, the typical education needed for entry is a postsecondary nondegree award, with no related work experience and long-term on-the-job training[16].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Firefighters in Oregon was $70,900 per year and $34.09 per hour. Half of these workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Firefighters in Oregon: 10th percentile $38,800, 25th percentile $49,420, 75th percentile $90,980, 90th percentile $104,070. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less, the 90th means 10% earned more. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  3. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Firefighters in the US as a whole was $59,280 per year and $28.50 per hour, with about 345,990 jobs nationwide. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 3,790 people worked as Firefighters in Oregon (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: Oregon had the 12th highest median annual wage for Firefighters out of the 49 states and DC with a published median. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Firefighters in Oregon ($70,900) was $11,620 (19.6%) higher than the US median ($59,280). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Firefighters in Oregon was $71,290 per year and $34.28 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in Oregon was $57,000. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Firefighters in Oregon was $13,900 higher than the median for all occupations in the state ($57,000). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS, May 2025: of the 8 metro areas in or partly in Oregon with a published median for Firefighters, Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA had the highest median annual wage, $85,170. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. Metro areas with the most jobs in this occupation, with median annual wage, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Firefighters in the US: 10th percentile $34,910, 25th percentile $44,490, 75th percentile $77,250, 90th percentile $101,040. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, median annual wage for Firefighters in states that border Oregon (highest first): Washington $94,520; California $85,120; Nevada $66,570; Idaho $47,320. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS Employment Projections (US, not by state): employment of Firefighters is projected to grow 3.7% nationwide from 2025 to 2035, with about 26,800 openings a year on average. All occupations are projected to grow 3.5%. BLS Employment Projections
  16. BLS Employment Projections (US, not by state), typical path into Firefighters: education needed for entry: Postsecondary nondegree award; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Long-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
  17. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Firefighters in Oregon: 10th percentile $18.65, 25th percentile $23.76, 75th percentile $43.74, 90th percentile $50.03. BLS OEWS, May 2025

State figures cover only Oregon. Job outlook and entry requirements are national (US) figures: BLS does not publish them by state in our sources. Figures labelled “CareerFacts calculation” are simple differences between the BLS numbers shown.