By Brandy Ruiz, El Paso Matters 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

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