33 Series · SOC 33-2011
Firefighters Salary
National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).
- $59,280
- Median / year
- $101,040
- Top 10% earn
- +3.4%
- Growth '23–'33
- 345,990
- US workers
Firefighters earn a median of $59,280 per year.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $59,280, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $34,910 (10th percentile) to $101,040 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 345,990 US workers. New York pays the most ($100,960), since pay varies by state and metro area.
The pay verdict
Firefighters earn a median of $59,280, putting them below the typical US occupation and higher than 47% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Protective Service, it ranks #11 of 24 by median pay. Employment is projected to grow 3.4% by 2033.
- $59,280
- Median annual wage
- Top 53%
- of 825 US occupations with published wages
- #11 of 24
- in Protective Service
- 2.9×
- 90th-to-10th pay spread
Highest-paying state: New York at $100,960. Typical entry-level education: Postsecondary nondegree award.
Firefighters (SOC 33-2011) pays a national median of $59,280 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey released in May 2025. Full-range compensation stretches from $34,910 at the 10th percentile to $101,040 at the 90th, with a mean of $63,630 indicating a right-skew where top earners pull the average above the midpoint. An estimated 345,990 Americans work in this occupation across 51 reporting states and 475 metro areas.
BLS Employment Projections forecast a +3.4% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which the agency classifies as slower than average relative to the 5% all-occupations baseline. About 27,100 openings are projected per year, combining new positions with replacement needs from retirements and occupation-switchers. Typical entry-level preparation is Postsecondary nondegree award and long-term on-the-job training of on-the-job training. The BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) and Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) produce a workplace-safety grade of B for this role, with a fatality rate of 5.5 per 100,000 and injury rate of 5 per 100.
Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. New York pays the highest state median at $100,960, which is +70% above the national figure. The top metro is San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA at $152,100 - metro premiums typically reflect higher cost of living, industry concentration, or specialized employer demand. When using this page for negotiation or career planning, pair the national median with the state and metro rows below, remember that BLS wages exclude benefits, bonuses, and overtime, and revisit after each May OEWS release since percentiles shift with cost-of-living cycles and industry demand. See our methodology for exactly how these figures are sourced, computed, and verified.
BLS OEWS May 2025 345,990 jobs Median $59,280/yr
Median Salary
$59,280
per year
Median Hourly
$28.50/hr
per hour
Mean Salary
$63,630
average
Employment
345,990
jobs nationwide
How does this pay compare nationally?
Where Firefighters pay sits nationally
Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median
$59,280 Bottom 47% higher than 47% of 825 US occupations
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025
Does this job pay well and grow?
Each dot is a 33-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Firefighters; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).
Among 24 33-series occupations with growth data, Firefighters sits on the slower-growing side at +3.4% growth and $59,280 median pay.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).
Job Outlook (2024–2034)
Projected Growth
+3.4%
Slower than average
Annual Openings
27,100
per year (projected)
Typical Education
Postsecondary nondegree award
On-the-Job Training
Long-term on-the-job training
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034
Workplace Safety
All safety ratings → B
Safe
Safety Grade (BLS 2023)
Fatality Rate
5.5/100K
Injury Rate
5/100
Danger Index
22.8/100
Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023
Career Intelligence
Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Firefighters roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.
Top Skills
Critical Thinking 3.9
Coordination 3.6
Service Orientation 3.6
Judgment and Decision Making 3.6
Active Listening 3.5
Speaking 3.5
Active Learning 3.5
Monitoring 3.5
Social Perceptiveness 3.4
Complex Problem Solving 3.3
Knowledge Areas
Public Safety and Security 4.5
Customer and Personal Service 4.2
Education and Training 4.1
Building and Construction 4.0
English Language 3.9
Mechanical 3.8
Medicine and Dentistry 3.6
Telecommunications 3.6
Administration and Management 3.4
Transportation 3.4
Key Tasks
- ▸ Rescue survivors from burning buildings, accident sites, and water hazards.
- ▸ Dress with equipment such as fire-resistant clothing and breathing apparatus.
- ▸ Assess fires and situations and report conditions to superiors to receive instructions, using two-way radios.
- ▸ Move toward the source of a fire, using knowledge of types of fires, construction design, building materials, and physical layout of properties.
- ▸ Respond to fire alarms and other calls for assistance, such as automobile and industrial accidents.
- ▸ Create openings in buildings for ventilation or entrance, using axes, chisels, crowbars, electric saws, or core cutters.
- ▸ Drive and operate fire fighting vehicles and equipment.
- ▸ Inspect fire sites after flames have been extinguished to ensure that there is no further danger.
- ▸ Position and climb ladders to gain access to upper levels of buildings, or to rescue individuals from burning structures.
- ▸ Select and attach hose nozzles, depending on fire type, and direct streams of water or chemicals onto fires.
Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.
