Quick answer:Firefighters in Kentucky earn a median $37,150 per year, below the national median of $59,280 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The state employs about 5,150 of them. Licensing runs through your state fire marshal or fire training academy.
Fire Science Pay and Employment in Kentucky at a Glance
Metric
Kentucky
National
Source
Median annual wage
$37,150
$59,280
BLS OEWS, May 2025
10th percentile
$27,870
$34,910
BLS OEWS, May 2025
25th percentile
$33,390
$44,490
BLS OEWS, May 2025
75th percentile
$48,120
$77,250
BLS OEWS, May 2025
90th percentile
$60,720
$101,040
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Employment
5,150
345,990
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Location quotient
1.16
1.00
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Projected change (2024-34)
not published by state
3.4%
BLS Employment Projections, 2024-34
How Kentucky Pay Compares to the Rest of the Country
The Kentucky median of $37,150 sits below the national median of $59,280 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Percentiles matter more than the midpoint when you are deciding whether a degree pays for itself: the 10th percentile is roughly where people start, and the 90th is what the top of the local market looks like after years of experience.
A location quotient of 1.16 puts Kentucky well above the national average, so the work is noticeably more common here than in the typical state. That usually means a deeper job market and more room to change employers without relocating (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The measure compares how concentrated the occupation is here against the national average of 1.00.
Figures: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Firefighting is hired municipally, so the relevant market is the metro area and its surrounding departments rather than the national picture.
Firefighters Wages by Metro Area in Kentucky
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), firefighters wages in Kentucky vary by metro area.
Metro Area
Employment
Median Annual Wage
Avg. Annual Wage
Entry Level (10th pctile)
Experienced (90th pctile)
Cincinnati
3,380
$58,570
$57,510
$36,080
$75,820
Louisville/Jefferson County
1,640
$45,160
$47,520
$35,700
$65,720
Lexington-Fayette
940
$36,490
$40,980
$29,460
$58,170
Clarksville
300
$54,950
$53,290
$43,170
$64,540
Bowling Green
250
$35,240
$47,720
$32,250
$93,600
Huntington-Ashland
230
$36,060
$37,790
$27,340
$48,730
Elizabethtown
130
$34,030
$43,990
$33,390
$64,940
Paducah
100
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May .
Firefighter certification is issued at the state level, commonly against the NFPA standards, with certificates accredited through IFSAC or the Pro Board so they carry between agencies. The academic degree is separate: fire science programs generally follow the federal FESHE model curriculum and matter mainly for promotion rather than for initial hire.
Requirements are set at state level and are amended periodically. Before you enroll in any program, confirm with your state fire marshal or fire training academy that the specific program you are considering satisfies the education requirement, and ask what it accepts from any training you have already completed. Get the answer in writing.
Earning the Degree While You Work
Most people reading this already have a job in the field, and the practical question is whether the credential can be earned without leaving it. Programs designed for working adults deliver the academic portion online or in the evening, while any labs, clinical hours or supervised field experience happen in person and locally. Prior college credit, military training, apprenticeship coursework and industry certifications can all shorten the path, so request a written transfer credit evaluation before you commit to any school.
Schools in our database near this area, ranked by BOC Score. The list favors schools with a related program on record, but program availability and delivery format change, so confirm directly with any school that it currently offers the program you want.
How We Rank Schools
We first gather the schools closest to the city or state page you are viewing, then rank that
local group by BOC Score, with the highest at the top. The BOC Score is computed from federal
IPEDS and College Scorecard data; schools without enough data to score appear last.
LOCAL RANK
Location / proximity to this page
Defines the local group
Graduation rate
30%
Median earnings, 10 years after entry
25%
Average net price (lower is better)
20%
Retention rate
15%
Fully online availability
10%
Schools without enough federal outcome data appear after ranked schools, without a score.
Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.
#1
Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College
📍
Bowling Green, KY
•93.8 miles away•BOC Score
56.0
The median annual wage for firefighters in Kentucky is $37,150, below the national median of $59,280 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The middle of the range runs from $33,390 at the 25th percentile to $48,120 at the 75th.
How many firefighters work in Kentucky?
Kentucky holds about 5,150 firefighter jobs (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Nationally the occupation employs 345,990, and BLS projects about 27,100 openings per year through 2034 (BLS Employment Projections, 2024-34).
Do I need a license to work as a firefighter in Kentucky?
Firefighter certification is issued at the state level, commonly against the NFPA standards, with certificates accredited through IFSAC or the Pro Board so they carry between agencies. The academic degree is separate: fire science programs generally follow the federal FESHE model curriculum and matter mainly for promotion rather than for initial hire. Requirements are set at the state level and change periodically, so confirm the current rules with your state fire marshal or fire training academy before you enroll in any program.
Can I earn a fire science degree online while working in Kentucky?
Often yes. Programs built for working adults deliver coursework online or in the evenings, though any required labs, clinical hours or supervised field experience are completed in person. Confirm that the program's accreditation satisfies your state fire marshal or fire training academy.
What is the highest-paying area of Kentucky for firefighters?
Among Kentucky metro areas with published data, Louisville reports the highest median at $45,160 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Is Kentucky a good state for firefighters?
On pay, the state median of $37,150 sits below the national $59,280 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). A location quotient of 1.16 means the occupation is more concentrated here than in the average state. Weigh that against cost of living and how concentrated the work is near where you actually want to live.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 - Firefighters (SOC 33-2011), national, state and metropolitan estimates
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2024-34
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook - education and licensing requirements
Wage and employment figures describe the occupation as measured by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, not the graduates of any particular program, and individual outcomes may vary. Licensing rules change; confirm current requirements with the responsible state board before enrolling.
About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.
