Firefighter Salary in Louisiana (2026)
The average Firefighter in Louisiana earns around $80,000/year. After taxes, your estimated take-home is $63,348/year ($5,279/month).
Take-Home Pay Breakdown
| Category | Amount |
|---|---|
Annual Take-Home Pay | $63,348 |
Monthly Take-Home Pay | $5,279 |
Biweekly Take-Home Pay | $2,436 |
Hourly Take-Home Pay based on 2,080 hrs/year | $30/hr |
Federal Tax | $8,770 |
State Tax | $1,762 |
FICA Taxes | $6,120 |
Effective Tax Rate total taxes ÷ gross salary | 20.81% |
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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 Louisiana
Not all Firefighters earn the same — not even close
Louisiana's firefighter market is anchored by New Orleans Fire Department (~700 sworn firefighters, IAFF Local 632, the largest LA fire department + post-Katrina + post-Ida high-acuity urban response), Baton Rouge Fire Department (~450 sworn, IAFF Local 557), Shreveport Fire Department (~400 sworn, IAFF Local 514), Lafayette Fire Department (~280 sworn), Lake Charles Fire Department (~180 sworn, post-Laura + post-Delta major rebuild), Kenner Fire + Metairie Fire + Bossier Fire + Monroe Fire + Alexandria Fire, plus substantial LA petrochemical corridor + LNG export terminal industrial fire brigade + ARFF (aircraft rescue & firefighting) at MSY + BTR + SHV + LFT airports + Barksdale AFB + NAS JRB NOLA Belle Chasse + Fort Johnson federal fire services.
Senior Captain / District Chief (NOFD / BR / Shreveport)
$85,000–$128,000+ OT
Senior officer at NOFD + BR Fire + Shreveport Fire + Lafayette Fire · IAFF leadership · OBBBA OT applies
Senior Firefighter (Step 10+)
$58,000–$85,000+ OT
Senior FF at NOFD + BR + Shreveport + suburban departments · top-of-scale + OT premium
Senior Paramedic-Firefighter
$68,000–$98,000+ OT
Dual-cert FF/Paramedic · NOFD + BR + Lafayette + EMS-integrated · NREMT-Paramedic credential premium
Senior Hazmat / Industrial Fire (Petrochem)
$78,000–$118,000+ OT
Petrochem corridor + LNG industrial fire brigade · Sasol + Dow + Shell + Cheniere + Cameron LNG
Senior ARFF (MSY / BTR / Lake Charles)
$72,000–$108,000+ OT
Louis Armstrong NOLA International Airport + BR + Lake Charles ARFF · IAFF represented
Senior Federal Firefighter (Barksdale / NAS JRB)
$72,000–$108,000+ OT
Barksdale AFB Fire + NAS JRB NOLA Belle Chasse + Fort Johnson · federal civilian + cleared premium
Mid-Career Firefighter (Step 5-9)
$48,000–$68,000+ OT
Mid-career career FF · Step 5-9 at LA career departments
New Career Firefighter (Step 1-4)
$38,000–$52,000+ OT
New career FF · LA Firefighters Retirement System pension membership at hire · Step 1-4 band
Senior Fire Inspector / Prevention
$52,000–$78,000
Fire prevention bureau · plan review + inspection + arson investigation · NFPA inspector
Fire Chief (Suburban)
$98,000–$148,000
Suburban fire chief · Kenner + Metairie + Bossier + Slidell + Mandeville · senior administrative
Worth knowing: Louisiana's substantial post-Hurricane Katrina + Ida hurricane response training + experience is a distinctive feature of LA firefighting most national firefighter career surveys understate for the state. NOLA's substantial post-Hurricane Katrina (Aug 2005 + Category 3 + ~1,800 fatalities + the country's costliest US natural disaster at ~$200B inflation-adjusted) + Hurricane Ida (Aug 2021 + Category 4 + ~$80B damages + the country's 5th-costliest US hurricane) recovery has driven substantial LA fire department + USAR + post-disaster + structural collapse + flood + boat rescue + helicopter rescue + mass casualty response training + equipment investment. New Orleans Fire Department (~700 sworn + the largest LA fire department + IAFF Local 632 + the country's substantial post-Katrina rebuild + the only LA Class 1 -rated major urban department) operates substantial NOLA Joint Hurricane Task Force coordination with Louisiana State Police + LA National Guard + USACE + LDOTD + USCG + LA Department of Wildlife and Fisheries response operations. Senior NOLA + BR + Shreveport firefighter officers clear $85-128K + OT. The substantial LA petrochemical corridor + LNG export terminal industrial fire brigade demand at Cheniere Sabine Pass + Cameron LNG + Sasol + Dow + Shell Norco + ExxonMobil BR + Marathon Garyville supports substantial industrial fire brigade + hazmat + LNG fire + petrochem fire specialty work. The Louisiana Firefighters Retirement System (FRS, the dedicated LA municipal firefighter pension covering ~10K active + retired members, founded 1980) provides defined-benefit pension supporting career firefighter retirement after 20 years. LA does NOT recognize public-sector collective bargaining at state level — LA RTW since 1976 + IAFF Locals operate as professional advocacy with limited bargaining authority though NOLA + BR + Shreveport maintain memoranda of understanding. LA's flat 3% (post-2024 Act 11) + no state estate tax (repealed 2008). The 2025 No Tax on Overtime federal deduction applies through 2028.
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More on Louisiana
Salaries by profession, top-paying roles by industry, and an economic breakdown for Louisiana in 2026.
Tax brackets, standard deductions, and take-home estimates for Louisiana in 2026.
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