Salary Range
Annual Salary Distribution
Hourly Rate Distribution
10th Percentile
$34,910
25th Percentile
$44,490
Median
$59,280
75th Percentile
$77,250
90th Percentile
$101,040
Salary by State
Highest Paying States
View all 51 states →
| # | State | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $100,960 | +70% above national |
| 2 | Washington | $94,520 | +59% above national |
| 3 | California | $85,120 | +44% above national |
| 4 | New Jersey | $84,130 | +42% above national |
| 5 | Illinois | $78,380 | +32% above national |
| 6 | Connecticut | $77,630 | +31% above national |
| 7 | District of Columbia | $75,870 | +28% above national |
| 8 | Colorado | $74,170 | +25% above national |
| 9 | Maryland | $73,810 | +25% above national |
| 10 | Pennsylvania | $73,460 | +24% above national |
| 11 | Massachusetts | $72,800 | +23% above national |
| 12 | Oregon | $70,900 | +20% above national |
| 13 | Rhode Island | $67,380 | +14% above national |
| 14 | Nevada | $66,570 | +12% above national |
| 15 | Indiana | $62,780 | +6% above national |
| 16 | Nebraska | $61,040 | +3% above national |
| 17 | Texas | $60,180 | +2% above national |
| 18 | Ohio | $59,370 | same as national |
| 19 | Montana | $59,310 | same as national |
| 20 | Arizona | $59,280 | same as national |
| 21 | Alaska | $58,830 | 1% below national |
| 22 | Virginia | $58,670 | 1% below national |
| 23 | Florida | $58,550 | 1% below national |
| 24 | Wyoming | $58,090 | 2% below national |
| 25 | New Hampshire | $56,620 | 4% below national |
| 26 | Iowa | $55,810 | 6% below national |
| 27 | North Dakota | $55,080 | 7% below national |
| 28 | Michigan | $54,640 | 8% below national |
| 29 | Oklahoma | $49,710 | 16% below national |
| 30 | Tennessee | $49,300 | 17% below national |
| 31 | Missouri | $49,080 | 17% below national |
| 32 | Utah | $48,310 | 19% below national |
| 33 | Maine | $48,290 | 19% below national |
| 34 | South Dakota | $48,160 | 19% below national |
| 35 | Alabama | $47,600 | 20% below national |
| 36 | Idaho | $47,320 | 20% below national |
| 37 | Wisconsin | $46,850 | 21% below national |
| 38 | Delaware | $46,710 | 21% below national |
| 39 | Georgia | $46,550 | 21% below national |
| 40 | Vermont | $46,430 | 22% below national |
| 41 | Kansas | $45,900 | 23% below national |
| 42 | South Carolina | $42,570 | 28% below national |
| 43 | New Mexico | $41,590 | 30% below national |
| 44 | Arkansas | $39,690 | 33% below national |
| 45 | Minnesota | $38,110 | 36% below national |
| 46 | North Carolina | $37,940 | 36% below national |
| 47 | West Virginia | $37,350 | 37% below national |
| 48 | Kentucky | $37,150 | 37% below national |
| 49 | Puerto Rico | $37,120 | 37% below national |
| 50 | Mississippi | $35,880 | 39% below national |
| 51 | Louisiana | $33,120 | 44% below national |
Salary by Metro Area
Highest Paying Metros
View all 475 metro areas →
| # | Metro Area | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $152,100 | +157% above national |
| 2 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $113,700 | +92% above national |
| 3 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $106,420 | +80% above national |
| 4 | Bellingham, WA | $101,130 | +71% above national |
| 5 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $101,090 | +71% above national |
| 6 | Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | $99,930 | +69% above national |
| 7 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $98,050 | +65% above national |
| 8 | Vallejo, CA | $95,950 | +62% above national |
| 9 | Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $95,910 | +62% above national |
| 10 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $94,080 | +59% above national |
| 11 | Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $90,050 | +52% above national |
| 12 | Rochester, NY | $89,120 | +50% above national |
| 13 | Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $88,090 | +49% above national |
| 14 | Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $87,980 | +48% above national |
| 15 | Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $87,400 | +47% above national |
| 16 | Ames, IA | $86,010 | +45% above national |
| 17 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $85,170 | +44% above national |
| 18 | Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $83,310 | +41% above national |
| 19 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $82,820 | +40% above national |
| 20 | Corvallis, OR | $82,700 | +40% above national |
| 21 | Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $82,250 | +39% above national |
| 22 | Binghamton, NY | $81,810 | +38% above national |
| 23 | Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $81,680 | +38% above national |
| 24 | Reno, NV | $81,360 | +37% above national |
| 25 | Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | $81,100 | +37% above national |
| 26 | Salinas, CA | $81,070 | +37% above national |
| 27 | Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | $80,560 | +36% above national |
| 28 | Yuba City, CA | $80,360 | +36% above national |
| 29 | Erie, PA | $80,280 | +35% above national |
| 30 | Napa, CA | $80,260 | +35% above national |
| 31 | Kennewick-Richland, WA | $80,090 | +35% above national |
| 32 | Sheboygan, WI | $79,620 | +34% above national |
| 33 | Stockton-Lodi, CA | $79,540 | +34% above national |
| 34 | Boulder, CO | $79,390 | +34% above national |
| 35 | New Haven, CT | $79,380 | +34% above national |
| 36 | Carson City, NV | $79,170 | +34% above national |
| 37 | Fresno, CA | $79,160 | +34% above national |
| 38 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $79,160 | +34% above national |
| 39 | Longview-Kelso, WA | $78,940 | +33% above national |
| 40 | Abilene, TX | $78,380 | +32% above national |
| 41 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $78,050 | +32% above national |
