Salaries › Firefighter › North Carolina
Firefighter Salary in North Carolina (2026)
$18.24 per hour · take-home ≈ $31,660/year ($2,638/month) for a single filer
Firefighter pay range in North Carolina
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $29,360 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $34,010 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $37,940 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $47,690 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $61,940 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 19,410 Firefighter jobs in North Carolina (occupation code 33-2011, “Firefighters”).
Gross vs. take-home in North Carolina
A median Firefighter salary of $37,940 doesn’t all reach your bank account. After federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare, plus North Carolina state income tax, a single filer keeps about $31,660 — an effective tax rate of 16.6%.
| Gross (median) | $37,940 |
| Federal income tax | −$2,373 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$2,902 |
| North Carolina state income tax | −$1,005 |
| Take-home (annual) | $31,660 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $2,638 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free North Carolina paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Firefighter make in North Carolina?
- The median Firefighter salary in North Carolina is $37,940 per year ($18.24 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $34,010 and $47,690.
- What is the take-home pay for a Firefighter in North Carolina?
- On the median salary of $37,940, a single filer in North Carolina takes home about $31,660 per year ($2,638 per month) after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — an effective tax rate of 16.6%.
- How many Firefighter jobs are there in North Carolina?
- BLS counts 19,410 Firefighter jobs in North Carolina in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Firefighters
Other salaries in North Carolina
Sources and methodology
Wage and employment figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 (state file, released April 2026) — the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, the most authoritative public salary dataset. Take-home estimate: 2026 federal brackets, FICA, and verified North Carolina state tax rules (single filer, standard deduction, no credits or local taxes). Estimates only — not financial advice.
- BLS OEWS — official occupational wage data.
- PaycheckTally — interactive 2026 take-home calculator for North Carolina.