Salario de Bombero en Washington (2026)
El salario promedio de un Bombero en Washington es de $85,000/año. Después de impuestos, tu sueldo neto estimado es de $68,628/año ($5,719/mes).✓ Sin impuesto estatal
Desglose del Sueldo Neto
| Categoría | Cantidad |
|---|---|
Sueldo Neto Anual | $68,628 |
Sueldo Neto Mensual | $5,719 |
Sueldo Neto Quincenal | $2,640 |
Sueldo Neto por Hora basado en 2,080 hrs/año | $33/hr |
Impuesto Federal | $9,870 |
Impuesto Estatal | $0 |
Impuestos FICA | $6,503 |
Tasa Efectiva de Impuesto impuestos totales ÷ salario bruto | 19.26% |
¿Quieres modelar 401(k), HSA, o aportes antes de impuestos contra tu salario completo? Abrir la calculadora de salario →
¿Trabajas horas extra? La deducción OBBBA 2025 puede ahorrarte hasta $12,500 en impuesto federal. Abrir la calculadora de horas extra →
¿Trabajo 1099 o proyectos paralelos? El impuesto SE agrega 15.3% encima. Ver la calculadora de freelancer →
Rangos de Salario de Bombero en Washington
No todas las Bomberos ganan lo mismo — ni de cerca
Washington firefighter specialties: (1) Seattle Fire Dept (SFD) — 1,000+ sworn FFs, urban + waterborne (Elliott Bay) + airport response (KCM2 + Boeing Field); (2) Bellevue Fire Dept + Eastside Fire & Rescue (Eastside tech-buyer protection, Microsoft/Amazon/Meta campus response); (3) Tacoma Fire Dept + Pierce County Fire District; (4) Spokane Fire Dept (Eastern WA largest); (5) WA State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) wildland fire response — wildland-urban interface fire growth post-2020 (Cascadia Megafire risk); (6) Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM) civilian fire dept — DoD-employed civilian FFs serving large military installation. Pension structure: most WA municipal FFs participate in LEOFF Plan 2 (Law Enforcement Officers' and Firefighters' Pension Plan, post-1977 hires) — 6% employee + 5.5% employer contribution, lifetime defined-benefit pension at 53/age + 5 years service or 55/age + 20 years service. Pre-1977 LEOFF Plan 1 hires retire at 25 years with no age requirement. WA 0% state tax + 0% retirement tax + LEOFF pension + creates favorable FF wealth-building.
SFD/Bellevue/Tacoma Captain (with OT)
$120,000–$165,000
Base + OT + EMT/paramedic premium
Eastside Tech-Campus Specialty (Bellevue Fire)
$95,000–$140,000
Microsoft/Amazon/Meta campus protection · post-2020 tax-base growth
Wildland-Urban Interface (DNR / municipal)
$70,000–$120,000
WUI fire growth post-2020 · Cascadia + Cascade Range
JBLM Civilian Fire (DoD)
$75,000–$125,000
DoD-employed civilian FFs at Joint Base Lewis-McChord
Engineer / Paramedic-Firefighter
$85,000–$125,000
Dual cert FF + EMT-P premium
Established FF (5-10 years)
$78,000–$115,000
Base + standard OT · WA median ~$88K
Probationary FF (year 1-2)
$58,000–$78,000
Academy + station rotation · 0% WA state tax compounds
Battalion Chief / Deputy Chief
$155,000–$240,000
Top WA municipal FF tier
Marine Response (SFD Elliott Bay)
$95,000–$140,000
Seattle waterborne specialty
Vale la pena saber: WA firefighters operate on 24/48 shift schedules at most municipal departments. The 96-hour off-period side-job tradition is strong (Boeing/aerospace contracting, real estate, construction, security). LEOFF Plan 2 pension formula: 2% per year × FAS at age 53 with 5+ years service. With 25-year service + $115K FAS, pension projects $57K-$60K/year. LEOFF Plan 1 (legacy pre-1977 hires) is more generous — 25-year retirement at any age with 1.65% × FAS for first 25 years + 1.65% for additional years. WA 7% capital gains tax above $270K /year does NOT apply to FF wage income; only matters for senior FFs with substantial investment portfolios. Post-2020 Eastside tech-buyer expansion drove tax-base growth funding municipal FF hiring + base salary increases at Bellevue Fire Dept + Eastside Fire & Rescue.
Washington firefighter market — SFD/Bellevue/JBLM, LEOFF Plan 2, wildland growth, no-tax compound
0%
WA state income tax + 0% retirement income tax — saves $16K-$22K/year for captain comp vs CA
$12.5K
OBBBA 2025 no-tax-on-overtime federal deduction cap (single, $25K MFJ) — pure stack on no-state-tax
LEOFF Plan 2
2% × FAS pension formula at 53/+5 years OR 55/+20 years
Seattle Fire Department (SFD) is the largest WA municipal fire department with 1,000+ sworn FFs. Base captain salary $110K-$140K; with overtime + paramedic premium + acting-supervisor pay, captain total compensation routinely $145K-$200K. SFD Marine Response (Elliott Bay + Lake Union waterborne) is unique specialty.
