Illinois Firefighter Salaries by Department
Starting pay at 21 Illinois fire departments, taken from the pay figures each department published in its own job postings over the last two years. Across 26 current Illinois listings with annual pay, the average starting salary is $82,959.
Highest recent entry-level starting pay in Illinois
- 1. Gurnee Fire Department $87,147 (Firefighter / Paramedic, September 2026)
- 2. Skokie Fire Department $87,124 (Firefighter/Paramedic, September 2026)
- 3. Morton Grove Fire Department $83,069 (Entry Level Firefighter/Paramedic, September 2026)
- 4. Bloomington Fire Department $82,914 (Firefighter/Paramedic, September 2026)
- 5. Villa Park Fire Department $82,822 (Firefighter/Paramedic, September 2026)
Illinois departments with official pay schedules
- Chicago Fire Department $74,526 entry pay a year (Source: Pay plan, Jan 2026 (2026))
All Illinois departments with posted pay
| Department | Starting pay posted | Top of range | Postings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bloomington Fire Department · Bloomington | $82,914 | Not listed | 1 |
| Brookfield Fire Department · Brookfield | $78,382 | $115,531 | 1 |
| City of Champaign Fire Department · Champaign | $75,868 | Not listed | 1 |
| Collinsville Fire Department · Collinsville | $74,198 | Not listed | 1 |
| DeKalb Fire Department · DeKalb | $80,716 | $117,551 | 1 |
| East Joliet Fire Protection District · Joliet | $65,600 | $85,194 | 1 |
| Gurnee Fire Department · Gurnee | $87,147 | $128,756 | 1 |
| Jacksonville Fire Department · Jacksonville | $66,474 | Not listed | 1 |
| Matteson Fire Department · Matteson | $143,000 | $152,760 | 1 |
| Minooka Fire Protection District · Minooka | $75,651 | Not listed | 1 |
| Morton Grove Fire Department · Morton Grove | $83,069 | $121,580 | 1 |
| Prospect Heights Fire Protection District · Prospect Heights | $82,282 | $122,735 | 1 |
| Quincy Fire Department · Quincy | $59,887 | Not listed | 1 |
| Rock Island Arsenal Fire & Emergency Services · Rock Island | $62,669 | $92,592 | 1 |
| Roselle Fire Department · Roselle | $73,158 | $116,068 | 1 |
| Scott AFB Fire Department · Scott AFB | $51,740 | $67,264 | 1 |
| Skokie Fire Department · Skokie | $87,124 | $127,131 | 1 |
| Sycamore Fire Department · Sycamore | $150,000 | $160,000 | 1 |
| Villa Park Fire Department · Villa Park | $82,822 | $115,150 | 1 |
| Warrenville Fire Protection District · Warrenville | $79,729 | $106,028 | 1 |
| Westchester Fire Department · Westchester | $77,634 | $92,237 | 1 |
Figures are as each department listed them in closed postings. Current openings show their pay to FireJobs members.