Fire Fighter Salary Guide 2026-27: Pay Rates, Tax and Take-Home Pay

Fire Fighter Salary Overview

If you're considering a career as a fire fighter or already serving, understanding your fire fighter salary is key to planning your finances. Pay rates are set by the Fire Fighting Industry Award 2020 [MA000111] and differ between public sector (e.g., state fire services) and private sector (e.g., industrial fire brigades). The Fair Work Ombudsman publishes updated rates each year, and the latest award applies from the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026.

Your take-home pay depends on your classification, ordinary hours, shift loadings, overtime, and of course income tax and the Medicare levy. This guide walks through the current rates, how they compare to national benchmarks, and what you can expect after tax.

Pay Rates Under the Award

Public Sector Fire Fighters

Public sector employees receive a total weekly rate that includes a 30% shift loading and an average 40 hours loading. For example:

• Recruit: $1,005.10 per week ($26.45/hr)
• Firefighter Level 1: $1,444.17 per week ($38.00/hr)
• Qualified Firefighter: $1,607.97 per week ($42.32/hr)
• Leading Firefighter: $1,839.88 per week ($48.42/hr)
• Station Officer: $1,994.48 per week ($52.49/hr)
• Senior Station Officer: $2,148.65 per week ($56.54/hr)

These rates are from the Fair Work Ombudsman's pay guide . Part-time public sector employees are paid an hourly rate (e.g., Qualified Firefighter $42.32/hr) plus shift loadings.

Private Sector Fire Fighters

Private sector rates are lower because they do not include the same built-in loadings. Ordinary hourly rates (excluding shiftwork) are:

• Recruit: $1,005.10 per week ($26.45/hr)
• Firefighter Level 1: $1,005.10 per week ($26.45/hr)
• Qualified Firefighter: $1,119.10 per week ($29.45/hr)
• Leading Firefighter: $1,280.50 per week ($33.70/hr)
• Station Officer: $1,388.10 per week ($36.53/hr)
• Senior Station Officer: $1,495.40 per week ($39.35/hr)

Shiftworkers in the private sector receive a 30% loading on top of the minimum hourly rate, bringing their ordinary hourly rate to, for example, $38.29/hr for a Qualified Firefighter.

Allowances and Overtime

Both sectors pay penalties for Saturday, Sunday, public holidays, and overtime. For instance, public sector overtime for a Qualified Firefighter is $76.58/hr (double the base). Shift loadings for public sector full-time Qualified Firefighters are $335.73 per week. The Australian Taxation Office provides guidance on which allowances are taxable and what you can claim as work-related deductions .

How Your Fire Fighter Salary Compares to National Benchmarks

To put these figures in context, here are the key benchmarks from the Benchmarks page:

• National minimum wage: $26.44 per hour, $1,004.90 per week (from 1 July 2026)
• Full-time adult ordinary time earnings: $2,083.70 per week (ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026)

A public sector Qualified Firefighter at $42.32/hr earns 60% above the minimum wage, while a private sector Qualified Firefighter at $29.45/hr is about 11% above the minimum. Both fall below the full-time ordinary time average of $2,083.70 per week, though senior ranks like Station Officer ($2,148.65/wk public) exceed it. Shift loadings and overtime can push your actual earnings higher.

Calculating Your Take-Home Pay

Your take-home pay is your gross salary minus income tax and the Medicare levy. For 2026-27, the tax rates for residents are:

• Up to $18,200: Nil
• $18,201 – $45,000: 15c per $1 over $18,200
• $45,001 – $135,000: $4,020 + 30c per $1 over $45,000
• $135,001 – $190,000: $31,020 + 37c per $1 over $135,000
• Over $190,000: $51,370 + 45c per $1 over $190,000

You may also be eligible for the Low Income Tax Offset (LITO), which can reduce tax by up to $700 for incomes below $37,500, phasing out completely by $66,667.

The Medicare levy is 2% of your taxable income, but if you earn below the single lower threshold of $28,011, you pay nothing. Between $28,011 and $35,013, a shading rate applies (10c per dollar over the lower threshold). Full-time fire fighters almost always exceed $35,013, so the full 2% applies.

For example, a public sector Qualified Firefighter earning $1,607.97 per week (annualised $83,614) would pay approximately:

• Income tax: $4,020 + 30% × ($83,614 – $45,000) = $4,020 + $11,584 = $15,604
• Less LITO: $325 – 1.5c × ($83,614 – $45,000) = $325 – $579 = negative, so no LITO
• Medicare levy: 2% × $83,614 = $1,672
• Total deductions: $17,276
• Take-home: $66,338 per year (about $2,551 per fortnight)

Use our Take-home pay calculator for a precise estimate based on your exact classification and hours.

Superannuation and Salary Packaging

From 1 July 2026, your employer must contribute super at 12% of your ordinary time earnings, up to a maximum contribution base of $270,830. This is on top of your base salary – it does not reduce your take-home pay unless you salary sacrifice extra contributions. Many fire fighters use Salary packaging for items like union fees or work-related equipment, which can lower your taxable income.

Remember, the award rates quoted are before super. Your total remuneration package includes both your cash salary and the super guarantee.