The 2025 law (the One Big Beautiful Bill Act) created a brand-new federal deduction on the premium portion of overtime pay. For tax years 2025 through 2028, you can deduct up to $12,500/year (single) or $25,000 () of qualifying OT premium from your federal taxable income. What 'premium portion' means: if your hourly is $48, OT pays $72 ($48 × 1.5). Only the extra $24/hour counts toward the deduction — the half, not the whole.
Real numbers for a WA firefighter: an SFD engineer at $46/hour base, working 80 OT hours a month for 12 months. Premium portion = $46 × 0.5 × 80 × 12 = $22,080. Capped at $12,500 single / $25,000 . Single filer at the 24% federal bracket → about $3,000 back. MFJ at 22% → up to $5,500 back. WA has no state income tax so the federal stack is pure savings on top of an already-no-state-tax structure — meaningful for high-OT years. Two catches: only (IRS guidance for FLSA 207(k) departments expected mid-2026), and MAGI phaseout above $150K single / $300K MFJ, fully gone by $275K / $550K. Senior SFD captains and Bellevue Fire LTs may need to do the math.
Bellevue Fire Department + Eastside Fire & Rescue serve the post-2020 tech-buyer growth market. Microsoft Redmond campus + Amazon Bellevue HQ2 expansion + Meta Bellevue/Redmond + Google Kirkland tax-base growth drove sustained municipal FF hiring + base salary increases. Bellevue Fire captain $105K-$140K + OT $135K-$180K total. The Eastside tech-campus protection specialty is genuinely unique — coordinating with private corporate security teams at FAANG facilities.
Tacoma Fire Dept + Pierce County Fire District serve South Puget Sound. Spokane Fire Dept is largest Eastern WA municipal department.
WA State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) wildland fire response has grown materially post-2020. Cascadia Megafire risk + increased fire activity in Cascade Range + Eastern WA agricultural region (apple harvest area) drove DNR hiring + state-level coordination with municipal FFs. Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) specialty growing fastest of WA FF specialties.
JBLM (Joint Base Lewis-McChord) civilian fire dept is genuinely Pacific Northwest. DoD-employed civilian FFs at JBLM (largest US Army installation west of the Mississippi + 3rd largest US military base by population) serve military installation fire response. Pay scale federal GS classification, $75K-$125K. Federal LEOFF-equivalent (CSRS/FERS) pension.
Pension structure: most WA municipal FFs participate in LEOFF Plan 2 — 6% employee + 5.5% employer contribution; defined-benefit lifetime pension at 53 with 5+ years OR 55 with 20+ years. Formula 2% × FAS per year. LEOFF Plan 1 (legacy pre-1977) more generous. WA 0% state income tax + 0% retirement income tax + LEOFF pension creates favorable FF wealth-building — A $130K Bellevue Fire captain nets ~$104K post-tax (federal + only) vs ~$88K equivalent in CA — $16K/year delta.
Washington for firefighters — SFD/Eastside/JBLM, no-tax, LEOFF pension, wildland growth
WA firefighters cluster in Seattle metro (SFD largest), Eastside (Bellevue Fire + Eastside Fire & Rescue), South Puget Sound (Tacoma + Pierce County + JBLM civilian), Spokane (Eastern WA largest), and rural WA wildland response (DNR). The 24/48 shift schedule + 96-hour off-period side-job tradition is strong — Boeing aerospace contracting, real estate, construction common.
SFD FF residence patterns: most live in workforce-affordable submarkets within 30-60 minute commute — Renton, Auburn, Kent (south of Seattle), Lynnwood, Mountlake Terrace (north). Bellevue Fire + Eastside Fire & Rescue FFs in Bellevue-adjacent areas — many commute from Sammamish, Issaquah, Bothell. JBLM civilian FFs in Lakewood, DuPont, Steilacoom (military-adjacent).
Tax structure heavily favors WA FFs. WA 0% state income tax + 0% retirement income tax + LEOFF pension + deferred comp + side-business 1099 income (TX-style 24/48 off-period side jobs) creates favorable wealth-building. Senior WA FFs typically retire in-state — no incentive to relocate (already 0% state tax).
WA property tax 0.8-1.0% effective in King County (lowest among major US tech metros) makes homeowner FF economics favorable. A $500K Renton FF home: $4K-$5K/year property tax vs $8K-$10K equivalent in TX or $8K in NY Long Island.
