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Firefighter · Kentucky

Firefighter salary in Kentucky

Firefighters in Kentucky earn a median $37,150 a year across all employers.

$37,150
median pay in KY, all employers
5,150
workers in KY (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 Kentucky, all employers Sourced

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

MeasureKY
Workers5,150
10th percentile$27,870
Median$37,150
90th percentile$60,720
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 Kentucky

State employees: State public safety

PlanAccrualNormal retirementEmployee paysSocial Security
Kentucky Employees Retirement System (KERS) Hazardous - Tier 3
Tier 3 (Hybrid Cash Balance Plan)
—any age with 25 or more years of service8%Not stated

Local employees: Local police and firefighters

PlanAccrualNormal retirementEmployee paysSocial Security
County Employees Retirement System (CERS) Hazardous - Tier 3
Tier 3 (Hybrid Cash Balance Plan)
—any age with 25 or more years of service8%Not stated

The statewide plan a new hire usually joins. 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 Kentucky pension plans list.

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

Employers in Kentucky

165 fire departments in Kentucky, largest Lexington Fire Department, Louisville Division of Fire, Anchorage Middletown Fire and EMS.

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

Free practice tests for Kentucky

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

AlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareDistrict of ColumbiaFloridaGeorgiaIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsinWyoming

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