North Carolina Firefighter Salaries by Department
Starting pay at 47 North Carolina fire departments, taken from the pay figures each department published in its own job postings over the last two years. Across 40 current North Carolina listings with annual pay, the average starting salary is $54,450.
Highest recent entry-level starting pay in North Carolina
- 1. Holly Springs Fire-Rescue $86,600 (Health and Safety Officer, September 2026)
- 2. Fire Department - City of King $64,877 (Swingshift Firefighter, May 2026)
- 3. Cary Fire Department $64,688 (Certified Firefighter, September 2026)
- 4. Cherry Point Fire Department $61,722 (Supervisory Firefighter, October 2026)
- 5. Rolesville Rural Fire Department $60,727 (Firefighter II, July 2026)
North Carolina departments with official pay schedules
- Charlotte Fire Department $62,381 entry pay a year (Source: Budget, Jul 2026 (FY2027))
- Raleigh Fire Department $56,825 entry pay a year (Source: City job posting, Jul 2026 (FY2027))
All North Carolina departments with posted pay
| Department | Starting pay posted | Top of range | Postings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Onslow County · Richlands | $46,259 to $46,262 | $60,141 | 3 |
| Fuquay-Varina Fire Department · Fuquay Varina | $50,932 to $57,243 | $91,589 | 2 |
| Hickory Fire Department · Hickory | $48,030 to $52,954 | $67,136 | 2 |
| Rocky Mount Fire Department · Rocky Mount | $49,836 | $82,416 | 2 |
| Smithfield Fire Department · Smithfield | $57,732 | Not listed | 2 |
| Statesville Fire Department · Statesville | $46,280 to $48,568 | Not listed | 2 |
| Agriculture Center Volunteer Fire Department · Bessemer City | $34,000 | $42,361 | 1 |
| Asheboro Fire and Rescue Department · Asheboro | $46,447 | Not listed | 1 |
| Barnardsville Volunteer Fire Department Inc. · Barnardsville | $42,348 | $64,332 | 1 |
| Black Mountain Fire Department · Black Mountain | $63,761 | Not listed | 1 |
| Cary Fire Department · Cary | $64,688 | $92,581 | 1 |
| Cherry Point Fire Department · MCAS Cherry Point | $61,722 | $80,243 | 1 |
| City of Gastonia Fire Department · Gastonia | $59,384 | $99,736 | 1 |
| City of Newton Fire Department · Newton | $49,458 | Not listed | 1 |
| City of Washington Fire Department · Washington | $42,461 | $71,854 | 1 |
| City of Winston-Salem Fire Department · Winston Salem | $59,113 | Not listed | 1 |
| Crowders Mountain Volunteer Fire/Rescue · Gastonia | $59,384 | $99,736 | 1 |
| Currituck County Department of Fire-Emergency Medical Services · Barco | $52,497 | $52,497 | 1 |
| East Lincoln Fire Department · Stanley | $51,500 | $65,775 | 1 |
| Fairview Fire Department · Fairview | $57,615 | Not listed | 1 |
| Fayetteville Fire/Emergency Management Department · Fayetteville | $45,000 | Not listed | 1 |
| Fire Department - City of King · King | $64,877 | Not listed | 1 |
| Forsyth County Fire Department · Winston Salem | $51,527 | $59,256 | 1 |
| Gamewell Volunteer Fire Department · Lenoir | $42,195 | $43,249 | 1 |
| Havelock Fire - Rescue · Havelock | $56,124 | Not listed | 1 |
| Herring Fire & Rescue · Clinton | $61,524 | Not listed | 1 |
| Holly Springs Fire-Rescue · Holly Springs | $86,600 | $129,900 | 1 |
| Kill Devil Hills Fire Department · Kill Devil Hills | $55,188 | $88,302 | 1 |
| Louisburg Fire Department · Louisburg | $62,637 | $72,033 | 1 |
| New Hanover County Fire Rescue · Wilmington | $56,351 | Not listed | 1 |
| North Lenoir Fire Protection Association, Inc. · Kinston | $48,547 | $77,667 | 1 |
| Pinehurst Fire Department · Pinehurst | $48,788 | $80,685 | 1 |
| Rolesville Rural Fire Department · Rolesville | $60,727 | $81,981 | 1 |
| Selma Fire Department · Selma | $78,000 | $92,000 | 1 |
| Southport Fire Department · Southport | $52,208 | Not listed | 1 |
| Town of Winterville, Fire-Rescue-EMS · Winterville | $49,584 | $74,378 | 1 |
| Tri Beach Volunteer Fire Department · Supply | $53,456 | Not listed | 1 |
| Wake-New Hope Fire Department · Wendell | $57,615 | $57,615 | 1 |
| Albemarle Fire Department · Albemarle | $15.70/hr | Not listed | 1 |
| Burke County · Morganton | $20.00/hr | Not listed | 1 |
| Greater Asheville Regional Airport Authority Department of Public Safety · Fletcher | $24.22/hr | Not listed | 2 |
| Laurinburg Fire Department · Laurinburg | $16.85/hr | Not listed | 1 |
| North Topsail Beach Fire Department · N Topsail Beach | $16.35/hr | Not listed | 1 |
| North Whiteville Volunteer Fire Department · Whiteville | $13.00/hr | Not listed | 1 |
| Salisbury Fire Department · Salisbury | $25.43/hr | Not listed | 2 |
| Valmead Fire & Rescue · Lenoir | $15.00/hr | Not listed | 1 |
| Wilmington Fire Department · Wilmington | $23.36/hr | Not listed | 1 |
Figures are as each department listed them in closed postings. Current openings show their pay to FireJobs members.