The average salary of a firefighter in the United States is about $60,000, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Some municipalities have tried to address this with tax incentive programs. A total of 403 fire departments and 26 EMS agencies participate in the tax incentive program. Westmoreland County commissioners are proposing a $250 property tax rebate for active first responder volunteers starting in 2028. The municipalities of Westmoreland County could never afford to replace all of their volunteers with paid firefighters, even on the low end of the pay scale.