| 42 | Waterbury-Shelton, CT | $77,630 | +31% above national |
| 43 | Bozeman, MT | $77,430 | +31% above national |
| 44 | Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $77,400 | +31% above national |
| 45 | Modesto, CA | $77,370 | +31% above national |
| 46 | Lubbock, TX | $77,290 | +30% above national |
| 47 | Rockford, IL | $77,150 | +30% above national |
| 48 | Missoula, MT | $76,620 | +29% above national |
| 49 | Boise City, ID | $76,280 | +29% above national |
| 50 | Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | $76,120 | +28% above national |
| 51 | Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $75,990 | +28% above national |
| 52 | San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $75,910 | +28% above national |
| 53 | Fort Wayne, IN | $75,860 | +28% above national |
| 54 | Central East New York nonmetropolitan area | $75,750 | +28% above national |
| 55 | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $75,710 | +28% above national |
| 56 | Utica-Rome, NY | $75,060 | +27% above national |
| 57 | Barnstable Town, MA | $74,870 | +26% above national |
| 58 | Reading, PA | $74,760 | +26% above national |
| 59 | Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $74,470 | +26% above national |
| 60 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $73,990 | +25% above national |
| 61 | Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $73,810 | +25% above national |
| 62 | Peoria, IL | $73,670 | +24% above national |
| 63 | Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $73,020 | +23% above national |
| 64 | Port St. Lucie, FL | $72,760 | +23% above national |
| 65 | Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $72,410 | +22% above national |
| 66 | Eugene-Springfield, OR | $72,280 | +22% above national |
| 67 | Pittsburgh, PA | $72,230 | +22% above national |
| 68 | Chico, CA | $71,830 | +21% above national |
| 69 | Connecticut nonmetropolitan area | $71,450 | +21% above national |
| 70 | Western Washington nonmetropolitan area | $71,170 | +20% above national |
| 71 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $70,900 | +20% above national |
| 72 | Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $70,840 | +20% above national |
| 73 | Grand Junction, CO | $70,190 | +18% above national |
| 74 | Bloomington, IL | $69,270 | +17% above national |
| 75 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $68,970 | +16% above national |
| 76 | Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $68,480 | +16% above national |
| 77 | Billings, MT | $68,100 | +15% above national |
| 78 | Grand Forks, ND-MN | $68,060 | +15% above national |
| 79 | York-Hanover, PA | $67,570 | +14% above national |
| 80 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $66,980 | +13% above national |
| 81 | Evansville, IN | $66,840 | +13% above national |
| 82 | Springfield, MA | $66,720 | +13% above national |
| 83 | Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area | $66,410 | +12% above national |
| 84 | Worcester, MA | $66,310 | +12% above national |
| 85 | Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $66,150 | +12% above national |
| 86 | Janesville-Beloit, WI | $66,000 | +11% above national |
| 87 | Springfield, IL | $65,330 | +10% above national |
| 88 | Michigan City-La Porte, IN | $65,230 | +10% above national |
| 89 | Redding, CA | $65,170 | +10% above national |
| 90 | Visalia, CA | $65,170 | +10% above national |
| 91 | Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $65,170 | +10% above national |
| 92 | Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $64,980 | +10% above national |
| 93 | Southwest New York nonmetropolitan area | $64,940 | +10% above national |
| 94 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $64,900 | +9% above national |
| 95 | Salem, OR | $64,900 | +9% above national |
| 96 | Anchorage, AK | $64,810 | +9% above national |
| 97 | Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $64,540 | +9% above national |
| 98 | Eastern Washington nonmetropolitan area | $63,980 | +8% above national |
| 99 | Merced, CA | $63,940 | +8% above national |
| 100 | Elkhart-Goshen, IN | $63,760 | +8% above national |
| 101 | Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI | $63,590 | +7% above national |
| 102 | San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $63,360 | +7% above national |
| 103 | Medford, OR | $63,130 | +6% above national |
| 104 | Colorado Springs, CO | $63,110 | +6% above national |
| 105 | Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $62,910 | +6% above national |
| 106 | Capital/Northern New York nonmetropolitan area | $62,860 | +6% above national |
| 107 | Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT | $62,850 | +6% above national |
| 108 | Northwestern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $62,820 | +6% above national |
| 109 | Muncie, IN | $62,780 | +6% above national |
| 110 | Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | $62,760 | +6% above national |
| 111 | Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $62,730 | +6% above national |
| 112 | Cleveland, OH | $62,720 | +6% above national |
| 113 | North Coast Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $62,660 | +6% above national |
| 114 | North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $62,660 | +6% above national |
| 115 | Waco, TX | $62,650 | +6% above national |
| 116 | Greeley, CO | $62,640 | +6% above national |
| 117 | Decatur, IL | $62,430 | +5% above national |
| 118 | Champaign-Urbana, IL | $62,190 | +5% above national |
| 119 | Bend, OR | $62,140 | +5% above national |
| 120 | North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | $62,120 | +5% above national |
| 121 | Yakima, WA | $62,120 | +5% above national |
