Minnesota Firefighter Salaries by Department
Starting pay at 28 Minnesota fire departments, taken from the pay figures each department published in its own job postings over the last two years. Across 3 current Minnesota listings with annual pay, the average starting salary is $85,343.
Highest recent entry-level starting pay in Minnesota
- 1. Hastings Fire Department $94,564 (Firefighter/Paramedic, September 2026)
- 2. Coon Rapids Fire Department $87,768 (Career Firefighter, September 2026)
- 3. St Louis Park Fire Department $86,991 (Firefighter, September 2026)
- 4. Saint Cloud Fire Department $73,883 (Firefighter - St. Cloud, September 2026)
Minnesota departments with official pay schedules
- Minneapolis Fire Department (Source: CBA, Jan 2026 (2026))
All Minnesota departments with posted pay
| Department | Starting pay posted | Top of range | Postings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elk River Fire and Rescue · Elk River | $160,599 | $178,399 | 2 |
| City of Apple Valley Fire Department · Apple Valley | $86,341 | $107,910 | 1 |
| Coon Rapids Fire Department · Coon Rapids | $87,768 | $105,502 | 1 |
| Eagan Fire Department · Eagan | $113,175 | $146,742 | 1 |
| Eden Prairie Fire Department · Eden Prairie | $118,496 | $154,060 | 1 |
| Excelsior Fire District · Shorewood | $85,000 | $110,000 | 1 |
| Hastings Fire Department · Hastings | $94,564 | $132,983 | 1 |
| Richfield Fire Department · Richfield | $142,480 | $186,867 | 1 |
| Saint Cloud Fire Department · Saint Cloud | $73,883 | Not listed | 1 |
| St Louis Park Fire Department · St Louis Park | $86,991 | $112,283 | 1 |
| Anoka Champlin Fire Department · Anoka | $53.47/hr | Not listed | 1 |
| Austin Fire Department · Austin | $11.45/hr | Not listed | 1 |
| Brooklyn Park Fire Department · Brooklyn Park | $26.83/hr | Not listed | 1 |
| Chanhassen Fire Department · Chanhassen | $26.00/hr | Not listed | 1 |
| Dayton Volunteer Fire Department · Dayton | $25.02/hr | Not listed | 2 |
| East Bethel Fire Department · East Bethel | $18.00/hr | Not listed | 1 |
| Faribault Fire Department · Faribault | $27.16/hr | Not listed | 1 |
| Forest Lake Fire Department · Forest Lake | $20.00/hr | Not listed | 1 |
| Fridley Fire Department · Fridley | $18.34/hr | Not listed | 2 |
| Golden Valley Fire Department · Golden Valley | $36.90/hr | Not listed | 1 |
| Lake Elmo Fire Department · Lake Elmo | $15.55/hr | Not listed | 1 |
| Mahtomedi Fire Department · Mahtomedi | $15.50/hr | Not listed | 2 |
| Maple Grove Fire Department · Maple Grove | $12.76/hr | Not listed | 1 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul Int'l Airport/Metropolitan Airports Commission · Minneapolis | $33.91/hr | Not listed | 1 |
| Minnetonka Fire Department · Minnetonka | $46.48/hr | Not listed | 1 |
| Norwood Young America Fire Department · Norwood Young America | $55.18/hr | Not listed | 1 |
| Ramsey Fire Department · Ramsey | $14.90/hr | Not listed | 1 |
| Watertown Fire Department · Watertown | $11.00/hr | Not listed | 2 |
Figures are as each department listed them in closed postings. Current openings show their pay to FireJobs members.