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Wondering about the firefighter salary in Ontario, and how it changes as you move up the ranks? Salary is the headline, but the full story includes pay steps, benefits (like OMERS pensions), overtime, premiums, and career progression into roles such as Captain, Training, or Fire Prevention. This guide breaks down the  “typical” firefighter pay rate today, why it varies by municipality, and how you can position yourself for the best earning potential – whether you pursue a career (full-time) position or serve as paid-on-call (POC).

Quick take: In larger Ontario cities, a First-Class Firefighter (top step)  commonly earns in the low-to-mid $110,000s by 2025, before overtime and premiums, based on recent collective bargaining outcomes. Smaller and mid-sized services may sit a bit lower; paid-on-call hourly rates are often in the $20–$32/hr range, depending on the municipality, rank, and years of service. Township of Clearview+3hamiltonfirepensioners.ca+3thepublicrecord.ca+3

Why Firefighter Salaries Vary in Ontario

Ontario does not set a single province-wide firefighter salary. Instead, each municipality negotiates a collective agreement with its firefighters’ association (often IAFF), which establishes pay grids, benefits, premiums, and step progressions. Those agreements renew periodically through bargaining or arbitration, and wage patterns tend to track inflation, police comparators, and regional market data. lr.labour.gov.on.ca
Recent examples (to give you a feel for the market)

• Hamilton: An arbitration award outlined First-Class Firefighter salaries of $110,783 (2023) and $114,040 (2024), with additional increases in 2025–2026. This is base salary, exclusive of overtime/premiums. hamiltonfirepensioners.ca+2hamiltonfirefighters.ca+2
• Ottawa: A 2025 update indicates multi-year wage increases aligning with other large services (details vary by year and classification). Exact dollar figures depend on the ratified grid, but the pattern confirms continued growth. Ontario
• Toronto: City budget notes reference step/recognition pay per the Local 3888 agreement (the city doesn’t publish one simple public “grid line,” but Toronto’s large-service comparability and budget drivers underscore a similar banding). Market estimates for a firefighter’s salary in Toronto cluster around the high $80,000s to the low $100,000s on average, with experienced First-Class landing higher – especially once overtime and premiums are considered. City of Toronto+1

Important: Public “salary calculators” or sunshine list entries can be misleading because they may include overtime or “total paid” amounts. Always consult the actual collective agreement pay grid for base rates. ontariosunshinelist.com

How Firefighter Pay is Structured (Career/Full-Time Roles)

Most Ontario services use a step system tied to your class (probationary, 4th, 3rd, 2nd, 1st Class). You advance as you complete time-in-rank and competency requirements – typically reaching First-Class in ~3–4 years.

1. Probationary: ~60% of First-Class
2. 4th Class: ~70% of First-Class
3. 3rd → 2nd → 1st Class: incremental steps to 100%
   These percentages are illustrative; each municipality defines the exact steps. (Example language: “Probationary 60% of First-Class; 4th Class 70%…”) king.ca

What Makes Your Pay Cheque Bigger Than “Base Salary”

Beyond your step, your total compensation often includes:

• Overtime (after scheduled hours or during major incidents)
• Shift premiums (nights, holidays) and acting pay (e.g., serving as Acting Captain)
• Specialty premiums (technical rescue, hazmat, communications, fire prevention/training – as negotiated)
• Benefits (extended health/dental/vision) and paid leave per the agreement
• OMERS Pension – most firefighters are members at NRA 60 (normal retirement age 60), a valuable defined-benefit pension. omers.com+2members.omers.com+2

What Do Paid-On-Call (POC) Firefighters Earn?

Many smaller or geographically spread municipalities in Ontario protect communities with a paid-on-call model. POC firefighters are part-time responders who are paid for training and for calls (sometimes with minimum call-out hours, stipends, or per-diem structures).

Typical ranges (examples):

• Seguin Township: POC hourly wage ~$20.08–$28.86/hr depending on rank/years of service. seguin.ca
• Clearview Township: 2023 POC rates listed ~$26.83–$31.29/hr for suppression; training ~$18.78–$21.91/hr. (Rates are periodically updated.) Township of Clearview

Province-wide job boards also show on-call pay clustering in the low-$20s/hr on average, but local collective agreements (or municipal policies) control the actual numbers and progression. ZipRecruiter

Bottom line: POC can be a fantastic entry point to gain experience, build certifications, and serve your community – while earning hourly pay for calls and training. The trade-off is fewer guaranteed hours and benefits compared to career roles.

Career Progression: How Your Role – and Pay – Advance

Most firefighters begin as Probationary or 4th Class in Suppression. Over time, advancement can happen in two ways:

1. Step progression within your class grid (automatically over time with competencies).
2. Promotions or lateral moves into roles with higher responsibility, premiums, or different schedules.

Common pathways

Suppression → First-Class Firefighter

Reach 100% of the grid after ~3–4 years.

Acting roles (e.g., Acting Captain)

Temporary pay bumps when you cover a higher rank.

Captain / Platoon Captain / Platoon Chief

Promotional exams and competitions; higher bands.

Fire Prevention & Public Education

Inspector, Investigator, or Public Educator roles – often daytime schedules, specialized training (and sometimes different pay grids).