| 122 | Northeast Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | $62,010 | +5% above national |
| 123 | Columbus, OH | $61,780 | +4% above national |
| 124 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $61,780 | +4% above national |
| 125 | Pueblo, CO | $61,560 | +4% above national |
| 126 | Oklahoma City, OK | $61,460 | +4% above national |
| 127 | Cedar Rapids, IA | $61,370 | +4% above national |
| 128 | Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | $61,190 | +3% above national |
| 129 | Akron, OH | $61,140 | +3% above national |
| 130 | Albany, OR | $61,060 | +3% above national |
| 131 | Omaha, NE-IA | $61,040 | +3% above national |
| 132 | Idaho Falls, ID | $60,930 | +3% above national |
| 133 | Richmond, VA | $60,790 | +3% above national |
| 134 | Kansas City, MO-KS | $60,770 | +3% above national |
| 135 | Watertown-Fort Drum, NY | $60,700 | +2% above national |
| 136 | Sherman-Denison, TX | $60,650 | +2% above national |
| 137 | Toledo, OH | $60,590 | +2% above national |
| 138 | Southern Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $60,560 | +2% above national |
| 139 | Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA | $60,410 | +2% above national |
| 140 | Lebanon, PA | $60,320 | +2% above national |
| 141 | Balance of Nevada nonmetropolitan area | $60,090 | +1% above national |
| 142 | Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $60,080 | +1% above national |
| 143 | Great Falls, MT | $60,080 | +1% above national |
| 144 | Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $60,030 | +1% above national |
| 145 | Lima, OH | $60,020 | +1% above national |
| 146 | Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL | $60,000 | +1% above national |
| 147 | Kankakee, IL | $59,850 | +1% above national |
| 148 | Naples-Marco Island, FL | $59,850 | +1% above national |
| 149 | Northwest Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $59,800 | +1% above national |
| 150 | Lincoln, NE | $59,760 | +1% above national |
| 151 | Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $59,660 | +1% above national |
| 152 | Northern Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $59,320 | same as national |
| 153 | Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $59,280 | same as national |
| 154 | Amherst Town-Northampton, MA | $59,270 | same as national |
| 155 | Eastern Wyoming nonmetropolitan area | $59,220 | same as national |
| 156 | Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $59,150 | same as national |
| 157 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $59,120 | same as national |
| 158 | Laredo, TX | $59,100 | same as national |
| 159 | Chambersburg, PA | $59,050 | same as national |
| 160 | Sebastian-Vero Beach-West Vero Corridor, FL | $59,010 | same as national |
| 161 | Jacksonville, FL | $58,940 | 1% below national |
| 162 | Lewiston, ID-WA | $58,920 | 1% below national |
| 163 | Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $58,830 | 1% below national |
| 164 | Coeur d'Alene, ID | $58,820 | 1% below national |
| 165 | Alaska nonmetropolitan area | $58,670 | 1% below national |
| 166 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $58,570 | 1% below national |
| 167 | Manchester-Nashua, NH | $58,560 | 1% below national |
| 168 | West Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $58,530 | 1% below national |
| 169 | Syracuse, NY | $58,470 | 1% below national |
| 170 | Northwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area | $58,440 | 1% below national |
| 171 | Tuscaloosa, AL | $58,400 | 1% below national |
| 172 | West North Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $58,030 | 2% below national |
| 173 | East Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $58,010 | 2% below national |
| 174 | Killeen-Temple, TX | $57,660 | 3% below national |
| 175 | Topeka, KS | $57,570 | 3% below national |
| 176 | Lansing-East Lansing, MI | $57,540 | 3% below national |
| 177 | Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | $57,400 | 3% below national |
| 178 | Central Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $57,320 | 3% below national |
| 179 | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $56,940 | 4% below national |
| 180 | Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $56,910 | 4% below national |
| 181 | Northeast Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $56,670 | 4% below national |
| 182 | Pittsfield, MA | $56,640 | 4% below national |
| 183 | Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL | $56,620 | 4% below national |
| 184 | South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $56,450 | 5% below national |
| 185 | Madison, WI | $56,430 | 5% below national |
| 186 | South Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | $56,410 | 5% below national |
| 187 | Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | $56,260 | 5% below national |
| 188 | East North Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $56,120 | 5% below national |
| 189 | Massachusetts nonmetropolitan area | $55,850 | 6% below national |
| 190 | Vineland, NJ | $55,780 | 6% below national |
| 191 | Southeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $55,380 | 7% below national |
| 192 | Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $55,220 | 7% below national |
| 193 | Burlington-South Burlington, VT | $54,990 | 7% below national |
| 194 | Clarksville, TN-KY | $54,950 | 7% below national |
| 195 | Lancaster, PA | $54,890 | 7% below national |
| 196 | Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $54,850 | 7% below national |
| 197 | Lake Havasu City-Kingman, AZ | $54,810 | 8% below national |
| 198 | Terre Haute, IN | $54,460 | 8% below national |
| 199 | Helena, MT | $54,260 | 8% below national |
| 200 | Yuma, AZ | $54,220 | 9% below national |
| 201 | Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZ | $53,530 | 10% below national |
