City of Milwaukee / Fire Operations Bureau / Fire Captain

Job-title file

Fire Captain

Respond to fires and emergencies, perform rescue and medical aid, and carry out prevention and inspection.

94 employees hold this title in Fire Operations Bureau. Median total compensation for the role is $134,607, above the department median of $112,100.

Employees: 94
Total payroll: $10.6M
Role median: $134,607
Agency median: $112,100
Comparison: Above

What the records show

Role pay distribution

Pay distribution for this role

$6$234,972+

Hover a bar for its range; click to filter the list below.

How total compensation varies among the 94 people in this role. Even for one job title, pay differs with seniority, step, overtime, and tenure. Each bar is a pay range; the far-right bar collects the highest earners.

Compare departments

This role across City of Milwaukee

Fire Captain is held in 3 City of Milwaukee departments. In Fire Operations Bureau, the median of $134,607 ranks #1 of 3.

Highest-paying departments for this role

Ems/Training/Education Bureau

$119,382 · 14

Fire - Support Services Bureau

$51,244 · 2

Median total compensation for the Fire Captain role in other City of Milwaukeedepartments (highest first). Each bar links to that department’s page for this role.

Compare jurisdictions

Fire Captain beyond City of Milwaukee

This role is reported in 19 jurisdictions. In City of Milwaukee, the median of $131,975 ranks #11 of 19. See Fire Captain across all of City of Milwaukee →

Highest-paying jurisdictions for this role

$402,076 · 748

$352,297 · 181

$329,749 · 575

$246,977 · 330

$235,922 · 46

$175,601 · 2,876

$163,213 · 257

$149,775 · 31

Median total compensation for comparable Fire Captainroles in other jurisdictions. Titles are matched by normalized name across sources, not identical job classification, and pay is not cost-of-living adjusted. Each bar links to that jurisdiction’s page for the role.

Record list

Employees with this title

Page 1

Joseph Franz

Fire Captain/Fire Operations Bureau

2025 total comp

$150,370

Base pay: $0
Overtime: $15,003
Other pay: $135,367
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $150,370
Hourly rate: $44
Employment type: Full-Time

Source-specific fields

Agency Code: 3281
Comp Time: 0.00
Job Code: 2424F

Joseph Franz holds the role of Fire Captain at Fire Operations Bureau. Their status is full-time. In 2025, their total compensation was $150,370.

Jason Liebherr

Fire Captain/Fire Operations Bureau

2025 total comp

$148,484

Base pay: $0
Overtime: $12,192
Other pay: $136,291
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $148,484
Hourly rate: $44
Employment type: Full-Time

Source-specific fields

Agency Code: 3281
Comp Time: 0.00
Job Code: 2424F
Sick Payout: $14,738
Termination Date: Sep 27, 2025
Vacation Payout: $12,544

Jason Liebherr works as a Fire Captain for Fire Operations Bureau. Their status is full-time. Jason earned $148,484 in 2025.

Robert Vester

Fire Captain/Fire Operations Bureau

2025 total comp

$147,823

Base pay: $0
Overtime: $12,748
Other pay: $135,076
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $147,823
Hourly rate: $44
Employment type: Full-Time

Source-specific fields

Agency Code: 3281
Comp Time: 72.81
Job Code: 2424F

At Fire Operations Bureau, Robert Vester serves as a Fire Captain. They work full-time. Their 2025 pay totaled $147,823.

Thomas Sells

Fire Captain/Fire Operations Bureau

2022 total comp

$147,806

Base pay: $0
Overtime: $30,779
Other pay: $117,027
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $147,806
Hourly rate: $41
Employment type: Full-Time

Source-specific fields

Agency Code: 3281
Comp Time: 802.05
Job Code: 2424F

Thomas Sells holds the role of Fire Captain at Fire Operations Bureau. Their status is full-time. In 2022, their total compensation was $147,806.

Colin Thomas

Fire Captain/Fire Operations Bureau

2025 total comp

$143,095

Base pay: $0
Overtime: $11,319
Other pay: $131,776
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $143,095
Hourly rate: $41
Employment type: Full-Time

Source-specific fields

Agency Code: 3281
Comp Time: 1,461.74
Job Code: 2424F

Colin Thomas holds the role of Fire Captain at Fire Operations Bureau. Their status is full-time. In 2025, their total compensation was $143,095.

Darin Peterburs

Fire Captain/Fire Operations Bureau

2019 total comp

$142,435

Base pay: $0
Overtime: $38,241
Other pay: $104,194
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $142,435
Hourly rate: $38
Employment type: Full-Time

Source-specific fields

Agency Code: 3281
Comp Time: 1,397.85
Job Code: 2424F

Darin Peterburs works as a Fire Captain for Fire Operations Bureau. Their status is full-time. Darin earned $142,435 in 2019.

Jeffrey Collum

Fire Captain/Fire Operations Bureau

2024 total comp

$141,839

Base pay: $0
Overtime: $15,845
Other pay: $125,994
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $141,839
Hourly rate: $41
Employment type: Full-Time

Source-specific fields

Agency Code: 3281
Comp Time: 0.00
Job Code: 2424F

Jeffrey Collum works as a Fire Captain for Fire Operations Bureau. Their status is full-time. Jeffrey earned $141,839 in 2024.