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Firefighter in Massachusetts

Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Human Resources Division (HRD) lists 2 job classes for this work in the Massachusetts state pay plan: Firefighter.

$59,769 – $95,913
state pay plan range, a year
2
classes in the state plan
$72,800
median pay in MA, all employers
11,940
workers in MA (SOC 33-2011)

Sources: Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Human Resources Division (HRD), Massachusetts Executive Branch Bargaining Unit Job Codes and Salary Charts; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — state estimates. Data captured September 30, 2026.

Massachusetts state pay plan Sourced

Published rates for each class, lowest first, effective July 12, 2026. These are the ranges Massachusetts sets for its own state employees; cities, counties and school districts have their own pay plans.

Class and gradePublished rate
Firefighter
Class E07FF5
Grade 7A · Unit 11 IAFF salary plan FF2 (Barnes) (salary chart effective 2026-07-12)
$2,298.79 – $3,688.97 a two weeks
$59,769 – $95,913 a year
10 steps
  • Step 1: $2,298.79 a two weeks
  • Step 2: $2,366.87 a two weeks
  • Step 3: $2,438.29 a two weeks
  • Step 4: $2,511.40 a two weeks
  • Step 5: $2,586.12 a two weeks
  • Step 6: $2,690.78 a two weeks
  • Step 7: $2,770.49 a two weeks
  • Step 8: $3,047.87 a two weeks
  • Step 9: $3,383.37 a two weeks
  • Step 10: $3,688.97 a two weeks
Firefighter
Class E07FF1
Grade 7A · Unit IAF IAFF salary plan FF1 (Otis) (salary chart effective 2026-07-12)
$2,644.41 – $3,507.25 a two weeks
$68,755 – $91,189 a year
7 steps
  • Step 1: $2,644.41 a two weeks
  • Step 2: $2,824.43 a two weeks
  • Step 3: $3,010.63 a two weeks
  • Step 4: $3,134.78 a two weeks
  • Step 5: $3,262.66 a two weeks
  • Step 6: $3,386.84 a two weeks
  • Step 7: $3,507.25 a two weeks

Rates are as the plan publishes them; "a year" figures are conversions. Classes are matched to this job by title (GovJobsWiki editorial rule).

Source: Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Human Resources Division (HRD), Massachusetts Executive Branch Bargaining Unit Job Codes and Salary Charts. Data captured September 30, 2026.

Pay in Massachusetts, all employers Sourced

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

MeasureMA
Workers11,940
10th percentile$49,730
Median$72,800
90th percentile$98,130
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.

Employers in Massachusetts

276 fire departments in Massachusetts, largest Boston Fire Department, Worcester Fire Department, Cambridge Fire Department.

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

Free practice tests for Massachusetts

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

CaliforniaConnecticutGeorgiaOhioOregonTennesseeUtah