Public Safety

Firefighter Salary in North Dakota (2026)

The average Firefighter in North Dakota earns around $80,000/year. After taxes, your estimated take-home is $63,832/year ($5,319/month).

Take-Home Pay Breakdown

CategoryAmount
Annual Take-Home Pay
$63,832
Monthly Take-Home Pay
$5,319
Biweekly Take-Home Pay
$2,455
Hourly Take-Home Pay

based on 2,080 hrs/year

$31/hr
Federal Tax
$8,770
State Tax
$1,278
FICA Taxes
$6,120
Effective Tax Rate

total taxes ÷ gross salary

20.21%
Estimates only — not tax advice. · Full disclaimer →

Want to model 401(k), HSA, or pre-tax contributions against your full salary? Open the salary calculator

Working overtime? The 2025 OBBBA deduction may save you up to $12,500 on federal tax. Open the No Tax on Overtime calculator

1099 contract work or side gigs? Self-employment tax adds 15.3% on top. Open the 1099 tax calculator

Key terms:···

Firefighter Salary Ranges in North Dakota

Entry Level (0–3 yrs)

$52,000

/year

See tax breakdown →

Mid Level (3–7 yrs)

$80,000

/year

See tax breakdown →

Senior Level (7+ yrs)

$135,000

/year

See tax breakdown →

Not all Firefighters earn the same — not even close

North Dakota's firefighter market is anchored by Fargo Fire Department (~155 sworn + IAFF Local 642 + the largest ND career fire department), Bismarck Fire Department (~95 sworn + IAFF Local 1283) + Grand Forks Fire Department (~75 sworn + IAFF Local 568) + Minot Fire Department (~75 sworn + IAFF Local 647) + Williston Fire Department (the substantial post-2010 Bakken boom growth) + West Fargo Fire + Dickinson Fire + Mandan Fire, the substantial post-2010 Bakken oil boom firefighter market (the substantial Williston + Watford City + Stanley + Tioga + Killdeer Bakken-area career fire departments + the substantial post-2010 Bakken industrial firefighter demand), the substantial ND wildland response (US Forest Service ND + BLM ND + the substantial ND Forest Service + the substantial Western ND prairie + grassland fire), Minot AFB + Grand Forks AFB Fire Departments federal civilian fire + post-2024 Sentinel facility fire, the substantial Indian Health Service IHS + tribal fire (Standing Rock + Spirit Lake + MHA Nation + Turtle Mountain), plus NDPERS pension.

Senior Captain / Battalion Chief (Fargo / Bismarck)

$72,000–$115,000+ OT

Senior officer at Fargo + Bismarck + Grand Forks + Minot · IAFF leadership + OBBBA OT

Senior Firefighter (Step 10+ / Fargo / Bismarck)

$52,000–$78,000+ OT

Senior FF at ND career fire departments · top-of-scale + OT premium

Senior Paramedic-Firefighter

$62,000–$92,000+ OT

Dual-cert FF/Paramedic · Fargo + Bismarck + Grand Forks + Minot · NREMT-Paramedic

Senior Bakken-Area Firefighter (Williston / Watford)

$62,000–$92,000+ OT + housing

Williston + Watford City + Stanley · post-2010 Bakken oil boom + housing stipend

Senior Industrial Firefighter (Bakken Oilfield)

$72,000–$108,000+ OT + per diem

Bakken oilfield industrial fire brigade + Continental + ConocoPhillips + Hess on-site

Senior Federal Firefighter (Minot AFB / Sentinel)

$72,000–$108,000+ OT

Minot AFB federal civilian + cleared premium · 5th BW + 91st MW + post-2024 Sentinel

Senior Federal Firefighter (Grand Forks AFB)

$72,000–$108,000+ OT

Grand Forks AFB federal civilian + 319th RW Global Hawk facility fire

Senior Wildland Firefighter

$52,000–$92,000+ OT + hazard

USFS + BLM ND + ND Forest Service · Western ND prairie + grassland fire

Senior Fire Inspector / Prevention

$55,000–$78,000

Fire prevention bureau · plan review + inspection + arson investigation · NFPA inspector

New Career Firefighter (Step 1-4)

$42,000–$55,000+ OT

New career FF · NDPERS membership at hire · Step 1-4 band

Worth knowing: Post-2010 Bakken oil boom firefighter market + the substantial Williston + Watford City + Stanley Bakken-area career fire department growth is one of the country's distinctive concentrated US single-state oil boomtown firefighter anchor and a feature most national firefighter surveys understate for ND. The substantial post-2010 Bakken oil boom firefighter market (the substantial Williston Fire Department post-2010 substantial growth + the substantial Watford City Fire Department + Stanley Fire + Tioga Fire + Killdeer Fire post-2010 Bakken oil boom expansion + the substantial Bakken-area career fire department housing stipend programs as Bakken rental housing strained + the substantial post-2010 Bakken industrial firefighter demand including Continental + ConocoPhillips + Hess + Marathon on-site fire brigades + the substantial post-2014 Bakken price crash firefighter retention + post-2020 Bakken recovery + the substantial Bakken-area hazmat + oilfield fire response training + the substantial post-2024 Bakken Western ND firefighter recruitment incentive) supports distinctive ND Bakken firefighter market. Senior Bakken-area firefighters clear $62-92K+ OT + housing stipend. Fargo Fire Department + Bismarck Fire + Grand Forks Fire + Minot Fire career departments + Minot AFB + post-2024 Sentinel facility fire + Grand Forks AFB + the substantial USFS + BLM ND + ND Forest Service wildland fire + IHS + tribal reservation fire response. NDPERS pension. The 2025 No Tax on Overtime federal deduction applies through 2028. ND flat 1.95%/2.5% top + ND RTW since 1948 anchor the ND firefighter proposition.

Calculate Your Exact Take-Home Pay

Add 401(k) contributions, HSA, dependents, and more to see your personalized take-home.

Open Full Calculator

Frequently Asked Questions

Find answers to common questions about your taxes and our calculator.

Compare Two States

See how income tax, take-home pay, and total tax burden differ between any two US states side by side.

State 1

State 2

Firefighter Salary in Other States

More on North Dakota