Firefighter salary WA: Award rates and the national picture
Firefighters in Western Australia are covered by the Fire Fighting Industry Award 2020, which sets minimum pay rates for both public and private sector employees. The award is updated each July, with the latest rates effective from 1 July 2026. For a Qualified Firefighter in the public sector, the total weekly rate—including shift loading and the average 40‑hour loading—is $1,607.97 per week. That works out to about $83,614 per year on a 38‑hour week. Private sector minimums are lower: a Qualified Firefighter receives $1,119.10 per week ($58,193 per year) before loadings.
These figures come from the Fair Work Ombudsman’s award summary and the consolidated award text. They represent the legal minimum, not the average salary. Many firefighters in WA are employed by the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) under enterprise agreements that may pay above the award.
How does this compare to the national full‑time average?
The national full‑time adult average weekly ordinary time earnings, as measured by the ABS Average Weekly Earnings survey for May 2026, is $2,083.70 per week, or about $108,352 per year. That is the reference line used on this site. The award minimum for a public‑sector Qualified Firefighter is about 23% below that national average. Even the private sector minimum is about 46% below.
Western Australia’s own full‑time average is higher than the national figure: $2,227.40 per week ($115,825 per year), reflecting the state’s strong resources sector. So a firefighter on the award minimum in WA is even further behind the state average.
Take‑home pay sketch for a WA firefighter
Using the 2026–27 tax rates (nil up to $18,200, 15% to $45,000, 30% to $135,000, plus 2% Medicare levy), a public‑sector Qualified Firefighter on the award minimum of $83,614 would have an estimated take‑home pay of about $64,800 per year. That’s roughly $1,246 per week. By contrast, someone earning the national full‑time average of $108,352 would take home about $80,500 per year ($1,548 per week).
These estimates ignore deductions, HELP repayments, or tax offsets. The gap in take‑home pay is narrower than the gross gap because of progressive tax rates, but still significant.
Other pay points in the award
The award covers several classifications. Below are the public sector total weekly rates (including loadings) for key roles:
- Recruit: $1,005.10 per week ($52,265 per year)
- Firefighter Level 1: $1,444.17 per week ($75,097 per year)
- Firefighter Level 2: $1,463.71 per week ($76,113 per year)
- Firefighter Level 3: $1,487.28 per week ($77,339 per year)
- Qualified Firefighter: $1,607.97 per week ($83,614 per year)
- Leading Firefighter: $1,839.88 per week ($95,674 per year)
- Station Officer: $1,994.48 per week ($103,713 per year)
- Senior Station Officer: $2,148.65 per week ($111,730 per year)
All these rates are for a 38‑hour week and include the shift and average 40‑hour loadings that apply to most operational firefighters.
How the award relates to the national minimum wage
The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, $1,004.90 per week, or about $52,255 per year on 38 hours. Even the Recruit rate ($1,005.10) is just above that. The award’s minimum rates rose by 4.75% in the latest adjustment, consistent with the Fair Work Commission’s annual wage review.
Where to find more detail
If you want to see how your own salary compares to the national average, you can place a salary on the line. For state‑by‑state averages, visit the States and territories page. Western Australia’s full‑time average of $115,825 is detailed on the Western Australia page.
For a broader view of how different occupations stack up, see the Job medians and Industry medians pages. The methodology behind the figures is explained on the How the figures are set page, and more about this site is on the About this site page.
Important notes
- The award rates are minimums. Actual pay for WA firefighters may be higher under enterprise agreements or individual contracts.
- The ABS Average Weekly Earnings figures are for full‑time adult ordinary time earnings, not total earnings. They are published twice a year (May and November).
- The national full‑time median (from ABS Employee Earnings, August 2025) is about $90,532 per year, and the all‑employees median is about $74,100. The award minimum for a Qualified Firefighter sits between those medians.
- Men’s full‑time average is about $113,412; women’s is about $100,594. The firefighting workforce is predominantly male, which may influence comparisons.
Summary
A firefighter salary in WA, at the award minimum, is below the national full‑time average and well below the state average. However, the award provides a clear floor, and many firefighters earn more through experience, overtime, or enterprise agreements. The figures here give a starting point for understanding where this occupation sits in the broader Australian pay landscape.