Firefighter Salary in Illinois (2026)
The average Firefighter in Illinois earns around $82,000/year. After taxes, your estimated take-home is $63,255/year ($5,271/month).
Take-Home Pay Breakdown
| Category | Amount |
|---|---|
Annual Take-Home Pay | $63,255 |
Monthly Take-Home Pay | $5,271 |
Biweekly Take-Home Pay | $2,433 |
Hourly Take-Home Pay based on 2,080 hrs/year | $30/hr |
Federal Tax | $9,210 |
State Tax | $3,262 |
FICA Taxes | $6,273 |
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 Illinois
Not all Firefighters earn the same — not even close
Illinois firefighter specialties: (1) Chicago Fire Department (CFD) — 4,800+ sworn FFs serving 2.7M+ residents across 234 sq miles, largest Midwest fire department, urban + waterborne (Lake Michigan) + airport (O'Hare + Midway) specialties; (2) North Shore + Cook County suburban departments — Evanston FD, Skokie FD, Lake Forest FD, Glenview FD; (3) DuPage County fire districts — Naperville FD, Wheaton FD, Glen Ellyn FD; (4) Will County + Lake County fire districts; (5) Downstate IL — Springfield FD, Peoria FD, Rockford FD; (6) Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS) — IL-specific cross-jurisdictional mutual aid network. Pension structure: CFD uses Firemen's Annuity and Benefit Fund of Chicago — separate city pension system. Suburban Cook + DuPage + collar county FFs participate in Article 4 (firefighter pension funds) — local pension boards with state-mandated structure. IL state pension funding crisis is real but Article 4 firefighter funds are generally well-funded relative to other IL pension systems.
CFD Captain (with OT)
$120,000–$165,000
Base + OT + EMT/paramedic premium
CFD Battalion Chief
$155,000–$220,000
Top CFD tier
O'Hare/Midway Airport Fire Specialty
$110,000–$160,000
CFD ARFF · airport-specific response
North Shore Suburban Captain (Evanston/Glenview)
$115,000–$155,000
Suburban Cook · wealthy demographic
DuPage County Captain (Naperville/Wheaton)
$105,000–$145,000
DuPage corporate suburbs · Article 4 pension
Engineer / Paramedic-Firefighter
$90,000–$125,000
Dual cert FF + EMT-P premium
Established FF (5-10 years)
$80,000–$115,000
Base + standard OT · IL median ~$82K
Probationary FF (year 1-2)
$55,000–$72,000
Academy + station rotation
Battalion Chief / Deputy Chief
$155,000–$235,000
Top IL municipal FF tier
Worth knowing: IL firefighters typically operate on 24/48 schedules. CFD has unique scheduling — 24/72 at some assignments. The 96-hour off-period side-job tradition is real but less prevalent than CA/TX/FL. CFD pension (Firemen's Annuity and Benefit Fund of Chicago) — 75% of FAS at 30-year retirement (10-year vesting). Article 4 firefighter pension funds (suburban + DuPage + collar counties) — generally 50% FAS at 20 years; 75% FAS at 30 years; 80% maximum cap. IL retirement income exemption valuable: 100% of federally-taxable retirement income (pension//IRA/Social Security) is EXEMPT from IL state tax. For a 30-year IL FF retiring with $80K-$110K/year pension, IL state tax = $0. Over 25-year retirement horizon, $120K-$170K of avoided state tax compared to taxing-state alternatives.
Illinois firefighter market — CFD/suburban/DuPage, Article 4 pension, IL retirement income exemption
$0
IL state tax on retirement income — 100% pension exemption valuable for senior FFs
$12.5K
OBBBA 2025 no-tax-on-overtime federal deduction cap (single, $25K MFJ)
4.95%
IL flat state tax — does NOT conform to OBBBA, federal deduction only
Chicago Fire Department (CFD) is the largest Midwest fire department with 4,800+ sworn FFs serving 2.7M+ residents. Base captain salary $115K-$140K; with overtime + paramedic premium + acting-supervisor pay, captain total compensation routinely $140K-$185K. Senior CFD captains during major incident response years can clear $200K-$220K. CFD specialties include urban structural firefighting, waterborne (Lake Michigan response), and ARFF (Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting) at O'Hare + Midway airports.
