Sources: Ohio Department of Administrative Services (DAS), Classification & Compensation, Ohio State Classification Plan — Pay Range Booklet and Pay Range Schedules (rates effective July 2026); U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — state estimates. Data captured September 30, 2026.
Ohio state pay plan Sourced
Published rates for each class, lowest first, effective July 1, 2026. These are the ranges Ohio sets for its own state employees; cities, counties and school districts have their own pay plans.
| Class and grade | Published rate |
|---|---|
| Fire Fighter Class 26591 Grade 7 | $23.28 – $26.54 a hour $48,422 – $55,203 a year 6 steps
|
Schedule: OCSEA Pay Range Schedule (Rates Effective July 2026). Rates are as the plan publishes them; "a year" figures are conversions (hourly × 2,080). Classes are matched to this job by title (GovJobsWiki editorial rule).
Source: Ohio Department of Administrative Services (DAS), Classification & Compensation, Ohio State Classification Plan — Pay Range Booklet and Pay Range Schedules (rates effective July 2026). Data captured September 30, 2026.
Pay in Ohio, all employers Sourced
Firefighters (SOC 33-2011) in Ohio, all employers combined: BLS state estimates do not separate government from private.
| Measure | OH |
|---|---|
| Workers | 18,100 |
| 10th percentile | $34,420 |
| Median | $59,370 |
| 90th percentile | $84,010 |
| 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 Ohio
464 fire departments in Ohio, largest Columbus Division of Fire, Cincinnati Fire Department, Cleveland Division of Fire.
Source: U.S. Fire Administration (FEMA), National Fire Department Registry. Data captured September 30, 2026.
Free practice tests for Ohio
National Firefighter Selection Inventory (NFSI)
Practice for a named exam · free on Open Exam PrepNational Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians - EMT Certification
Practice for a named exam · free on Open Exam PrepNFPA 1001 Firefighter I Certification (Pro Board / IFSAC)
Entrance or licensing exam · free on Open Exam PrepNFPA 1001 Firefighter II Certification (Pro Board / IFSAC)
Entrance or licensing exam · free on Open Exam PrepNFPA 470 Hazardous Materials Awareness-Level Responder Certification
Entrance or licensing exam · free on Open Exam PrepNFPA 470 Hazardous Materials Operations Certification
Entrance or licensing exam · free on Open Exam PrepNTN FireTEAM Firefighter Entry-Level Exam
Practice for a named exam · free on Open Exam Prep
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.