City of Houston Controller Chris Hollins hosted a public briefing May 6 to share information on how proposed raises for local firefighters compares within other major Texas fire departments.

The setup

The city of Houston and the Houston Professional Fire Fighters Association reached a tentative agreement in March that, aside from paying for seven years of backpay, includes mandating 10% raises starting July 1 and raises of up to 6% annually over the next four years.

According to Hollins' presentation, the starting salary for Houston firefighters in fiscal year 2016-17 was approximately $43,500—the lowest starting salary among major fire departments in Texas on both an overall and per-hour basis.

  • Houston firefighters did not receive a raise from 2017-21.
  • From 2022-24, firefighters received a 6% raise each year.
  • The raises brought the starting salary to approximately $51,800 in 2024.
  • On a per-hour basis, HFD’s starting salary still remains roughly 10% below the average for major fire departments in Texas.

The proposed settlement would bring HFD’s starting salary up to the Texas average by FY 2025-26 and surpass it by FY 2028-29, Hollins said.

What are the options?



Hollins’ presentation included six different scenarios for how the pay raises could've been given, with each one showing the starting salaries for firefighters in FY 2024-25, the settlement cost needed to reach those salaries and how much each firefighter would receive in total backpay for the seven years they worked with a contract.

Scenario 1: A scenario in which firefighter pay was aligned with the average of other major city fire departments in Texas on a per-hour basis from FY 2017-18

  • Starting salary: $57,700
  • Settlement value: $380 million
  • Cost per firefighter: $85,000-$95,000

Scenario 2: A scenario in which firefighters were given a steady raise to match the state average by FY 2024-25

  • Starting salary: $57,700
  • Settlement value: $300 million
  • Cost per firefighter: $70,000-$80,000

Scenario 3: A scenario in which firefighters received the same percentage raises as police with the Houston Police Department each year from 2018-24

  • Starting salary: $55,300
  • Settlement value: $260 million
  • Cost per firefighter: $60,000-70,000

Scenario 4: A scenario in which HFD firefighters received the same percentage raises as other city employees each year from 2018-24

  • Starting salary: $51,500
  • Settlement value: $110 million
  • Cost per firefighter: $25,000-$30,000

Scenario 5: The proposed $650 million settlement

  • Starting salary: $56,900
  • Settlement value: $650 million
  • Cost per firefighter: $155,000-$165,000

Scenario 6: A $1.2 billion scenario or potential liability

  • Starting salary: $66,400
  • Settlement value: $1.2 billion
  • Cost per firefighter: $290,000-$300,000

Hollins said the presentation was intended to put numbers in perspective for the benefits of Houston City Council members and to increase the understanding of concerned Houstonians.

“As we move forward, the goal is to make us more competitive,” he said. “As we look backwards, the decision that [council] has to make is what is a fair number to compensate them for not receiving these raises over time.”

Learn more

Houstonians can create their own custom firefighter pay raise scenarios from FY 2018-19 through FY 2024-25 using a new tool on the controller's website.



Another perspective

Hollins' presentation received criticism from both the Houston Professional Fire Fighters Association and Mayor John Whitmire, parties involved in the settlement negotiation.

In a May 6 statement, HPFFA President Marty Lancton took issue with some of the scenarios Hollins presented, arguing that they did not properly take into account state law that mandates Houston firefighters be paid comparable to private sector counterparts.

“The controller’s remarks are not only inaccurate but also disrespectful to the dedicated men and women who serve our city with bravery and professionalism,” Lancton said.


Next steps

The proposed FY 2024-25 budget is expected to be released in May following a series of department budget workshops from May 17-25.

The workshops will begin with a special called budget and fiscal affairs meeting on May 15 with a five-year forecast and budget overview. A public hearing will follow the proposed budget in late May or early June.

Before the budget can be finalized, City Attorney Arturo Michel said the terms of the firefighter agreement must be settled with approval from Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo, the attorney general and Houston City Council.


Michel said the intention is to have everything finalized before the start of the new fiscal year, which begins July 1.