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 in plain English: 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 an IL firefighter: a CFD engineer at $46/hour base, working 70 OT hours a month for 12 months. Premium portion = $46 × 0.5 × 70 × 12 = $19,320. 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 if you hit the cap. IL does NOT conform to at the state level (the 4.95% flat-tax bite stays put on the full premium), so the federal deduction is the only relief on the premium portion. Two catches: only (the IRS is still issuing guidance on FLSA 207(k) departments specifically — expect clarity by mid-2026), and MAGI phaseout above $150K single / $300K MFJ, fully gone by $275K / $550K. Most CFD captains and senior suburban officers stay under, but battalion-chief tier may need to do the math.
North Shore + Cook County suburban departments serve wealthy Cook County demographics — Evanston FD, Skokie FD, Lake Forest FD, Winnetka FD, Glenview FD, Northbrook FD. Suburban Cook captain $110K-$150K. DuPage County fire districts (Naperville FD, Wheaton FD, Glen Ellyn FD, Lisle FD, Downers Grove FD) serve corporate exec families + DuPage tech corridor. DuPage captain $100K-$140K.
Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS) is genuinely IL — multi-jurisdictional automatic aid system enabling cross-jurisdiction response without separate dispatch authorization. MABAS structure means smaller departments can call mutual aid from neighboring departments seamlessly, leveling response capability across the state. CFD MABAS Division 1 + suburban MABAS Divisions 1-29 cover all of Illinois.
IL pension structure splits into: (1) CFD's Firemen's Annuity and Benefit Fund of Chicago (city-specific, well-funded but in a state with pension funding crisis); (2) Article 4 firefighter pension funds (suburban + DuPage + collar counties, local pension boards under state-mandated structure); (3) Statewide IMRF (Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund) for some smaller municipalities. CFD pension is most generous (75% FAS at 30 years). Article 4 funds vary but generally 50% at 20 / 75% at 30 / 80% cap.
IL retirement income exemption is the late-career advantage. 100% of federally-taxable retirement income is EXEMPT from IL state tax. CFD captain retiring with $90K/year pension pays $0 IL state tax (vs $13K in CA, $9K in MA at same income). Over 25-year retirement horizon, $230K of avoided state tax. Combined with IL flat 4.95% during working years (moderate, lower than CA/NY/MA), the IL career-plus-retirement math is favorable.
Cook County 2.1% property tax effective is the disadvantage — affects homeowner FF economics significantly. Suburb arbitrage matters: DuPage County (1.8-2.0%) vs Cook (2.1%) saves real money on $300K-$400K homes. Will / Lake County (1.7-1.9%) save more.
Illinois for firefighters — CFD/suburban, Article 4 pension, IL retirement exemption + Cook property catch
IL firefighters cluster in Chicago metro (CFD largest, 4,800+ sworn), Cook County suburbs (North Shore wealthy + general suburban), DuPage County (corporate exec service), collar counties (Lake / Will / Kane / McHenry), and downstate (Springfield / Peoria / Rockford / Champaign-Urbana / Quad Cities). MABAS structure provides cross-jurisdictional coordination.
CFD FF residence patterns: most live in workforce-affordable submarkets within Chicago + nearby suburbs. Logan Square / Avondale / Albany Park / Berwyn / Cicero workforce housing. Senior CFD captains often buy in Cook + DuPage + Will County suburbs (Frankfort, Plainfield, Mokena) — DuPage suburb arbitrage saves $1K-$1.5K/year property tax vs Chicago.
Tax structure: working years moderate IL 4.95% flat. Retirement years favorable IL pension exemption. Cook County property tax 2.1% catch is real for homeowner FFs — DuPage / Will / Lake County suburb arbitrage saves real money.
Most IL FFs are with employer-sponsored pension (Article 4 or CFD Firemen's Annuity Fund), deferred comp, health insurance. The 24/48 shift + 96-hour off-period side-job tradition is real but less prevalent than CA/TX/FL — Cook County winter weather + cold-climate construction season constraints affect side-business viability.
How Illinois taxes work for firefighters (and how to keep more)
IL flat 4.95% state income tax. A $80K IL FF base wage: federal $7K + $6K + IL state $4K = ~$17K total. Take-home ~$63K. At $130K CFD captain with OT: federal $20K + FICA $9K + IL state $6.4K = ~$35.4K total. Take-home ~$94.6K.
IL retirement income exemption — valuable late-career advantage. 100% of federally-taxable retirement income (pension, , IRA, Social Security) is EXEMPT from IL state tax. CFD captain retiring with $90K/year pension pays $0 IL state tax. Over 25-year retirement horizon, $115K-$200K of avoided state tax depending on pension size.
