Firefighter Salary in Wisconsin (2026)
The average Firefighter in Wisconsin earns around $80,000/year. After taxes, your estimated take-home is $61,833/year ($5,153/month).
Take-Home Pay Breakdown
| Category | Amount |
|---|---|
Annual Take-Home Pay | $61,833 |
Monthly Take-Home Pay | $5,153 |
Biweekly Take-Home Pay | $2,378 |
Hourly Take-Home Pay based on 2,080 hrs/year | $30/hr |
Federal Tax | $8,770 |
State Tax | $3,277 |
FICA Taxes | $6,120 |
Effective Tax Rate total taxes ÷ gross salary | 22.71% |
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 →
Firefighter Salary Ranges in Wisconsin
Not all Firefighters earn the same — not even close
Wisconsin's firefighter market is anchored by Milwaukee Fire Department (~700 sworn firefighters, IAFF Local 215 ~700 members), Madison Fire Department (~400 sworn, IAFF Local 311), substantial suburban fire departments (Brookfield + Waukesha + Wauwatosa + West Allis + Greenfield + Oak Creek + Janesville + Kenosha + Racine + Sun Prairie), plus Green Bay Metro FD + Appleton FD + Eau Claire FD + La Crosse FD. The Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS) provides defined-benefit pension at substantially more generous terms for protective service employees (firefighters + police), and Wisconsin Act 10 of 2011 is a defining feature of modern WI public-sector employment.
Senior Captain / Battalion Chief
$98,000–$148,000+ OT
MFD + Madison + Brookfield + Waukesha senior officer · IAFF leadership · OBBBA OT applies
Senior Firefighter (Step 10+)
$78,000–$108,000+ OT
Senior FF at MFD + MFD + first-ring suburban departments · top-of-scale + OT premium
Senior Paramedic-Firefighter
$85,000–$118,000+ OT
Dual-cert FF/Paramedic · MFD + Madison + suburban · NREMT-Paramedic credential premium
Senior Hazmat / Technical Rescue
$85,000–$125,000+ OT
MFD + Madison specialized response · hazmat + confined space + USAR + ice rescue (WI specialty)
Senior ARFF (MKE Airport)
$85,000–$125,000+ OT
General Mitchell MKE Airport ARFF · airport rescue + firefighting · IAFF represented
Mid-Career Firefighter (Step 5-9)
$65,000–$85,000+ OT
Mid-career career FF · Step 5-9 at MFD + Madison + suburban departments
New Career Firefighter (Step 1-4)
$52,000–$65,000+ OT
New career FF · WRS protective service pension membership starts at hire · Step 1-4 band
Senior Fire Inspector / Prevention
$72,000–$98,000
Fire prevention bureau · plan review + inspection + arson investigation · NFPA inspector credentials
Volunteer Firefighter (Outstate WI)
$0–$12,000 stipend
Outstate WI volunteer + paid-on-call · ~70% of WI fire departments are volunteer-staffed
Fire Chief (Suburban)
$125,000–$195,000
Suburban fire chief · Brookfield + Waukesha + Wauwatosa · senior administrative band
Worth knowing: Wisconsin Act 10 of 2011 partially exempted protective service employees (firefighters + police) from the public-sector collective bargaining limitations that severely affected teachers + other public employees — and this Act 10 carve-out is a defining structural feature of modern WI public safety employment most national firefighter-career surveys understate. WI Act 10's protective service carve-out preserved meaningful collective bargaining rights for IAFF + FOP locals across base wages + working conditions + safety + staffing (though benefits + retirement bargaining was modified). The Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS, ~$130B AUM, ranked among most secure US public pensions at ~100% funded) provides defined-benefit protective service pension at 2.165% × years × FAS multiplier (general protective service formula, more generous than the 1.6% general formula) — supporting age 50 normal retirement after 25+ years for firefighter + police service. IAFF Local 215 Milwaukee + IAFF Local 311 Madison anchor the largest WI urban firefighter locals. WI is post-2015 RTW via Act 1, but the Act 10 protective service carve-out + WRS pension security continue to support competitive WI career firefighter comp at $78-148K range including OT premium. Approximately 70% of WI fire departments are volunteer + paid-on-call (typical of upper-Midwest rural geography). The 2025 No Tax on Overtime federal deduction applies to WI firefighter OT for tax years 2025-2028 — cap $12,500 single / $25,000 .
Sources & Methodology
- →IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32 — 2026 federal brackets and standard deduction
- →IRS Notice 2025-67 — 2026 retirement-plan contribution limits
- →IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-19 — 2026 HSA contribution limits
- →Social Security Administration — 2026 Social Security wage base
- →2026 Form 1-ES instructions, D-101A Rev. 1-26 — standard deduction schedules and rate schedules (WI Department of Revenue)
- →BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — Firefighter wage data for Wisconsin
Salary figures are market estimates for Firefighters in Wisconsin and vary by employer, specialty, seniority, and metro. Take-home math assumes a single filer with no dependents, the standard deduction, and Wisconsin 2026 state rates. Local taxes, insurance premiums, and pre-tax contributions will move your number — run the calculator for your own situation.
Calculate Your Exact Take-Home Pay
Add 401(k) contributions, HSA, dependents, and more to see your personalized take-home.
Open Full CalculatorFrequently 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 Wisconsin
Salaries by profession, top-paying roles by industry, and an economic breakdown for Wisconsin in 2026.
Tax brackets, standard deductions, and take-home estimates for Wisconsin in 2026.
Adjust filing status, 401(k) for your exact 2026 take-home in Wisconsin.