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Firefighter · Colorado

Firefighter salary in Colorado

Firefighters in Colorado earn a median $74,170 a year across all employers.

$74,170
median pay in CO, all employers
6,510
workers in CO (SOC 33-2011)

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — state estimates. Data captured September 30, 2026.

Pay in Colorado, all employers Sourced

Firefighters (SOC 33-2011) in Colorado, all employers combined: BLS state estimates do not separate government from private.

MeasureCO
Workers6,510
10th percentile$47,000
Median$74,170
90th percentile$114,170
National median, government employers$60,050

Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — state estimates; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — national estimates by ownership. Data captured September 30, 2026.

Pension in Colorado

State employees: the general plan

PlanAccrualNormal retirementEmployee paysSocial Security
Colorado PERA State Division - PERA DB Plan (PERAChoice: DB or DC)
Membership began on or after January 1, 2020
2.5%age 65 (any service)11%Not covered

Local employees: Local police and firefighters

PlanAccrualNormal retirementEmployee paysSocial Security
FPPA Statewide Retirement Plan - Defined Benefit Component
Statewide Retirement Plan (current provisions)
—age 55 with 25 years of service12%Varies

The statewide plan a new hire usually joins; where a general plan is shown, some police and fire employers run their own safety plans. Some cities and counties run their own plans; check with the employer. Each plan's formula, vesting, cost-of-living adjustment and retiree health are on the Colorado pension plans list.

Source: State retirement systems, Official state retirement system pages, member handbooks and statutes. Data captured October 2, 2026.

Employers in Colorado

169 fire departments in Colorado, largest Denver Fire Department, South Metro Fire Rescue Authority, Colorado Springs Fire Department.

Source: U.S. Fire Administration (FEMA), National Fire Department Registry. Data captured September 30, 2026.

Free practice tests for Colorado

Source: Open Exam Prep, Open Exam Prep free practice tests. Data captured October 1, 2026. Each link was opened and its exam title checked on the date shown.

More about this job

Requirements, hiring process, training, schedule and day-to-day work are on the national Firefighter page.

Firefighter in other states

AlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaConnecticutDelawareDistrict of ColumbiaFloridaGeorgiaIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsinWyoming

More government jobs in Colorado

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Colorado government jobs · Colorado public pension plans · police officer standards in Colorado · exam practice in Colorado