| 202 | Northeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $53,320 | 10% below national |
| 203 | Manhattan, KS | $53,290 | 10% below national |
| 204 | Fargo, ND-MN | $53,130 | 10% below national |
| 205 | Lewiston-Auburn, ME | $52,930 | 11% below national |
| 206 | Midland, MI | $52,800 | 11% below national |
| 207 | Central New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area | $52,640 | 11% below national |
| 208 | Western Wyoming nonmetropolitan area | $52,430 | 12% below national |
| 209 | Battle Creek, MI | $52,200 | 12% below national |
| 210 | Lawrence, KS | $51,930 | 12% below national |
| 211 | Southeast Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $51,630 | 13% below national |
| 212 | Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | $51,520 | 13% below national |
| 213 | Birmingham, AL | $51,050 | 14% below national |
| 214 | Johnstown, PA | $51,050 | 14% below national |
| 215 | North Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $51,000 | 14% below national |
| 216 | Border Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $50,980 | 14% below national |
| 217 | Fairbanks-College, AK | $50,840 | 14% below national |
| 218 | Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $50,840 | 14% below national |
| 219 | McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | $50,740 | 14% below national |
| 220 | Iowa City, IA | $50,600 | 15% below national |
| 221 | Niles, MI | $50,600 | 15% below national |
| 222 | Savannah, GA | $50,470 | 15% below national |
| 223 | Flagstaff, AZ | $50,380 | 15% below national |
| 224 | Victoria, TX | $50,350 | 15% below national |
| 225 | El Paso, TX | $50,300 | 15% below national |
| 226 | Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC | $50,210 | 15% below national |
| 227 | Coastal Plains Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $50,190 | 15% below national |
| 228 | Texarkana, TX-AR | $49,940 | 16% below national |
| 229 | Central Oregon nonmetropolitan area | $49,910 | 16% below national |
| 230 | Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $49,760 | 16% below national |
| 231 | Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | $49,690 | 16% below national |
| 232 | Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $49,650 | 16% below national |
| 233 | Ogden, UT | $49,490 | 17% below national |
| 234 | Coast Oregon nonmetropolitan area | $49,420 | 17% below national |
| 235 | Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA | $49,410 | 17% below national |
| 236 | Gainesville, FL | $49,380 | 17% below national |
| 237 | Portland-South Portland, ME | $49,320 | 17% below national |
| 238 | Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $49,300 | 17% below national |
| 239 | Prescott Valley-Prescott, AZ | $49,240 | 17% below national |
| 240 | Southwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area | $49,240 | 17% below national |
| 241 | Hinesville, GA | $49,210 | 17% below national |
| 242 | Minot, ND | $49,060 | 17% below national |
| 243 | Montgomery, AL | $48,780 | 18% below national |
| 244 | Columbus, GA-AL | $48,770 | 18% below national |
| 245 | Corpus Christi, TX | $48,700 | 18% below national |
| 246 | Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | $48,560 | 18% below national |
| 247 | Ann Arbor, MI | $48,460 | 18% below national |
| 248 | Maryland nonmetropolitan area | $48,430 | 18% below national |
| 249 | Amarillo, TX | $48,420 | 18% below national |
| 250 | Southside Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $48,220 | 19% below national |
| 251 | Rapid City, SD | $48,160 | 19% below national |
| 252 | Dalton, GA | $48,110 | 19% below national |
| 253 | Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | $48,110 | 19% below national |
| 254 | Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH | $48,070 | 19% below national |
| 255 | Northwest Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $48,040 | 19% below national |
| 256 | Bangor, ME | $48,020 | 19% below national |
| 257 | Huntsville, AL | $48,010 | 19% below national |
| 258 | Green Bay, WI | $47,980 | 19% below national |
| 259 | South Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $47,970 | 19% below national |
| 260 | Tucson, AZ | $47,960 | 19% below national |
| 261 | Jacksonville, NC | $47,870 | 19% below national |
| 262 | San Angelo, TX | $47,840 | 19% below national |
| 263 | Southern Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $47,840 | 19% below national |
| 264 | Southwest Montana nonmetropolitan area | $47,770 | 19% below national |
| 265 | West Montana nonmetropolitan area | $47,770 | 19% below national |
| 266 | East-Central Montana nonmetropolitan area | $47,770 | 19% below national |
| 267 | Jackson, MI | $47,690 | 20% below national |
| 268 | Tulsa, OK | $47,600 | 20% below national |
| 269 | Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $47,540 | 20% below national |
| 270 | Northeast Maine nonmetropolitan area | $47,460 | 20% below national |
| 271 | Bismarck, ND | $47,440 | 20% below national |
| 272 | Homosassa Springs, FL | $47,340 | 20% below national |
| 273 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $47,300 | 20% below national |
| 274 | Sandusky, OH | $47,270 | 20% below national |
| 275 | Northwestern Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $47,260 | 20% below national |
| 276 | Knoxville, TN | $47,160 | 20% below national |
| 277 | Jefferson City, MO | $47,030 | 21% below national |
| 278 | Traverse City, MI | $46,990 | 21% below national |
| 279 | Northern New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area | $46,960 | 21% below national |
| 280 | Wasatch Front Fringe Utah nonmetropolitan area | $46,890 | 21% below national |
| 281 | Gainesville, GA | $46,870 | 21% below national |
