Firefighter Salary in Alabama (2026)
The average Firefighter in Alabama earns around $80,000/year. After taxes, your estimated take-home is $61,714/year ($5,143/month).
Take-Home Pay Breakdown
| Category | Amount |
|---|---|
Annual Take-Home Pay | $61,714 |
Monthly Take-Home Pay | $5,143 |
Biweekly Take-Home Pay | $2,374 |
Hourly Take-Home Pay based on 2,080 hrs/year | $30/hr |
Federal Tax | $8,770 |
State Tax | $3,397 |
FICA Taxes | $6,120 |
Effective Tax Rate total taxes ÷ gross salary | 22.86% |
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Working overtime? The 2025 OBBBA deduction may save you up to $12,500 on federal tax. Open the No Tax on Overtime calculator →
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Firefighter Salary Ranges in Alabama
Not all Firefighters earn the same — not even close
Alabama's firefighter market is anchored by Birmingham Fire & Rescue (~600 sworn firefighters, IAFF Local 117), Huntsville Fire & Rescue (~440 sworn, IAFF Local 1303), Mobile Fire-Rescue (~440 sworn), Montgomery Fire (~330 sworn), Tuscaloosa Fire, plus substantial suburban fire departments (Hoover Fire + Vestavia Hills + Mountain Brook + Madison + Auburn-Opelika). The Retirement Systems of Alabama Police & Firefighters' Pension provides defined-benefit pension for AL municipal firefighters + police (separate from general AL public employees pension). AL public-safety bargaining is limited — AL does not generally recognize public-sector collective bargaining including for firefighters + police.
Senior Captain / Battalion Chief
$85,000–$125,000+ OT
Birmingham + Huntsville + Mobile + Montgomery senior officer · IAFF + OBBBA OT applies
Senior Firefighter (Step 10+)
$62,000–$88,000+ OT
Senior FF at Birmingham + Huntsville + Mobile + Montgomery · top-of-scale + OT premium
Senior Paramedic-Firefighter
$72,000–$102,000+ OT
Dual-cert FF/Paramedic · Birmingham + Huntsville + Mobile · NREMT-Paramedic credential premium
Senior Hazmat / Technical Rescue
$72,000–$108,000+ OT
Birmingham + Huntsville specialized response · hazmat + confined space + USAR specialty
Senior ARFF (BHM / HSV / MOB)
$72,000–$108,000+ OT
Birmingham International + Huntsville International + Mobile Regional airport ARFF · IAFF rep
Senior Federal Firefighter (Maxwell / Redstone)
$78,000–$118,000+ OT
Maxwell AFB Fire + Redstone Arsenal Fire + Fort Novosel · federal civilian + cleared premium
Mid-Career Firefighter (Step 5-9)
$50,000–$68,000+ OT
Mid-career career FF · Step 5-9 at AL career departments
New Career Firefighter (Step 1-4)
$42,000–$55,000+ OT
New career FF · RSA Police & Firefighters' Pension membership starts at hire · Step 1-4 band
Senior Fire Inspector / Prevention
$58,000–$88,000
Fire prevention bureau · plan review + inspection + arson investigation · NFPA inspector
Fire Chief (Suburban)
$108,000–$165,000
Suburban fire chief · Hoover + Vestavia + Madison + Auburn · senior administrative band
Worth knowing: The Retirement Systems of Alabama Police & Firefighters' Pension provides defined-benefit protective service pension at 2.875% × years × FAS multiplier (Tier 1 members hired before 2013, substantially more generous) + 2.0% × years × FAS multiplier (Tier 2 members hired since 2013) — supporting career firefighter retirement after 25 years + age 52 normal retirement (Tier 1) or 30 years + age 56 (Tier 2). RSA Police & Firefighters' Pension has historically maintained reasonable funded ratios. AL does not recognize public-sector collective bargaining including for firefighters + police — distinctive vs non-RTW states where IAFF locals operate substantial collective bargaining. AL IAFF locals (Local 117 Birmingham + Local 1303 Huntsville + Local 1349 Mobile + Local 415 Montgomery + Local 2236 Hoover + others) operate as professional advocacy + lobbying organizations with limited bargaining authority — AL firefighter pay is set by municipal councils. Birmingham Fire & Rescue (~600 sworn) is AL's largest career fire department. The Huntsville aerospace cluster (NASA Marshall + Redstone Arsenal + Cummings Research Park) supports substantial federal firefighter employment (Redstone Arsenal Fire + Marshall Fire + Maxwell-Gunter Fire + Fort Novosel Fire combined ~300 federal civilian firefighters). The 2025 No Tax on Overtime federal deduction applies to AL firefighter OT through 2028. AL's 5% top + Federal Income Tax Deduction substantially reduces effective state tax + AL RTW + low cost of living.
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More on Alabama
Salaries by profession, top-paying roles by industry, and an economic breakdown for Alabama in 2026.
Tax brackets, standard deductions, and take-home estimates for Alabama in 2026.
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