How Washington taxes work for firefighters (and how to keep more)
WA 0% state income tax. A $90K WA FF base wage nets ~$72K post-tax (federal + only). At $130K Bellevue Fire captain: ~$104K post-tax. The advantage compounds.
WA 7% capital gains tax above $270K /year does NOT apply to FF wage income. Only matters if you also realize $270K+ of long-term capital gains in a calendar year (typically investment property sales, large stock sales) — for senior FFs with substantial investment portfolios.
WA property tax 0.8-1.0% effective in King County — lowest among major US tech metros. On a $500K Renton FF home: $4K-$5K/year property tax. Snohomish (0.85%), Pierce (0.95%) similar.
LEOFF Plan 2 pension — 2% per year × FAS at retirement. With 25-year service + $115K FAS, pension $57K-$60K/year for life. LEOFF Plan 1 (legacy) more generous. Pension is WA-source income — but WA has 0% state tax so retirement is favorable.
Deferred Compensation Plan offered at most WA municipal departments. $24,500 limit ($32,500 if 50+, $35,750 catch-up at 60-63). Pre-tax federal — saves $5K-$8K/year at FF marginal rate.
special catch-up: 3 years before normal retirement age, contribute up to $47K if unused contribution room exists. $141K of pre-tax retirement contributions in final 3 years.
Side-income Solo — WA FFs running side businesses (real estate, contracting, security) shelter $35K-$72K/year on top of . Combined retirement shelter $58K-$105K/year.
- →Max your Deferred Compensation Plan — at FF captain marginal rate, every $1,000 deferred saves $240+ in current federal taxes (no state to add).
- →Use special catch-up in final 3 years before retirement — shelter $47K/year × 3 = $141K window.
- →WA 7% cap gains planning if you own investment property — track by year, time sales below $270K threshold per calendar year.
- →Property tax appeal — King / Snohomish / Pierce counties have appeal processes. Saves $200-$1,500/year on FF-tier homes.
- →Side-income Solo — WA FFs running side businesses shelter $35K-$72K/year on top of .
- →Side-income election if $80K+ net SE income — saves $4K-$6K SE tax annually.
- →Vancouver WA cross-river OR shopping arbitrage — saves 10.1% sales tax on tools / vehicles / large purchases.
- →Workers' comp + line-of-duty injury settlements — WA Industrial Insurance Act provides FF-specific coverage. home sale exclusion ($500K gain) shields most home sale gains.
- →LEOFF DROP-equivalent — WA LEOFF doesn't have formal DROP but post-retirement LEOFF accumulation in IRA-rollover provides similar wealth-building flexibility.
Three WA submarkets for firefighters — what each one looks like
SFD urban + waterborne, Eastside tech-campus protection, and JBLM civilian DoD are three different WA FF careers.
Seattle Fire Dept (SFD) — Urban + Waterborne
Base $80K-$140K + OT · captain total $145K-$200K1,000+ sworn FFs. Urban + waterborne (Elliott Bay marine response) + Boeing Field/KCM2 airport response. LEOFF Plan 2 pension. Workforce housing in Renton, Auburn, Kent (south), Lynnwood (north). Marine response specialty unique to SFD.
Seattle COL prohibitive on FF income — most rent or commute from south King / Snohomish County. Marine response specialty + waterborne incident response unique among major US fire depts.
Bellevue Fire / Eastside Fire & Rescue — Tech-Campus Protection
Base $80K-$135K + OT · captain total $135K-$180KMicrosoft Redmond + Amazon Bellevue HQ2 + Meta Bellevue/Redmond + Google Kirkland tax-base growth drove sustained hiring + base salary increases post-2020. Eastside tech-campus protection specialty (coordinating with private corporate security at FAANG). LEOFF Plan 2 pension.
Bellevue Fire post-2020 raises among most aggressive in WA (tax-base growth from tech expansion). Tech-campus protection specialty genuinely unique. Workforce housing in Sammamish/Issaquah/Bothell.
JBLM Civilian Fire (DoD) — Joint Base Lewis-McChord
Federal GS pay scale $75K-$125K · senior $130K+Joint Base Lewis-McChord (largest US Army installation west of the Mississippi + 3rd largest US base by population). DoD-employed civilian FFs serve military installation fire response. Federal GS classification pay. CSRS/FERS pension equivalent. Workforce housing in Lakewood/DuPont/Steilacoom.
JBLM civilian FF is unique pathway — federal employment + LEOFF-equivalent pension + WA 0% state tax = favorable wealth-building structure for civilian FFs at federal installations.
The career arc — from probationary FF to Battalion Chief, LEOFF retirement
Year 1-2 (probationary): $58K-$78K. Academy + station rotation + EMT-Basic at hire. Most WA departments increasingly require or prefer Paramedic. LEOFF Plan 2 contributions begin immediately (6% employee).