| 282 | Charlottesville, VA | $46,860 | 21% below national |
| 283 | Kenosha, WI | $46,850 | 21% below national |
| 284 | Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $46,830 | 21% below national |
| 285 | Wausau, WI | $46,820 | 21% below national |
| 286 | Appleton, WI | $46,800 | 21% below national |
| 287 | Mobile, AL | $46,770 | 21% below national |
| 288 | West South Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $46,730 | 21% below national |
| 289 | Sussex Delaware nonmetropolitan area | $46,660 | 21% below national |
| 290 | Greensboro-High Point, NC | $46,600 | 21% below national |
| 291 | Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL | $46,580 | 21% below national |
| 292 | Albany, GA | $46,540 | 21% below national |
| 293 | Eastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $46,400 | 22% below national |
| 294 | Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL | $46,260 | 22% below national |
| 295 | Brownsville-Harlingen, TX | $46,220 | 22% below national |
| 296 | Rocky Mount, NC | $46,210 | 22% below national |
| 297 | Punta Gorda, FL | $46,170 | 22% below national |
| 298 | Western Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $46,110 | 22% below national |
| 299 | East Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $46,090 | 22% below national |
| 300 | El Centro, CA | $46,080 | 22% below national |
| 301 | Chattanooga, TN-GA | $46,060 | 22% below national |
| 302 | Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL | $46,010 | 22% below national |
| 303 | Mansfield, OH | $45,930 | 23% below national |
| 304 | Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC | $45,890 | 23% below national |
| 305 | South Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $45,860 | 23% below national |
| 306 | South Florida nonmetropolitan area | $45,830 | 23% below national |
| 307 | Longview, TX | $45,820 | 23% below national |
| 308 | Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL | $45,770 | 23% below national |
| 309 | Wichita Falls, TX | $45,710 | 23% below national |
| 310 | Macon-Bibb County, GA | $45,660 | 23% below national |
| 311 | Raleigh-Cary, NC | $45,640 | 23% below national |
| 312 | North Northeastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area (noncontiguous) | $45,630 | 23% below national |
| 313 | Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $45,520 | 23% below national |
| 314 | Kalamazoo-Portage, MI | $45,480 | 23% below national |
| 315 | Lynchburg, VA | $45,450 | 23% below national |
| 316 | East South Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $45,330 | 24% below national |
| 317 | Southern South Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $45,270 | 24% below national |
| 318 | Southern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $45,220 | 24% below national |
| 319 | Grants Pass, OR | $45,180 | 24% below national |
| 320 | Southwest Maine nonmetropolitan area | $45,180 | 24% below national |
| 321 | Eastern Oregon nonmetropolitan area | $45,180 | 24% below national |
| 322 | Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $45,160 | 24% below national |
| 323 | Fond du Lac, WI | $45,110 | 24% below national |
| 324 | Springfield, MO | $44,990 | 24% below national |
| 325 | North Florida nonmetropolitan area | $44,990 | 24% below national |
| 326 | High Desert Utah nonmetropolitan area | $44,990 | 24% below national |
| 327 | Southern Vermont nonmetropolitan area | $44,820 | 24% below national |
| 328 | Rome, GA | $44,780 | 24% below national |
| 329 | Monroe, MI | $44,730 | 25% below national |
| 330 | Hill Country Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $44,690 | 25% below national |
| 331 | Saginaw, MI | $44,550 | 25% below national |
| 332 | Logan, UT-ID | $44,440 | 25% below national |
| 333 | Auburn-Opelika, AL | $44,400 | 25% below national |
| 334 | Southeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $44,340 | 25% below national |
| 335 | Pocatello, ID | $44,250 | 25% below national |
| 336 | Eastern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area | $44,170 | 25% below national |
| 337 | St. George, UT | $44,140 | 26% below national |
| 338 | Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $44,110 | 26% below national |
| 339 | Northern Vermont nonmetropolitan area | $44,040 | 26% below national |
| 340 | Harrisonburg, VA | $43,900 | 26% below national |
| 341 | Sumter, SC | $43,890 | 26% below national |
| 342 | Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | $43,850 | 26% below national |
| 343 | Tyler, TX | $43,740 | 26% below national |
| 344 | Sebring, FL | $43,660 | 26% below national |
| 345 | Decatur, AL | $43,650 | 26% below national |
| 346 | Upper Peninsula of Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $43,560 | 27% below national |
| 347 | Columbus, IN | $43,510 | 27% below national |
| 348 | Youngstown-Warren, OH | $43,420 | 27% below national |
| 349 | Northeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $43,250 | 27% below national |
| 350 | Northern Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $42,980 | 27% below national |
| 351 | Southeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $42,850 | 28% below national |
| 352 | Las Cruces, NM | $42,820 | 28% below national |
| 353 | Northern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $42,550 | 28% below national |
| 354 | Albuquerque, NM | $42,420 | 28% below national |
| 355 | Eastern Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $41,950 | 29% below national |
| 356 | Wichita, KS | $41,900 | 29% below national |
| 357 | Beckley, WV | $41,770 | 30% below national |
| 358 | Gulfport-Biloxi, MS | $41,760 | 30% below national |
| 359 | Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI | $41,580 | 30% below national |
| 360 | Wheeling, WV-OH | $41,140 | 31% below national |
