Firefighter Salary in Kentucky
Median annual pay in Kentucky
$37,150
$17.86/hour
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Adjusted for cost of living in Kentucky
$41,205
Regional Price Parity: 90.159 (U.S. = 100)
Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Cost of living: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Difference from the U.S. median ($59,280): −$22,130 (−37.3%)
Kentucky ranks 48th of 50 states by median pay, and 47th of 50 after adjusting for cost of living.
Pay
| Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $27,870 | $13.40 |
| 25th percentile | $33,390 | $16.05 |
| Median | $37,150 | $17.86 |
| 75th percentile | $48,120 | $23.13 |
| 90th percentile | $60,720 | $29.19 |
Employment
- Employment in Kentucky
- 5,150
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Comparison
Compared with the U.S.
- Median annual pay in Kentucky
- $37,150
- Median annual pay in the U.S.
- $59,280
- Difference
- −$22,130 (−37.3%)
Cost of living
$37,150 ÷ 90.159 × 100 = $41,205
Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Cost of living: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Ranking
| Rank | Median annual pay | Adjusted for cost of living (annual) |
|---|---|---|
| North Carolina | ||
| 46th | $37,940 | $40,222 48th |
| West Virginia | ||
| 47th | $37,350 | $41,733 45th |
| Kentucky This page | ||
| 48th | $37,150 | $41,205 47th |
| Mississippi | ||
| 49th | $35,880 | $41,264 46th |
| Louisiana | ||
| 50th | $33,120 | $37,548 50th |
Similar occupations
Related occupations from O*NET, in O*NET's order, with their BLS median pay. Each figure shows the place it is for.
- Forest Fire Inspector and Prevention Specialist salary in the U.S.
$56,870/year U.S.
- Fire Inspector and Investigator salary in the U.S.
$75,920/year U.S.
- Lifeguard, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Worker salary in Kentucky
$28,520/year Kentucky
- Emergency Medical Technician salary in Kentucky
$36,800/year Kentucky
- Paramedic salary in Kentucky
$49,890/year Kentucky
- Ship Engineer salary in the U.S.
$109,530/year U.S.
Outlook
- Projected employment change, 2025–35 (U.S.)
- +3.7%
- Typical education needed for entry (U.S.)
- Postsecondary nondegree award
BLS publishes employment projections only for the U.S. as a whole. BLS Employment Projections, 2025–35
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Firefighter salary in nearby places
- Firefighter salary in Illinois
$78,380/year Illinois
- Firefighter salary in Indiana
$62,780/year Indiana
- Firefighter salary in Missouri
$49,080/year Missouri
- Firefighter salary in Ohio
$59,370/year Ohio
- Firefighter salary in Tennessee
$49,300/year Tennessee
- Firefighter salary in Virginia
$58,670/year Virginia
- Firefighter salary in West Virginia
$37,350/year West Virginia
- Firefighter salary in the U.S.
$59,280/year U.S.
Sources and update
- Wages and employment: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025.
- Cost of living: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
- Related occupations: O*NET® 31.0 Database, CC BY 4.0. Attributions
- Employment projections and typical education: BLS Employment Projections, 2025–35.
- Neighboring states: U.S. Census Bureau, County Adjacency File, 2024.
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