Yes.
Entry-level city of El Paso firefighters are paid less than entry-level police officers, according to official city pay scales for fiscal year 2026.
The starting annual salary for entry-level firefighters as of September 2025 is $50,640, not including benefits or retirement. Police officers’ annual starting pay is $56,790.
Salaries and other benefits are negotiated between the city and the police and fire unions through collective bargaining agreements that must be approved by the El Paso City Council.
The city of El Paso’s entry-level pay for firefighters and police officers falls between that paid in Corpus Christi and Austin. In Corpus Christi, starting pay for firefighters is $59,556 a year, while police start at $64,380, according to that city’s website. In Austin, firefighters begin at $62,159 a year and police at $70,664.
This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
Editor’s Note: El Paso Matters is partnering with Gigafact to produce “fact briefs” that examine claims about issues shaping our community.
Sources
- El Paso Police Department El Paso police pay scale
- City of El Paso El Paso firefighter pay scale
- City of Austin Ausin firefighter pay scale
- City of Austin Austin police pay scale
- Corpus Christi Corpus Christi firefighter pay scale
- Corpus Christi Corpus Christi police pay scale
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