| 361 | Southwestern New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area | $41,110 | 31% below national |
| 362 | Northwest Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $41,070 | 31% below national |
| 363 | Northwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $40,890 | 31% below national |
| 364 | Johnson City, TN | $40,720 | 31% below national |
| 365 | North Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $40,340 | 32% below national |
| 366 | Warner Robins, GA | $40,330 | 32% below national |
| 367 | Canton-Massillon, OH | $40,170 | 32% below national |
| 368 | Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $39,980 | 33% below national |
| 369 | Anniston-Oxford, AL | $39,940 | 33% below national |
| 370 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $39,350 | 34% below national |
| 371 | Roanoke, VA | $39,310 | 34% below national |
| 372 | Flint, MI | $39,150 | 34% below national |
| 373 | Northeast Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $39,020 | 34% below national |
| 374 | Mid Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $38,940 | 34% below national |
| 375 | La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | $38,900 | 34% below national |
| 376 | Joplin, MO-KS | $38,850 | 34% below national |
| 377 | Charleston, WV | $38,780 | 35% below national |
| 378 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $38,700 | 35% below national |
| 379 | North Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $38,700 | 35% below national |
| 380 | North Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $38,590 | 35% below national |
| 381 | Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR | $38,570 | 35% below national |
| 382 | Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | $38,380 | 35% below national |
| 383 | Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $38,350 | 35% below national |
| 384 | West Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $38,260 | 35% below national |
| 385 | St. Joseph, MO-KS | $38,220 | 36% below national |
| 386 | Southwest Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $38,220 | 36% below national |
| 387 | Southwest Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $38,140 | 36% below national |
| 388 | Northeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $38,030 | 36% below national |
| 389 | Alexandria, LA | $38,010 | 36% below national |
| 390 | Kansas nonmetropolitan area | $37,810 | 36% below national |
| 391 | Bloomington, IN | $37,620 | 37% below national |
| 392 | Shreveport-Bossier City, LA | $37,620 | 37% below national |
| 393 | Northern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area | $37,590 | 37% below national |
| 394 | Northeastern South Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $37,590 | 37% below national |
| 395 | West Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $37,540 | 37% below national |
| 396 | Eastern North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $37,510 | 37% below national |
| 397 | Northwestern Idaho nonmetropolitan area | $37,500 | 37% below national |
| 398 | Asheville, NC | $37,450 | 37% below national |
| 399 | South Central Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $37,450 | 37% below national |
| 400 | Duluth, MN-WI | $37,410 | 37% below national |
| 401 | Southeast-Central Idaho nonmetropolitan area | $37,290 | 37% below national |
| 402 | New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $37,250 | 37% below national |
| 403 | Northwest Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $37,230 | 37% below national |
| 404 | Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL | $37,150 | 37% below national |
| 405 | San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR | $37,120 | 37% below national |
| 406 | Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT | $37,110 | 37% below national |
| 407 | Columbia, SC | $36,960 | 38% below national |
| 408 | Twin Falls, ID | $36,940 | 38% below national |
| 409 | Fayetteville, NC | $36,820 | 38% below national |
| 410 | Northwestern South Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $36,780 | 38% below national |
| 411 | Gadsden, AL | $36,700 | 38% below national |
| 412 | Southwest Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $36,690 | 38% below national |
| 413 | Dothan, AL | $36,610 | 38% below national |
| 414 | Burlington, NC | $36,520 | 38% below national |
| 415 | Lawton, OK | $36,500 | 38% below national |
| 416 | Lexington-Fayette, KY | $36,490 | 38% below national |
| 417 | Southwest Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $36,490 | 38% below national |
| 418 | Spartanburg, SC | $36,360 | 39% below national |
| 419 | Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $36,340 | 39% below national |
| 420 | Jackson, TN | $36,140 | 39% below national |
| 421 | Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $36,060 | 39% below national |
| 422 | Morristown, TN | $36,040 | 39% below national |
| 423 | Eau Claire, WI | $36,030 | 39% below national |
| 424 | Fort Smith, AR-OK | $35,990 | 39% below national |
| 425 | Lower East Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $35,860 | 40% below national |
| 426 | South Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $35,820 | 40% below national |
| 427 | Winston-Salem, NC | $35,730 | 40% below national |
| 428 | East Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $35,720 | 40% below national |
| 429 | Northwestern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $35,610 | 40% below national |
| 430 | Wilmington, NC | $35,580 | 40% below national |
| 431 | Goldsboro, NC | $35,500 | 40% below national |
| 432 | Middle Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $35,450 | 40% below national |
| 433 | West Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $35,250 | 41% below national |
