Depending on where you live, fire chief salaries vary greatly. Salary for the lowest 10% of fire departments can be as low at $25,240. For the highest 10%, it can reach $111,550. California is home of seven out of the top 10 highest-paying cities. Salary ranges between $80,470 and $111,550. New York, Washington and Oregon also have high-paying jobs.
A master's degree is required to be a fire chief.
A fire chief, or firefighter, is a professional who directs emergency response efforts and oversees the crew of firefighters. They usually work for the local authority, but they may also work for a state agency or federal agency. A combination of education, experience and training is required for fire chief positions. Many begin their careers in lower supervisory positions, before advancing to the position of fire chief.
Fire chief salaries are dependent on where you live. However, salaries in large metropolitan areas are typically higher. Comparatively, salaries for firefighters chiefs in smaller towns and cities are lower.