How Much Does a Firefighter Make in North Carolina (NC) in 2026? (Hourly & After-Tax Salary)
Median Annual & Hourly Wage in North Carolina (NC)
$54,930/yr ($26.41/hr · $44,053 After-Tax)
Entry-Level (25th Pct)$42,850 ($20.60/hr)
Experienced (90th Pct)$74,150 ($35.65/hr)
Bi-Weekly Net Paycheck$1,694.34
Overtime Rate (1.5x)$39.62/hr
Gross vs. Net After-Tax Pay by Experience Level (2026)
| Level | Hourly | Gross Annual | Federal + FICA + State Tax | Net Take-Home | Bi-Weekly Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-Level | $20.60/hr | $42,850 | −$7,990.16 | $34,859.84 | $1,340.76 |
| Median (Mid-Career) | $26.41/hr | $54,930 | −$10,877.28 | $44,052.72 | $1,694.34 |
| Senior / Top 10% | $35.65/hr | $74,150 | −$16,538.36 | $57,611.64 | $2,215.83 |
Compare Wage Across All 50 U.S. States
Texas ($27.24/hr)California ($32.80/hr)Florida ($26.41/hr)New York ($32.25/hr)Illinois ($28.63/hr)Arizona ($26.97/hr)New Jersey ($31.14/hr)Georgia ($26.69/hr)North Carolina ($26.41/hr)Washington ($31.97/hr)Pennsylvania ($27.52/hr)Ohio ($26.13/hr)Nevada ($27.24/hr)Colorado ($29.47/hr)Virginia ($29.19/hr)Massachusetts ($32.53/hr)Michigan ($26.69/hr)Tennessee ($25.58/hr)Indiana ($25.85/hr)Maryland ($30.02/hr)Minnesota ($28.91/hr)Missouri ($25.58/hr)Wisconsin ($26.97/hr)Oregon ($29.19/hr)Connecticut ($30.86/hr)Utah ($26.97/hr)South Carolina ($25.30/hr)Alabama ($24.46/hr)Louisiana ($24.74/hr)Kentucky ($24.74/hr)Oklahoma ($24.74/hr)Kansas ($25.58/hr)Iowa ($25.85/hr)New Mexico ($25.58/hr)Arkansas ($24.19/hr)Mississippi ($23.63/hr)Nebraska ($26.13/hr)Idaho ($25.85/hr)Hawaii ($30.02/hr)New Hampshire ($28.63/hr)Maine ($26.41/hr)Rhode Island ($28.36/hr)Montana ($25.58/hr)Delaware ($28.08/hr)South Dakota ($25.30/hr)North Dakota ($26.41/hr)Alaska ($30.30/hr)Vermont ($27.24/hr)West Virginia ($23.91/hr)Wyoming ($26.41/hr)