Firefighter salary QLD: how it compares to the national line

Firefighter salary QLD: understanding where it sits

When you search for "firefighter salary qld", you're likely trying to get a clear picture of what a firefighter in Queensland earns and how that compares to other jobs or states. Because firefighter pay is set by specific state agreements rather than a single national award, the exact figure isn't published in the broad national benchmarks we use at Salary Index. However, we can use the national earnings line and Queensland's state index to give you context.

The national earnings line and the index

The Salary Index measures gross yearly earnings against a baseline of 100. That baseline is full-time adult ordinary-time earnings, which the Australian Bureau of Statistics reported as $2,083.70 per week in May 2026, or $108,352 per year. If your pay is exactly that, your index is 100. If it's lower, your index is below 100; if higher, above 100.

Queensland's state index is 97.9, meaning the typical full-time worker in Queensland earns about $106,064 per year – a bit less than the national average. This doesn't tell us exactly what a firefighter earns, but it gives a useful starting point.

Firefighter pay in Queensland: what we know and what's uncertain

Firefighters in Queensland are employed by Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) under a state-specific enterprise agreement or the Queensland Fire and Rescue Service Award. These documents set pay rates for different ranks and classifications. Because the reference we use doesn't include those specific rates, we can't give a precise figure. What we can say is that firefighter pay is generally well above the national minimum wage ($26.44 per hour from July 2026, index 48.2) and often above the entry-level award floor ($25.74 per hour).

Typical firefighter roles in other states often sit between index 80 and 110, depending on rank and experience. For Queensland, the state index of 97.9 suggests that a mid-career firefighter might be close to the national line, but this is a general observation, not a guarantee.

How awards and enterprise agreements shape firefighter pay

Firefighter pay in Australia is usually governed by a modern award or an enterprise agreement. The Fair Work Ombudsman oversees the national system, but Queensland has its own industrial relations system for state public sector employees. That means the Queensland Fire and Rescue Service Award or a certified agreement sets minimum rates, allowances (like for shift work, on-call, or hazardous conditions), and overtime penalties.

Superannuation is a key part of total compensation. From 1 July 2026, the super guarantee is 12% of ordinary-time earnings, up to a maximum contribution base of $270,830. So if a firefighter's base salary is $90,000, the employer also contributes $10,800 into super. That's on top of the gross pay.

State and industry differences

Queensland's index of 97.9 is slightly below the national line, but it's not the lowest. Tasmania (88.6) and South Australia (94.6) are lower, while Western Australia (106.9) and the ACT (109.9) are higher. These differences reflect the mix of industries in each state. For example, mining (index 154.7) drives up WA's average, while retail (75.9) and accommodation (72.5) pull down other states.

Firefighting is part of the public administration and safety industry, which isn't separately listed in our industry indices. However, it's a stable, unionised sector with pay that tends to follow state government wage policies. That means firefighter pay in QLD is likely influenced by the same factors that affect other public sector roles in the state.

What about take-home pay?

Gross pay is only part of the story. After tax and the Medicare levy, a resident earning $106,064 (QLD's average) would take home roughly $79,000, assuming no other deductions. But firefighter pay can include allowances and overtime that push gross pay higher, and those are taxed at marginal rates. The 2026–27 tax rates are: nil up to $18,200, then 15% to $45,000, 30% to $135,000, 37% to $190,000, and 45% above that. Medicare adds 2%.

Where to find more specific information

If you need exact firefighter salary figures for Queensland, the best sources are the QFES enterprise agreement (available on the Fair Work Ombudsman website or the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission) and job advertisements for specific roles. You can also compare using our pay guides for related public sector roles, or check how the index works to understand the benchmarks.

For a broader view of how Queensland compares to other states, see our states page. And if you're interested in how different industries stack up, visit industries.

The bottom line on firefighter salary QLD

Without a specific figure in our reference, we can't give you a precise number for firefighter salary QLD. But using the state index of 97.9 and the national line of $108,352, you can estimate that a typical full-time firefighter in Queensland likely earns somewhere near that range, depending on rank and experience. For the most accurate information, always check the current enterprise agreement or speak to QFES directly.

Remember: the index is a benchmark, not a quote for a specific job. Your actual pay will depend on your classification, hours, and any allowances.