How Queensland firefighter pay compares with the national average
The national full-time adult ordinary-time average, as measured by the ABS Average Weekly Earnings for May 2026, is $2,083.70 per week or about $108,352 a year. Queensland's state full-time average is slightly lower at about $106,064. Against these benchmarks, a Queensland firefighter's total remuneration – including shift penalties and allowances – varies significantly by rank and experience.
Under the Queensland Fire Department Certified Agreement 2025 (CA25), wage rates are set through a combination of base pay, a 38-hour week allowance, and penalties for weekend and night shifts. The agreement includes a CPI Uplift Adjustment and incorporates State Wage Case increases. The most current wage tables, effective from 1 September 2025 and updated for 2026 and 2027, are published by the.
Firefighter base rates and total remuneration
For a typical frontline firefighter, total fortnightly pay (including all allowances) is the best comparison to the national weekly average. Using the 1 August 2026 rates:
- Recruit: total fortnightly $3,017.35 → annual $78,451
- Firefighter PP1: total fortnightly $3,604.24 → annual $93,710
- First Class Firefighter PP4: total fortnightly $3,970.27 → annual $103,227
- Senior Firefighter PP4: total fortnightly $4,362.38 → annual $113,422
- Leading Firefighter PP2: total fortnightly $4,453.96 → annual $115,803
- Station Officer 1 PP1: total fortnightly $4,905.28 → annual $127,537
- Station Officer 3 PP3: total fortnightly $5,418.09 → annual $140,870
These figures show that entry-level and junior firefighters earn below the national full-time average, while senior firefighters and station officers exceed it. The base rate alone (excluding allowances) is lower: for example, a Firefighter PP1 base rate is $2,677.65 per fortnight ($69,619 annually), well below the national average. The shift allowances are a significant component of total pay.
How the agreement sets pay
The CA25 applies to firefighters, station officers, building approval officers, fire communications centre employees, rural fire operational officers, and senior officers. It was certified on 14 April 2026. Wage increases are 3.5% from 1 August 2025 (with a CPI uplift triggered later), then 2.5% from 1 August 2026, and another 2.5% from 1 August 2027. The State Wage Case also affects certain classifications. The agreement ensures no employee receives a base rate below the corresponding award rate.
What this means for your salary
If you are a Queensland firefighter, your total pay including allowances is likely to be between $93,000 and $115,000 for most operational roles, placing you below or near the national full-time average of $108,352. Senior officers can earn $127,000 to $141,000, comfortably above the average. For context, the national full-time median is about $90,532, and the all-employees median is about $74,100. The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, or $52,255 annually on a 38-hour week.
Tax on a firefighter's salary in 2026–27 follows the resident rates: nil on the first $18,200, 15% up to $45,000, 30% up to $135,000, 37% up to $190,000, and 45% above that, plus a 2% Medicare levy. A firefighter earning $93,710 would fall in the 30% bracket, while a Station Officer earning $140,870 would be in the 37% bracket.
For more detail on how your salary sits against the national line, see Place a salary on the line. You can also compare with other roles in Queensland or explore job medians and industry medians.
Key takeaways
- Most Queensland firefighters earn total pay below the national full-time average, but senior ranks exceed it.
- The CA25 provides clear wage progression with annual increases and CPI protection.
- Shift allowances make up a substantial part of total remuneration, so comparing base rates alone understates actual earnings.
- The figures here are from the official wage tables; individual circumstances may vary based on roster and classification.