Firefighter Salary in Minnesota (2026)

Worth knowing: The MN PERA Police & Fire Plan is the structural depth feature most national firefighter-career surveys understate for MN. The MN Public Employees Retirement Association Police & Fire Plan (PERA P&F) provides defined-benefit pension at 3.0% × years × FAS multiplier — substantially more generous than the general PERA Coordinated Plan (1.7%) and among the more generous US public safety pensions. PERA P&F normal retirement is available at age 55 with 3+ years, providing meaningful early-retirement opportunity (typical Mpls/St. Paul FF retires at age 52-55 after 25-28 years), and 100% of MN firefighters are PERA P&F members. IAFF Local 21 Saint Paul (founded 1903 as the country's 4th-oldest IAFF local) + IAFF Local 82 Minneapolis are among the most active US firefighter locals — strong collective bargaining drives MN career FF comp at $85-155K range including OT premium. MN is non-RTW with strong public-safety union density. Approximately 80% of MN fire departments are volunteer + paid-on-call (the highest US ratio of any state), reflecting MN's rural geography — only the largest metro + first-ring suburban departments operate full career staffing. The 2025 OBBBA No Tax on Overtime federal deduction applies to MN firefighter OT premium pay for tax years 2025-2028 — cap $12,500 single / $25,000 MFJ above-the-line. MN's 9.85% top bracket affects mainly senior chief + battalion chief comp at $200K+ TC.