Median Salary
$59,280
per year, national
Hourly Rate
$28.50
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
Top 10% Earn
$101,040
entry level starts ~$34,910
Pay Grade
B
solid pay · 346,000 employed
How much does a Firefighter make?
A Firefighter earns a median annual salary of $59,280 in the United States, which works out to roughly $28.50 per hour for full-time work. Most Firefighters earn between $34,910 at the entry level and $101,040 at the senior end, with the middle 50% taking home between $44,490 and $77,250 a year.
That is $2,110 less than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).
Firefighter salary range by percentile
Half of all Firefighters earn between $44,490 and $77,250 a year.
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $34,910 | $16.78 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $44,490 | $21.39 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $59,280 | $28.50 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $77,250 | $37.14 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $101,040 | $48.58 |
|
Highest-paying states for Firefighter
Where you work matters more than almost anything else. New York leads the country for Firefighter pay at $100,960 a year, followed by Washington ($94,520) and California ($85,120). At the other end, Louisiana posts the lowest median at $33,120 — a gap of $67,840 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.
Firefighter salary in every state
Official BLS state-level figures across 50 states and territories. Click a state for the full local breakdown.
New York $100,960Washington $94,520California $85,120New Jersey $84,130Illinois $78,380Connecticut $77,630District of Columbia $75,870Colorado $74,170Maryland $73,810Pennsylvania $73,460Massachusetts $72,800Oregon $70,900Rhode Island $67,380Nevada $66,570Indiana $62,780Nebraska $61,040Texas $60,180Ohio $59,370Montana $59,310Arizona $59,280Alaska $58,830Virginia $58,670Florida $58,550Wyoming $58,090New Hampshire $56,620Iowa $55,810North Dakota $55,080Michigan $54,640Oklahoma $49,710Tennessee $49,300Missouri $49,080Utah $48,310Maine $48,290South Dakota $48,160Alabama $47,600Idaho $47,320Wisconsin $46,850Delaware $46,710Georgia $46,550Vermont $46,430Kansas $45,900South Carolina $42,570New Mexico $41,590Arkansas $39,690Minnesota $38,110North Carolina $37,940West Virginia $37,350Kentucky $37,150Mississippi $35,880Louisiana $33,120
Workforce and education
About 346,000 people work as Firefighters in the United States. The mean (average) wage is $63,630 — above the median, which means high earners pull the average up. On qualifications: a high school diploma is typically enough, with most skills learned on the job, per O*NET occupation data.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Firefighter make in the United States?
The median Firefighter salary in the United States is $59,280 per year, or about $28.50 per hour, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates. Entry-level pay (10th percentile) starts around $34,910, while the top 10% of earners make $101,040 or more.
How does Firefighter pay compare to other jobs?
With a pay grade of B (solid pay), the Firefighter median of $59,280 is below the national median across all occupations tracked in BLS data ($61,390).
Which state pays Firefighters the most?
New York is the highest-paying state for Firefighters, with a median salary of $100,960 per year, based on official state-level BLS wage estimates.
How long does it take to become a Firefighter?
Becoming a Firefighter typically requires a high school diploma. A high school diploma is typically enough, with most skills learned on the job.
How many Firefighters work in the United States?
About 346,000 people were employed as Firefighters in the United States in the latest BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates.
Related salaries
Other protective service roles with similar pay.
$38,020
median pay · 1,283,000 employed
$74,060
median pay · 6,000 employed
$43,370
median pay · 10,000 employed
$42,540
median pay · 82,000 employed
$56,600
median pay · 17,000 employed
$58,940
median pay · 381,000 employed
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). Percentiles, employment, and state figures are official BLS estimates; hourly figures assume 2,080 hours/year. Individual pay varies by employer, experience, and location.