Cook County property tax 2.1% effective is brutal. On a $400K Chicago FF home: $8.4K/year property tax. DuPage County (1.8-2.0%) suburb arbitrage saves $1K-$1.5K/year on $300K-$400K homes. Lake County (1.7%), Will County (1.7%) save more.
CFD pension (Firemen's Annuity and Benefit Fund of Chicago) — 75% of FAS at 30-year retirement. With $135K FAS + 30-year service, pension projects ~$100K/year for life. Article 4 funds (suburban + DuPage) — 50% at 20 / 75% at 30 / 80% cap. With $115K FAS + 25-year service Article 4, pension projects ~$72K/year for life.
Deferred Compensation Plan offered at most IL municipal departments. $24,500 limit ($32,500 if 50+, $35,750 catch-up at 60-63). Pre-tax federal AND IL state — at $130K CFD captain marginal rate, every $1,000 deferred saves ~$240 federal + $50 IL = $290/year. Maxing the limit saves $6,800/year.
special catch-up: 3 years before normal retirement, contribute up to $47K. $141K window in final 3 years.
Bright Start 529 deduction $10K single / $20K — saves up to $495/$990/year IL tax.
Side-income Solo — IL FFs running side businesses shelter $35K-$72K/year on top of .
- →Max your Deferred Comp Plan — at $130K CFD captain marginal rate, every $1,000 deferred saves $290+ in current taxes. AND IL retirement income exemption means the back-end is state-tax-free.
- →Use special catch-up in final 3 years before retirement — shelter $47K/year × 3 = $141K window.
- →Cook → DuPage suburb arbitrage — saves $1K-$1.5K/year property tax on $300K-$400K homes. Over 20 years, $20K-$30K cumulative.
- →IL retirement income exemption — keeps 100% of pension + IRA-rollover withdrawals + Social Security state-tax-free in retirement. No need to relocate at retirement to escape IL tax.
- →Roth IRA conversion strategy — converting traditional IRA to Roth in IL: pay 4.95% IL during conversion year (vs 0% later if you stayed in IL), but subsequent decades of growth are state-tax-free. The IL retirement income exemption already means no IL tax on traditional IRA withdrawals — so Roth conversion mainly helps for federal tax planning + estate planning.
- →Bright Start 529 — $10K/$20K deduction saves up to $495/$990/year. Worth filing.
- →Property tax appeal — Cook County triennial reassessment cycle. Comparable sales-based appeals save $300-$2,000/year on $300K-$500K homes.
- →Side-income Solo — IL FFs running side businesses shelter $35K-$72K/year on top of .
- →Workers' comp + line-of-duty injury settlements — typically tax-free at federal level. CFD-specific IL pension boards have legal expertise on FF disability claims.
Three IL submarkets for firefighters — what each one looks like
CFD urban + airport, North Shore suburban wealth, and DuPage corporate suburbs are three different IL submarkets.
Chicago Fire Department (CFD) — Largest Midwest
Base $80K-$140K + OT · captain total $140K-$200K4,800+ sworn FFs. Urban + waterborne (Lake Michigan) + ARFF (O'Hare + Midway). Firemen's Annuity and Benefit Fund of Chicago — 75% FAS at 30-year retirement. Workforce housing in Logan Square / Avondale / Albany Park / Berwyn / Cicero / Bridgeport.
CFD pension is most generous IL FF pension (75% at 30). Cook County 2.1% property tax catch real for homeowner FFs. CFD MABAS Division 1 coordinates with all surrounding suburban departments.
North Shore + Cook County Suburban (Evanston / Glenview / Lake Forest)
Base $80K-$135K + OT · captain total $130K-$170KEvanston FD, Skokie FD, Glenview FD, Lake Forest FD, Winnetka FD, Northbrook FD. Wealthy Cook County demographics. Article 4 firefighter pension funds (50% at 20 / 75% at 30 / 80% cap). Workforce housing in Skokie / Niles / Mount Prospect (Cook 2.1% prop tax) or Lake County (Mundelein, Vernon Hills, Libertyville at 1.9% prop tax).
North Shore suburban FFs have wealthy demographic + lower call volume than CFD + similar comp tier. Lifestyle quality higher than CFD for many.
