salary$82,820 a year$40 an hour · median pay in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN area
Lower pay (bottom 10%)$42,080per year
Top pay (top 10%)$112,930per year
Jobs in the area14,560people work this job
Can a firefighter afford Elgin?
OK. Rent of $1,988 a month takes 28.8% of the median firefighter salary. That is under the 30% rule, so one paycheck covers rent comfortably.
Firefighter pay in similar cities
Other jobs in Elgin
Registered NurseNurse PractitionerLicensed Practical NurseNursing AssistantMedical AssistantPharmacistPhysician AssistantDental HygienistElementary School TeacherSoftware DeveloperComputer Systems AnalystAccountantMarket Research AnalystOperations Manager
Frequently asked questions
How much does a firefighter make in Elgin, IL?
The median pay for a firefighter in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN area is $82,820 a year ($40 an hour). Most earn between $42,080 and $112,930.
Can a firefighter afford to live in Elgin?
Typical rent of $1,988 a month takes 28.8% of the median firefighter salary, which we rate OK.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, for the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area.