Nebraska Firefighter Salaries by Department
Starting pay at 7 Nebraska 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 Nebraska
- 1. Gothenburg Volunteer Fire Department $65,328 (Certified Firefighter/AEMT, August 2026)
- 2. Papillion Fire Department $63,696 (Firefighter, July 2026)
- 3. Fremont Fire Department $58,106 (Firefighter (EMT or Paramedic, Entry Level or Lateral), October 2026)
- 4. Fremont Rural Fire Department $58,106 (Firefighter (EMT or Paramedic, Entry Level or Lateral), October 2026)
- 5. Columbus Rural Fire Protection District $52,474 (Firefighter, October 2026)
Nebraska departments with official pay schedules
- Omaha Fire Department $69,335 entry pay a year (Source: Pay plan, Dec 2025 (2026))
All Nebraska departments with posted pay
| Department | Starting pay posted | Top of range | Postings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gothenburg Volunteer Fire Department · Gothenburg | $65,328 to $76,417 | Not listed | 2 |
| Alliance Fire Department · Alliance | $82,000 | $112,223 | 1 |
| Columbus Rural Fire Protection District · Columbus | $52,474 | $81,440 | 1 |
| Fremont Fire Department · Fremont | $58,106 | $92,372 | 1 |
| Fremont Rural Fire Department · Fremont | $58,106 | $92,372 | 1 |
| Lincoln Fire & Rescue · Lincoln | $117,437 | $170,290 | 1 |
| Papillion Fire Department · La Vista | $63,696 | Not listed | 1 |
Figures are as each department listed them in closed postings. Current openings show their pay to FireJobs members.