Iowa Firefighter Salaries by Department
Starting pay at 8 Iowa fire departments, taken from the pay figures each department published in its own job postings over the last two years.
Highest recent entry-level starting pay in Iowa
- 1. Cedar Rapids Fire Department $68,817 (Firefighter, September 2026)
- 2. Fort Dodge Fire Department $49,642 (Paramedic/EMT, September 2026)
All Iowa departments with posted pay
| Department | Starting pay posted | Top of range | Postings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ankeny Fire Department · Ankeny | $84,616 | $113,558 | 1 |
| Cedar Rapids Fire Department · Cedar Rapids | $68,817 | Not listed | 1 |
| Fort Dodge Fire Department · Fort Dodge | $49,642 | $60,475 | 1 |
| Hiawatha Fire Department · Hiawatha | $83,000 | $103,000 | 1 |
| Bondurant Emergency Services · Bondurant | $18.82/hr | Not listed | 3 |
| Creston Fire Department · Creston | $20.53/hr | Not listed | 1 |
| Sioux City Fire Rescue · Sioux City | $26.22/hr | Not listed | 1 |
| Spencer Fire Department · Spencer | $16.00/hr | Not listed | 1 |
Figures are as each department listed them in closed postings. Current openings show their pay to FireJobs members.