DuPage County Fire Districts (Naperville / Wheaton / Lisle)
Base $75K-$130K + OT · captain total $120K-$160KNaperville FD, Wheaton FD, Glen Ellyn FD, Lisle FD, Downers Grove FD. DuPage corporate suburbs (corporate exec families + DuPage tech corridor). Article 4 pension. DuPage County 1.8-2.0% property tax (lower than Cook 2.1%) makes homeowner economics meaningfully better.
DuPage suburb arbitrage for CFD/Cook FFs — moving from Cook to DuPage saves property tax + similar career path with Article 4 pension. Naperville #1-#3 ranked US suburb by various rankings.
The career arc — from probationary FF to Battalion Chief, IL retirement income exemption
Year 1-2 (probationary): $55K-$72K. Academy + station rotation + EMT-Basic at hire. CFD/Article 4 pension contributions begin immediately.
Year 3-7 (FF / FF-Paramedic): $75K-$110K base + OT. Engineer + Paramedic dual-cert add wage premium. CFD ARFF specialty cert opens O'Hare / Midway tier.
Year 8-15 (Captain): $105K-$145K base + OT total $135K-$180K. Captain promotion exam.
Year 15-25 (Battalion Chief / Deputy Chief): $150K-$220K base + OT $180K-$260K. Top IL municipal FF tier. CFD pension projection at 30-year retirement: 75% × FAS = ~$100K/year for life.
Year 25-30 (continuing service): CFD pension max at 75% × FAS. Article 4 max at 80% cap. With $140K FAS + 30-year CFD service, pension projects $105K/year for life.
Retirement (age 50-60 with 25-30 year service): Lifetime CFD/Article 4 pension (IL-tax-free per IL retirement income exemption) + IRA-rollover (also IL-tax-free) + side-business equity. Most IL FFs retire in-state — IL retirement income exemption removes incentive to relocate. The IL career-plus-retirement math: moderate 4.95% during working years + 0% on retirement income compounds favorably over 25-30 year career.
Where Illinois firefighters actually live
CFD FFs in Logan Square / Avondale / Albany Park / Berwyn / Cicero / Bridgeport (workforce housing). Senior CFD captains often in DuPage (Plainfield, Frankfort, Mokena) for property tax arbitrage. North Shore + Cook County suburban FFs in Skokie / Niles / Mundelein / Vernon Hills. DuPage FFs in Naperville-adjacent / Aurora / Bartlett / Glendale Heights.
Logan Square / Avondale (Chicago)
CFD workforce housing · $1.6K-$2.2K 1BR · Cook 2.1% prop tax
Berwyn / Cicero (Cook West)
CFD workforce · $250K-$350K modest homes
Mundelein / Vernon Hills (Lake County)
North Shore commute · 1.9% prop tax · $350K-$500K
Skokie / Niles (Cook North)
North Shore commute · still Cook 2.1% · $300K-$450K
Aurora / Bartlett / Glendale Heights (DuPage)
DuPage workforce · 1.8-2.0% prop tax · $300K-$450K
Plainfield / Frankfort / Mokena (Will County)
CFD/DuPage long-commute affordable · 1.7% prop · $350K-$500K
IL retirement income exemption + Article 4 / CFD pension + tax-deferral + DuPage suburb arbitrage = favorable FF wealth-building structure. Most senior IL FFs retire in-state (no incentive to relocate to escape state tax — IL retirement income is already exempt).
Is this the right move?
Illinois for firefighters — CFD/suburban, Article 4 pension, IL retirement income exemption
Working in your favor
- +IL retirement income exemption — 100% of pension + 457(b) + Social Security exempt from IL tax
- +CFD largest Midwest fire department — 4,800+ sworn, structural OT culture
- +CFD pension generous — 75% of FAS at 30-year retirement
- +DuPage County suburb arbitrage saves $1K-$1.5K/yr property tax vs Cook
- +Article 4 firefighter pension funds generally well-funded relative to other IL pensions
- +IL flat 4.95% moderate working-years tax · favorable retirement structure
- +457(b) + side-business retirement shelter $58K-$105K/year
Worth knowing before you sign
- −Cook County 2.1% property tax — brutal for homeowner FFs
- −Cook County triennial reassessment 10-30% jumps every 3 years
- −Climate (cold winters) affects shift conditions + side-business seasonality
- −IL state pension funding crisis (general state pension underfunding) creates fiscal-overhang narrative
- −Probationary year 1-2 grind real
- −CFD 24/72 schedule at some assignments different from CA/TX 24/48
- −Downstate IL wages dramatically lower than CFD / suburban Chicago tier
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