Firefighters salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $34,910 | $16.79 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $59,280 | $28.50 |
| Mean (average) | $63,630 | $30.59 |
| 90th percentile | $101,040 | $48.58 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Firefighters pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 51 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $47,600 | $29,770 | $76,190 | 7,260 | 1.54 |
| Alaska | $58,830 | $35,520 | $82,360 | 1,040 | 1.43 |
| Arizona | $59,280 | $36,700 | $88,220 | 7,500 | 1.04 |
| Arkansas | $39,690 | $28,680 | $60,860 | 2,480 | 0.86 |
| California | $85,120 | $52,390 | $136,150 | 31,470 | 0.78 |
| Colorado | $74,170 | $47,000 | $114,170 | 6,510 | 1.02 |
| Connecticut | $77,630 | $51,320 | $85,500 | 2,970 | 0.79 |
| Delaware | $46,710 | $41,960 | $72,160 | 560 | 0.52 |
| District of Columbia | $75,870 | $61,050 | $99,760 | 1,480 | 0.95 |
| Florida | $58,550 | $37,260 | $93,310 | 24,570 | 1.11 |
| Georgia | $46,550 | $33,000 | $61,510 | 12,700 | 1.17 |
| Idaho | $47,320 | $30,280 | $81,190 | 2,240 | 1.17 |
| Illinois | $78,380 | $38,900 | $106,060 | 18,400 | 1.36 |
| Indiana | $62,780 | $38,460 | $81,890 | 8,530 | 1.2 |
| Iowa | $55,810 | $32,240 | $87,720 | 2,170 | 0.63 |
| Kansas | $45,900 | $32,810 | $76,110 | 3,360 | 1.05 |
| Kentucky | $37,150 | $27,870 | $60,720 | 5,150 | 1.16 |
| Louisiana | $33,120 | $22,510 | $56,670 | 5,230 | 1.22 |
| Maine | $48,290 | $35,740 | $63,740 | 2,480 | 1.74 |
| Maryland | $73,810 | $48,030 | $98,770 | 5,340 | 0.87 |
| Massachusetts | $72,800 | $49,730 | $98,130 | 11,940 | 1.48 |
| Michigan | $54,640 | $37,190 | $78,550 | 6,610 | 0.67 |
| Minnesota | $38,110 | $27,510 | $70,380 | 5,810 | 0.89 |
| Mississippi | $35,880 | $26,850 | $51,310 | 2,920 | 1.13 |
| Missouri | $49,080 | $31,140 | $79,360 | 6,580 | 1.01 |
| Montana | $59,310 | $32,810 | $76,620 | 1,010 | 0.89 |
| Nebraska | $61,040 | $46,660 | $69,460 | 1,070 | 0.47 |
| Nevada | $66,570 | $47,600 | $101,450 | 2,640 | 0.77 |
| New Hampshire | $56,620 | $35,450 | $78,570 | 2,700 | 1.77 |
| New Jersey | $84,130 | $47,920 | $123,940 | 7,500 | 0.79 |
| New Mexico | $41,590 | $31,200 | $57,780 | 2,420 | 1.25 |
| New York | $100,960 | $56,390 | $106,440 | 12,950 | 0.6 |
| North Carolina | $37,940 | $29,360 | $61,940 | 19,410 | 1.77 |
| North Dakota | $55,080 | $39,700 | $77,530 | 820 | 0.86 |
| Ohio | $59,370 | $34,420 | $84,010 | 18,100 | 1.47 |
| Oklahoma | $49,710 | $31,620 | $77,560 | 4,150 | 1.09 |
| Oregon | $70,900 | $38,800 | $104,070 | 3,790 | 0.87 |
| Pennsylvania | $73,460 | $48,620 | $89,190 | 5,020 | 0.37 |
| Puerto Rico | $37,120 | $32,000 | $44,130 | 1,780 | 0.85 |
| Rhode Island | $67,380 | $56,110 | $76,620 | 1,620 | 1.46 |
| South Carolina | $42,570 | $29,130 | $62,150 | 7,780 | 1.52 |
| South Dakota | $48,160 | $39,240 | $61,420 | 610 | 0.6 |
| Tennessee | $49,300 | $33,910 | $70,460 | 7,020 | 0.96 |
| Texas | $60,180 | $40,020 | $77,170 | 28,170 | 0.9 |
| Utah | $48,310 | $27,660 | $80,320 | 2,870 | 0.74 |
| Vermont | $46,430 | $29,790 | $77,200 | ||
| Virginia | $58,670 | $38,310 | $77,310 | 11,160 | 1.22 |
| Washington | $94,520 | $47,640 | $123,980 | 7,560 | 0.96 |
| West Virginia | $37,350 | $29,020 | $51,390 | 900 | 0.58 |
| Wisconsin | $46,850 | $29,390 | $77,050 | 8,120 | 1.24 |
| Wyoming | $58,090 | $39,550 | $78,760 | 680 | 1.09 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for firefighters
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 26,800. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for firefighters
- Typical entry education
- Postsecondary nondegree award
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Long-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Environmental/Natural Resources Law Enforcement and Protective Services CIP 03.0208
- Fire Prevention and Safety Technology/Technician CIP 43.0201
- Fire Science/Fire-fighting CIP 43.0203
- Wildland/Forest Firefighting and Investigation CIP 43.0206
- Fire Protection, Other CIP 43.0299
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Rescue survivors from burning buildings, accident sites, and water hazards.
- Administer first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation to injured persons or provide emergency medical care such as basic or advanced life support.
- Dress with equipment such as fire-resistant clothing and breathing apparatus.
- Move toward the source of a fire, using knowledge of types of fires, construction design, building materials, and physical layout of properties.
- Drive and operate fire fighting vehicles and equipment.
- Respond to fire alarms and other calls for assistance, such as automobile and industrial accidents.
- Search to locate fire survivors.
- Operate pumps connected to high-pressure hoses.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Microsoft Windows (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Affiliated Computer Services ACS FIREHOUSE
- Corel WordPerfect Office Suite
- Email software
- Fire incident reporting systems
- Geographic information system GIS software
- Incident command system ICS software
- Plume modeling software
- Web browser software
Transferable skills for career changers: Coordination, Service Orientation, Judgment and Decision Making, Social Perceptiveness, Complex Problem Solving, Operations Monitoring.
Common job titles: Fire Engineer, Fire Equipment Operator, Fire Rescue Technician (Fire Rescue Tech), Fire Technician (Fire Tech), Fireman, Forest Fire Suppression Specialist, Forestry Fire Technician (Forestry Fire Tech), Hot Shot, Rescue Firefighter, Wildland Firefighter.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do firefighters make?
The national median annual wage for firefighters was $59,280 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $34,910 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $101,040. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do firefighters need?
BLS lists postsecondary nondegree award as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and long-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is firefighters a growing career?
BLS projects employment of firefighters to change +3.7% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 26,800 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay firefighters the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were New York ($100,960), Washington ($94,520), California ($85,120). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.