How Much Do Firefighters and Paramedics Make in Canada in 2026?
Updated
Firefighting and paramedicine are among the best-compensated public safety careers in Canada, though there is a significant pay gap between the two. Municipal firefighters at major-city departments earn $95,000-$115,000 as first-class constables, with overtime frequently pushing total pay above $130,000. Paramedics, despite performing equally critical work, earn 20-40% less — a disparity that has fuelled ongoing pay-equity debates in several provinces. Both professions offer exceptional job security, defined benefit pensions, and early retirement options that make their total compensation considerably better than the base salary alone.
Firefighter Salary by Rank
Rank
Years of Service
Base Salary
With Overtime
Probationary firefighter
0–1
$55,000–$75,000
$60,000–$85,000
2nd class firefighter
1–2
$70,000–$85,000
$80,000–$100,000
1st class firefighter
3–4+
$85,000–$105,000
$100,000–$130,000
Senior firefighter
8+
$90,000–$110,000
$105,000–$140,000
Fire captain
10+
$105,000–$130,000
$120,000–$150,000
Platoon chief
12+
$120,000–$145,000
$135,000–$165,000
District chief
15+
$130,000–$160,000
$145,000–$180,000
Deputy fire chief
18+
$145,000–$190,000
N/A (management)
Fire chief
20+
$160,000–$260,000
N/A (management)
Firefighter Salary by City
City/Region
1st Class FF
Captain
With Overtime (FF)
Hiring Competition
Toronto
$100,000–$107,000
$125,000–$135,000
$120,000–$145,000
Very competitive
Vancouver
$95,000–$103,000
$118,000–$128,000
$110,000–$140,000
Very competitive
Calgary
$95,000–$105,000
$120,000–$132,000
$115,000–$145,000
Competitive
Edmonton
$93,000–$103,000
$118,000–$128,000
$110,000–$140,000
Competitive
Ottawa
$92,000–$100,000
$115,000–$125,000
$105,000–$135,000
Competitive
Montreal
$75,000–$88,000
$95,000–$110,000
$90,000–$120,000
Competitive
Winnipeg
$85,000–$95,000
$105,000–$118,000
$100,000–$125,000
Moderate
Halifax
$78,000–$88,000
$98,000–$110,000
$90,000–$115,000
Moderate
Saskatoon
$82,000–$92,000
$102,000–$115,000
$95,000–$120,000
Moderate
Paramedic Salary by Level
Paramedic compensation in Canada is structured by certification level. Primary Care Paramedics (PCP) earn $50,000-$80,000, while Advanced Care Paramedics (ACP) earn $70,000-$100,000+ and can perform more complex medical procedures. The ACP upgrade requires an additional 1-2 years of training and a significant investment, but it opens doors to critical care, flight paramedic, and supervisory roles. The highest-paid paramedics in Canada are flight medics and critical care paramedics working in remote or air-ambulance settings, earning $85,000-$140,000.
The pension is where these careers truly shine financially. A firefighter who works for 25-30 years receives 60-70% of their best salary as a pension for life, often starting at age 55 or earlier. For a first-class firefighter earning $110,000, that could mean $66,000-$77,000/year in indexed retirement income — equivalent to having roughly $1.7-$2.0 million saved in an RRSP. Paramedic pensions vary more by province and employer, but those in OMERS-covered roles (Ontario) receive similarly valuable benefits.