Year 3-7 (FF / FF-Paramedic): $80K-$115K base + OT. Engineer + Paramedic dual-cert add wage premium. Wildland-Urban Interface deployment cert opens DNR coordination + multi-jurisdictional opportunity.
Year 8-15 (Captain): $110K-$155K base + OT total $145K-$190K. Captain promotion exam typically requires 6-8 years FF experience. Side-business establishment increasingly common (Boeing/aerospace contracting, real estate, construction).
Year 15-25 (Battalion Chief / Deputy Chief): $155K-$240K base + OT $200K-$280K. Top WA municipal FF tier. LEOFF Plan 2 projection at 25-year retirement: 2% × FAS × 25 = 50% of FAS. With $130K FAS + 25-year service, pension projects ~$65K/year for life. Combined with + Solo + side-business equity.
Retirement (age 53-60 with 5+ year service via LEOFF Plan 2): Lifetime LEOFF Plan 2 pension (WA-tax-free since 0% state tax) + IRA-rollover + side-business equity. Most WA FFs retire in-state — no incentive to relocate (already 0% state tax). The 25-year + LEOFF Plan 2 + WA 0% tax + lower COL than CA makes WA one of the most favorable FF retirement states.
Where Washington firefighters actually live
SFD FFs in Renton/Auburn/Kent (south King) or Lynnwood/Mountlake Terrace (north). Bellevue Fire + Eastside Fire & Rescue FFs in Sammamish/Issaquah/Bothell. JBLM civilian FFs in Lakewood/DuPont/Steilacoom (military-adjacent). Spokane FFs own homes in Spokane Valley/Liberty Lake ($300K-$450K).
Renton / Auburn / Kent (South King)
SFD workforce housing · $500K-$700K modest homes
Lynnwood / Mountlake Terrace (Snohomish)
SFD north commute · $500K-$650K
Sammamish / Issaquah / Bothell (Eastside)
Bellevue Fire commute · $700K-$1M family homes
Lakewood / DuPont / Steilacoom (JBLM)
JBLM civilian + Tacoma · $400K-$600K
Spokane Valley / Liberty Lake
Spokane FD · $300K-$450K · most affordable WA
Tacoma / Federal Way
Tacoma FD + Pierce County · $400K-$550K
WA 0% state tax + lower King County property tax (0.8-1.0%) + LEOFF pension + 24/48 shift + 96-hour off-period side-job culture = favorable FF wealth-building. Most senior WA FFs retire in-state.
¿Es la decisión correcta?
Washington for firefighters — SFD/Eastside, JBLM civilian, LEOFF pension, no-tax compound
A tu favor
- +0% state income tax + 0% retirement income tax — saves $16K-$22K/year vs CA at captain comp
- +LEOFF Plan 2 pension — defined-benefit lifetime at 53/+5 years OR 55/+20 years
- +Bellevue Fire post-2020 tech-corridor tax-base growth funded raises + new hiring
- +JBLM civilian FF unique federal pathway with WA 0% state tax compound
- +WA property tax 0.8-1.0% — lowest among major US tech metros
- +SFD Marine Response specialty unique among major US fire depts
- +24/48 shift + 96-hour off-period side-job culture (Boeing/aerospace contracting)
- +457(b) + Solo 401(k) + side-business pre-tax retirement shelter $58K-$105K/year
Vale la pena saber antes de firmar
- −Seattle + Eastside COL prohibitive on FF income — most commute 30-60 min
- −WA 7% cap gains above $270K (only matters for senior with substantial portfolio)
- −Climate (rain, dark winters) affects daily lifestyle 6+ months/year
- −Probationary year 1-2 grind real — academy + station rotation demanding
- −LEOFF Plan 2 less generous than legacy LEOFF Plan 1
- −Wildland-Urban Interface fire growth post-2020 increasing risk profile
- −Spokane / Eastern WA wages dramatically lower than Seattle / Eastside tier
Mercado Laboral en Washington
Amazon, Microsoft, and Boeing headquarters drive high tech and aerospace demand.
Perspectivas de crecimiento: 4% growth through 2032 (about as fast as average); EMT/paramedic dual-cert growing faster
Puestos relacionados:
Costo de Vida en Washington
Seattle area is expensive; eastern WA is affordable. Median 1BR rent: $1,800–$2,800 in Seattle.
💰 Sueldo neto mensual: $5,719
🏠 Renta típica: $2,300/mo
📊 Después de renta: $3,419/mo
Calcula Tu Sueldo Neto Exacto
Agrega contribuciones al 401(k), HSA, dependientes y más para ver tu sueldo neto personalizado.
Abrir Calculadora CompletaFrequently Asked Questions
Find answers to common questions about your taxes and our calculator.
Comparar dos estados
Compara el impuesto sobre la renta, el salario neto y la carga fiscal total entre cualquier par de estados de EE.UU.
Estado 1
Estado 2