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.
Paramedic Level
Certification
Base Salary
With Overtime
Training Required
Emergency medical responder (EMR)
Basic
$35,000–$50,000
$40,000–$55,000
80–120 hours
Primary care paramedic (PCP)
Standard
$50,000–$80,000
$60,000–$95,000
1–2 year diploma
Advanced care paramedic (ACP)
Advanced
$70,000–$100,000
$80,000–$120,000
1–2 years beyond PCP
Critical care paramedic (CCP)
Specialist
$80,000–$110,000
$90,000–$130,000
Additional certification
Flight paramedic
Specialist
$85,000–$120,000
$95,000–$140,000
ACP + flight training
Paramedic supervisor
Management
$90,000–$120,000
$100,000–$135,000
10+ years experience
EMS chief/director
Management
$120,000–$180,000
N/A
15+ years
Paramedic Salary by Province
Province
PCP Salary
ACP Salary
EMS Model
Notes
Ontario
$55,000–$82,000
$75,000–$105,000
Municipal
Highest volume, OMERS pension
Alberta
$55,000–$80,000
$72,000–$100,000
AHS (provincial)
Centralized system
British Columbia
$50,000–$78,000
$68,000–$95,000
BCEHS (provincial)
Provincial employer
Manitoba
$48,000–$72,000
$65,000–$90,000
Mixed
Shared Health
Saskatchewan
$48,000–$70,000
$65,000–$88,000
Mixed
Provincial + municipal
Nova Scotia
$45,000–$70,000
$62,000–$85,000
EHS (provincial)
Provincial employer
Quebec
$45,000–$68,000
$60,000–$82,000
Private operators
Urgences-santé (Montreal)
New Brunswick
$42,000–$65,000
$58,000–$80,000
Mixed
Ambulance NB
Benefits and Pension Comparison
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.