Training Division

Instructor/Officer roles running recruit, in-service, and specialized training.

Communications / Dispatch

Critical operations roles (some services operate combined or separate grids).

Technical/Specialty Teams

HazMat, Technical Rescue (Rope, Confined Space, Trench), Water/Ice, USAR – some agreements include premiums for qualifications or deployments.
(Local details vary – check each municipality’s job postings and collective agreement language.)

What influences your earning ceiling

• Size and budget of the municipality (large urban vs. smaller town)
• Comparators in collective bargaining (regional wage patterns)
• Specialty certifications and eligibility for acting assignments
• Shift model (24-hour vs. 10/14s; premium rules)
• Overtime opportunities (major incidents, backfill, special events)
• Seniority and promotion timelines

Recent wage settlements across Ontario’s larger services have maintained steady increases; arbitration/settlements often reference comparator cities and police wages. Ontario

Benefits that matter (and add real money to your “total compensation”)

Pension (OMERS): Most Ontario career firefighters are enrolled in OMERS NRA 60, enabling an unreduced pension at 60 (subject to plan rules and service). That’s a major long-term benefit beyond cash wages. omers.com+1

Extended benefits & WSIB coverage: Collective agreements typically include extended health, dental, vision, and paid leave provisions; WSIB integration for occupational illness/injury can also be significant. (E.g., Mississauga’s agreement outlines pay/benefit protections while on WSIB LOE or modified duties.) Canadian HR Reporter

Paid holidays, uniform/gear allowances, specialty premiums: These vary by agreement but add up over a year.

How Training and Certifications Affect Earnings

While salary grids are negotiated, your qualifications can accelerate progression or open doors to higher-paid roles:

• NFPA 1001 (Firefighter I & II) and NFPA 1072 (HazMat Awareness/Operations) are baseline for most career competitions.
• Additional NFPA certs (e.g., 1002 Driver/Operator, 1041 Fire Instructor, 1031 Fire Inspector, 1033 Fire Investigator, 1021 Fire Officer) can improve competitiveness for specialized or promoted positions (Training, Prevention, Officer ranks).
• Specialty team qualifications (Rope/Confined Space/Trench/Ice/USAR) may come with premiums or acting opportunities, depending on your agreement.ents.

SFA students: your responsibility is to verify the exact hiring standards and preferred qualifications for each jurisdiction you target. (Every posting is a little different.)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is a firefighter’s starting pay/how much do firefighters earn?

It depends on the municipality’s grid. A Probationary rate might be ~60–70% of the First-Class salary in that city. In a service where First-Class is around $112–$118K, a starting rate could land in the $67–$82K band before overtime – again, check the posting and the current agreement. king.ca+1

What does a First-Class firefighter make?

In larger Ontario cities today, a low-to-mid $110,000s base is common, with growth over the next contract years. Overtime, premiums, and acting pay can push actual annual pay higher. hamiltonfirepensioners.ca+1

How much do POC firefighters make?

Hourly rates frequently fall in the ~$20–$32/hr range, depending on the municipality, rank, and tenure; training may be a different (often slightly lower) rate. seguin.ca+1

Do firefighters get overtime?

Yes – rules are laid out in each collective agreement and can include call-backs, extended incidents, or special events.

What about benefits?

Extended health/dental/vision plus paid leave and WSIB integration are typical in career agreements. Details vary (and may be limited or not applicable for POC). Canadian HR Reporter

Is the pension really that valuable?

Yes – OMERS NRA 60 for firefighters is a significantly defined-benefit plan, which is rare in the private sector and a core part of total comp. omers.com

Career vs. POC: which path fits your goals?

• Choose career/full-time if you want a stable income, robust benefits, pension accrual, and a predictable schedule (within the 24-hour or 10/14 shift models).
• Choose POC if you want to serve locally while maintaining another job or school schedule – and potentially build a resume for later career competitions.

Many firefighters actually start POC, collect certifications and experience, then transition to a career service with a stronger application.

Final Word

If salary brought you here, remember: pay is only one part of the package. Ontario firefighters earn competitive wages – particularly at First-Class and above – and enjoy strong pensions and benefits in career roles. But the true upside comes from progression: stacking certifications, gaining technical skills, taking on acting assignments, and competing for promotion into leadership, training, or prevention.

When you’re ready to build a plan to become a firefighter, explore SFA’s programs (NFPA 1001/1072 and beyond). Your choices in the first 12–24 months – certifications, physical readiness, and real-world experience – set the trajectory for your earnings and opportunities for years to come.

Sources & references

• Hamilton First-Class salary figures (2023–2026) via arbitration award and public summaries. hamiltonfirepensioners.ca+2hamiltonfirefighters.ca+2
• Ottawa wage pattern (multi-year increases) via Ontario collective bargaining updates; local union notes on classifications as % of First-Class. Ontario+1
• Toronto context (step/recognition pay obligations in budget notes) and market estimates. City of Toronto+1
• POC examples (Seguin, Clearview posted rates). seguin.ca+1
• OMERS pension (NRA 60) for firefighters – plan overview and member resources. omers.com+2members.omers.com+2