How much does a firefighter make?
The median firefighter in the United States earns $59,530 per year, about $28.62 an hour. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all firefighters earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2024. SOC code 33-2011.
Firefighter salary range
Pay for firefighters spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $34,490 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $101,330. The average (mean) wage of $63,890 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $34,490 | $16.58 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $44,180 | $21.24 | |
| Median (50th) | $59,530 | $28.62 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $77,410 | $37.22 | |
| 90th percentile | $101,330 | $48.72 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for firefighters (SOC 33-2011), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2024.
Firefighter salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Firefighters earn the most in Washington at $93,490 a year, and the least in Louisiana at $33,700. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | $93,490 | 8,000 |
| New York | $88,380 | 14,730 |
| New Jersey | $87,660 | 6,590 |
| California | $83,400 | 27,580 |
| District of Columbia | $79,430 | 1,430 |
| Illinois | $79,080 | 14,510 |
| Connecticut | $77,660 | 2,860 |
| Colorado | $76,560 | 6,170 |
| Oregon | $73,270 | 3,660 |
| Massachusetts | $73,110 | 11,910 |
| Pennsylvania | $71,430 | N/A |
| Maryland | $70,580 | 5,250 |
| Rhode Island | $69,480 | 1,590 |
| Nevada | $67,120 | 2,360 |
| Montana | $64,020 | 960 |
| Alaska | $63,220 | 1,040 |
| Nebraska | $61,760 | 1,060 |
| Indiana | $61,470 | 8,550 |
| Texas | $60,840 | 30,400 |
| Ohio | $59,470 | 18,750 |
| Arizona | $58,650 | 6,870 |
| Florida | $58,360 | 21,470 |
| Virginia | $58,300 | 10,820 |
| New Hampshire | $57,030 | 2,880 |
| Michigan | $55,570 | 7,390 |
| Iowa | $55,190 | 2,050 |
| Idaho | $53,860 | 2,100 |
| North Dakota | $53,660 | 750 |
| Wyoming | $51,850 | 680 |
| Utah | $49,270 | 2,650 |
| Missouri | $48,470 | 6,740 |
| Delaware | $48,060 | 450 |
| Wisconsin | $47,710 | 8,010 |
| South Dakota | $47,520 | 540 |
| Alabama | $47,490 | 6,930 |
| Maine | $47,490 | 2,390 |
| Tennessee | $47,300 | 6,510 |
| Oklahoma | $47,270 | 4,110 |
| Vermont | $46,130 | 470 |
| Georgia | $45,970 | 11,660 |
| South Carolina | $45,960 | 7,570 |
| Kansas | $44,060 | 3,630 |
| New Mexico | $42,920 | 2,200 |
| Arkansas | $42,100 | 2,280 |
| Minnesota | $41,990 | 4,890 |
| West Virginia | $41,500 | 1,040 |
| North Carolina | $37,250 | 18,200 |
| Kentucky | $37,140 | 5,320 |
| Mississippi | $36,980 | 2,630 |
| Louisiana | $33,700 | 4,690 |
State median wages for firefighters (SOC 33-2011), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS state files, May 2024. States where the BLS does not publish a median are not shown.
Job outlook for firefighters
The BLS projects employment of firefighters to grow 3.7% from 2025 to 2035. That is about as fast as the 3.5% average for all occupations. That works out to roughly 355,300 jobs in 2025 moving toward 368,400 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 26,800 openings a year for firefighters. Most come from the need to replace workers who move to other jobs or leave the workforce, on top of any new positions from growth.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025-35 (Table 1.2, Occupational projections and worker characteristics).
How to become a firefighter
The typical entry-level education for firefighters is a postsecondary nondegree award, such as a certificate, according to the BLS. New hires typically complete long-term on-the-job training to reach full competency.
A four-year college degree is usually not required to start, which makes this one of the jobs you can enter without a bachelor's degree. See more high paying jobs without a degree .
Education, training, and experience data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.
What affects how much a firefighter earns
Employer, region, seniority, rank, and overtime shape take-home pay. Large departments, unions, and high cost areas raise the top of the range.
Location is one of the clearest factors. The gap between the top paying state (Washington, $93,490) and the lowest (Louisiana, $33,700) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 332,240 people work as firefighters in the United States. At $59,530 a year, the job pays above the $49,500 median for all U.S. jobs.
Firefighter salary FAQ
How much does a firefighter make an hour?
The median hourly wage for a firefighter is $28.62. The middle half of firefighters earn between $21.24 and $37.22 per hour.
What is the highest firefighter salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of firefighters earn more than $101,330 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does a firefighter make a year?
The median annual salary for a firefighter is $59,530. The average (mean) wage of $63,890 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
Is being a firefighter a well paid job?
At $59,530 a year, a firefighter earns above the $49,500 median for all U.S. jobs. About 332,240 people work as firefighters in the United States.
Which state pays firefighters the most?
Washington has the highest median salary for firefighters at $93,490 a year. New York ($88,380) and New Jersey ($87,660) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2024.
Is being a firefighter a good career?
Employment of firefighters is projected to grow 3.7% from 2025 to 2035, about as fast as the 3.5% average for all occupations. The BLS projects about 26,800 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become a firefighter?
No. The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for firefighters as a postsecondary nondegree award, such as a certificate, so a four-year degree is usually not required to start.
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