Firefighter salary

Firefighters in the U.S. earn a median $59,280 a year.

Median pay
$59,280
Median hourly
$28.50
Typical range
$34,910–$101,040
Jobs
345,990

Pay range

Annual pay percentiles for firefighters in the U.S.
PercentileAnnual pay
10th (entry level)$34,910
25th$44,490
Median$59,280
75th$77,250
90th (top earners)$101,040

Pay in the biggest metro areas

Median pay by metro area
Metro areaMedian payJobs
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ$106,42014,960
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN$82,82014,560
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX$64,9008,780
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH$73,9908,510
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV$66,9807,610
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA$98,0507,200
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL$75,7106,600
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA$47,3006,350
Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX$59,1205,780
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC$38,7004,700

Firefighter salary by state

  1. 1New York$100,960
  2. 2Washington$94,520
  3. 3California$85,120
  4. 4New Jersey$84,130
  5. 5Illinois$78,380
  6. 6Connecticut$77,630
  7. –District of Columbia$75,870
  8. 7Colorado$74,170
  9. 8Maryland$73,810
  10. 9Pennsylvania$73,460
  11. 10Massachusetts$72,800
  12. 11Oregon$70,900
  13. 12Rhode Island$67,380
  14. 13Nevada$66,570
  15. 14Indiana$62,780
  16. 15Nebraska$61,040
  17. 16Texas$60,180
  18. 17Ohio$59,370
  19. 18Montana$59,310
  20. 19Arizona$59,280
  21. 20Alaska$58,830
  22. 21Virginia$58,670
  23. 22Florida$58,550
  24. 23Wyoming$58,090
  25. 24New Hampshire$56,620
  26. 25Iowa$55,810
  27. 26North Dakota$55,080
  28. 27Michigan$54,640
  29. 28Oklahoma$49,710
  30. 29Tennessee$49,300
  31. 30Missouri$49,080
  32. 31Utah$48,310
  33. 32Maine$48,290
  34. 33South Dakota$48,160
  35. 34Alabama$47,600
  36. 35Idaho$47,320
  37. 36Wisconsin$46,850
  38. 37Delaware$46,710
  39. 38Georgia$46,550
  40. 39Vermont$46,430
  41. 40Kansas$45,900
  42. 41South Carolina$42,570
  43. 42New Mexico$41,590
  44. 43Arkansas$39,690
  45. 44Minnesota$38,110
  46. 45North Carolina$37,940
  47. 46West Virginia$37,350
  48. 47Kentucky$37,150
  49. –Puerto Rico$37,120
  50. 48Mississippi$35,880
  51. 49Louisiana$33,120

Start training

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Frequently asked questions

How much do firefighters make?

The median pay for firefighters in the U.S. is $59,280 a year ($28.50 an hour), according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $34,910, and the top 10% earn over $101,040.

Which states pay firefighters the most?

The top-paying states are New York ($100,960), Washington ($94,520), California ($85,120), New Jersey ($84,130), Illinois ($78,380).

How can a firefighter earn more?

Pay rises with experience, certifications, specialized skills, overtime and willingness to travel. Union jobs and employers in high-cost metro areas often pay more. Our guide on how to become a firefighter covers the certifications that matter most.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (Firefighters, SOC 33-2011). Figures exclude self-employed workers.