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Firefighter · Washington

Firefighter salary in Washington

Firefighters in Washington earn a median $94,520 a year across all employers.

$94,520
median pay in WA, all employers
7,560
workers in WA (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 Washington, all employers Sourced

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

MeasureWA
Workers7,560
10th percentile$47,640
Median$94,520
90th percentile$123,980
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 Washington

State employees: the general plan

PlanAccrualNormal retirementEmployee paysSocial Security
Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) Plan 2 / Plan 3
PERS Plan 2 or Plan 3 (member's choice)
2%Age 65 with at least 5 years of service credit (Plan 2)5.38%Not stated

Local employees: Local police and firefighters

PlanAccrualNormal retirementEmployee paysSocial Security
Law Enforcement Officers' and Fire Fighters' Retirement System (LEOFF) Plan 2
LEOFF Plan 2 (tiered multiplier)
2%Age 53 with at least 5 years of service credit8.53%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 Washington pension plans list.

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

Employers in Washington

241 fire departments in Washington, largest Seattle Fire Department, City of Spokane Fire Department, Tacoma Fire Department.

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

Free practice tests for Washington

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 ColumbiaFloridaGeorgiaIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWest VirginiaWisconsinWyoming

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