| 434 | Bowling Green, KY | $35,240 | 41% below national |
| 435 | East Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $35,220 | 41% below national |
| 436 | Rochester, MN | $35,200 | 41% below national |
| 437 | Southwestern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $35,140 | 41% below national |
| 438 | Jackson, MS | $34,970 | 41% below national |
| 439 | Central North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $34,950 | 41% below national |
| 440 | Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $34,870 | 41% below national |
| 441 | South Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $34,730 | 41% below national |
| 442 | Jonesboro, AR | $34,630 | 42% below national |
| 443 | Valdosta, GA | $34,600 | 42% below national |
| 444 | West Northwestern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $34,540 | 42% below national |
| 445 | Greenville, NC | $34,430 | 42% below national |
| 446 | Southeast Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $34,270 | 42% below national |
| 447 | Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC | $34,200 | 42% below national |
| 448 | Mankato, MN | $34,190 | 42% below national |
| 449 | Elizabethtown, KY | $34,030 | 43% below national |
| 450 | St. Cloud, MN | $33,820 | 43% below national |
| 451 | Lower West Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $33,790 | 43% below national |
| 452 | Central Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $33,440 | 44% below national |
| 453 | Baton Rouge, LA | $33,260 | 44% below national |
| 454 | Northwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $33,190 | 44% below national |
| 455 | Florence, SC | $32,570 | 45% below national |
| 456 | Hot Springs, AR | $31,440 | 47% below national |
| 457 | Santa Fe, NM | $31,200 | 47% below national |
| 458 | North Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $31,200 | 47% below national |
| 459 | Western North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $31,200 | 47% below national |
| 460 | Hattiesburg, MS | $30,830 | 48% below national |
| 461 | Upper East Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $30,800 | 48% below national |
| 462 | Lafayette, LA | $30,100 | 49% below national |
| 463 | West Delta Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $30,060 | 49% below national |
| 464 | Southern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $29,930 | 50% below national |
| 465 | Lake Charles, LA | $29,550 | 50% below national |
| 466 | Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA | $29,500 | 50% below national |
| 467 | Central Louisiana nonmetropolitan area | $28,860 | 51% below national |
| 468 | Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA | $28,360 | 52% below national |
| 469 | Hammond, LA | $28,330 | 52% below national |
| 470 | South Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $28,060 | 53% below national |
| 471 | Northeast Louisiana nonmetropolitan area | $27,780 | 53% below national |
| 472 | Southwest Louisiana nonmetropolitan area | $26,610 | 55% below national |
| 473 | Southwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $26,090 | 56% below national |
| 474 | East Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $24,960 | 58% below national |
| 475 | Monroe, LA | $22,800 | 62% below national |
Similar Occupations in the Same Category
Other roles in SOC major group 33 (protective service) with comparable pay and career paths.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Firefighters make? ▼
The median annual salary for Firefighters is $59,280 ($28.50/hour). The salary range spans from $34,910 at the 10th percentile to $101,040 at the 90th percentile.
What state pays Firefighters the most? ▼
New York pays the highest median salary for Firefighters at $100,960/year, which is +70% above the national median.
What education do you need to become a Firefighters? ▼
The typical entry-level education for Firefighters is Postsecondary nondegree award. On-the-job training: Long-term on-the-job training.
How dangerous is being a Firefighters? ▼
Firefighters has a safety grade of B (Safe) based on BLS data. The fatality rate is 5.5 per 100,000 workers and the injury rate is 5 per 100 workers.
Is Firefighters a good career? ▼
Employment for Firefighters is projected to grow 3.4% from 2024 to 2034, which is slower than average. About 27,100 openings are projected each year.
How does Firefighters pay vary by state? ▼
Firefighters salaries vary significantly by state. The highest-paying state is New York at $100,960/year, while West Virginia pays the least at $37,350/year. BLS data covers 51 states and territories.
Which metro areas pay the most for Firefighters? ▼
The highest-paying metro area for Firefighters is San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA at $152,100/year. BLS reports wage data for 475 metro areas for this occupation, with pay varying based on local demand and cost of living.
What to do with this data
How to use Firefighters pay figures in a real decision
- For an experienced offer, anchor on the 75th percentile (about $77,250/year), not the median. The median marks the middle worker; the upper quartile is the realistic target with strong experience. Salary calculator
- Location moves pay significantly: New York leads at $100,960/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
- Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs
These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.
Every figure on WageDex is rendered directly from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, no number is typed in by an editor. This occupation's figures are computed directly from the BLS OEWS and Employment Projections datasets, nothing is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2025.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.