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Firefighter Operation vs First Class Firefighter

In 2025, the median salary for Firefighter Operation was $3,483 (2.6%) higher than for First Class Firefighter: $136,000 against $132,517. Firefighter Operation had 1,793 people on the list, First Class Firefighter 400.

At a glance

Firefighter OperationFirst Class Firefighter
People on the 2025 list1,793400
Median salary$136,000$132,517
Middle half$122,963–$151,034$125,934–$143,164
Highest salary$247,508$236,053
Total salaries$249,784,761$54,718,788
People, change+6.5% vs 2024−32.5% vs 2024
Median, change+3.3% vs 2024+8.8% vs 2024

Median salary by year

Show as a table
YearFirefighter OperationFirst Class Firefighter
2008$105,201
2009$109,495
2010$108,804$106,072
2011$103,951
2012$103,177
2013$107,467$104,915
2014$103,806$108,375
2015$103,818$109,005
2016$103,823$106,069
2017$108,199$110,528
2018$105,439$108,978
2019$106,111$110,642
2020$108,475$114,121
2021$120,128$115,604
2022$131,793$118,734
2023$133,339$120,225
2024$131,709$121,793
2025$136,000$132,517

People on the list by year

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YearFirefighter OperationFirst Class Firefighter
200847
200981
2010662
201113
201253
20131,75257
2014828164
2015431217
2016400354
20171,638591
20181,291479
20191,564505
20201,572471
20211,627586
20221,683525
20231,670560
20241,684593
20251,793400

Highest paid in 2025

Firefighter Operation

#NameEmployerSalaryBenefits
1Kurt PoyhonenCity Of Toronto$247,508$1,797
2Kristin G ChrabaCity Of Toronto$245,408$1,830
3Drew FooteCity Of Toronto$230,799$1,202
4Jerome JungCity Of Toronto$225,458$1,797
5John EvansCity Of Toronto$223,351$2,254

First Class Firefighter

#NameEmployerSalaryBenefits
1Kevin SmithCity Of Vaughan$236,053$396
2Justin RitaCity Of Vaughan$233,679$396
3Eric SpaldingCity Of Vaughan$221,730$396
4Kyle CzapskiCity Of Vaughan$221,609$384
5Edward HowardCity Of Vaughan$215,339$396

More comparisons

Questions and answers

Which pays more, Firefighter Operation or First Class Firefighter?

By median salary in 2025, Firefighter Operation: $136,000 against $132,517.

Which has more people on the list?

Firefighter Operation: 1,793 against 400 in 2025.

How has the gap changed since 2010?

In 2010 the median for Firefighter Operation was $108,804 and for First Class Firefighter $106,072, a gap of $2,731; in 2025 the gap was $3,483.

What do these figures cover?

Only people paid $100,000 or more are on the list, so medians and counts describe them, not everyone with each title.

What does “salary paid” include?

What the employer paid in the calendar year, so it can include overtime, retroactive pay, vacation payouts, severance or a partial year. Taxable benefits are listed separately. How the lists work