SOC 332011

Firefighters

Control and extinguish fires or respond to emergency situations where life, property, or the environment is at risk. Duties may include fire prevention, emergency medical service, hazardous material response, search and rescue, and disaster assistance.

National Median

$59,530

per year

National Salary Overview

Median Annual

$59,530

Entry Level (10th pct)

$34,490

Experienced (90th pct)

$101,330

Total Employed

332,240

Salary Distribution

Salary percentiles show the range from entry-level (10th) to top earners (90th)

Salary by Experience Level

Experience LevelEstimated Salary Range
Entry Level0-2 years experience$34,490 - $44,180
Mid Career2-8 years experience$44,180 - $77,410
Senior / Expert8+ years experience$77,410 - $101,330

Highest Paying Locations for Firefighters

Firefighters Salary by Location

Compare salaries across 50 metropolitan areas

Metropolitan AreaMedian SalaryEmployed
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$164,9401,180
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$121,2703,410
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA$108,3202,140
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ$105,25015,770
Vallejo, CA$104,460330
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$102,2204,150
Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA$100,040420
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA$99,2107,200
Longview-Kelso, WA$97,460100
Washington$93,4908,000
Bellingham, WA$93,170270
Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA$90,180350
Trenton-Princeton, NJ$88,970370
Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO$88,8602,900
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA$88,440410
Rochester, NY$88,380800
New York$88,38014,730
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN$88,29010,560
Fort Collins-Loveland, CO$88,270300
New Jersey$87,6606,590
Port St. Lucie, FL$87,640500
Ames, IA$86,14060
Medford, OR$85,830150
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA$85,3001,670
Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA$84,290690
Modesto, CA$84,200360
Corvallis, OR$83,68070
California$83,40027,580
Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ$82,000380
Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT$80,780790
Boulder, CO$80,330320
Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ$80,300320
Carson City, NV$80,11070
District of Columbia$79,4301,430
Salinas, CA$79,310590
Abilene, TX$79,310210
Kennewick-Richland, WA$79,210270
Illinois$79,08014,510
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD$78,9803,440
Napa, CA$78,780260
Waterbury-Shelton, CT$78,410230
Walla Walla, WA$78,38030
New Haven, CT$78,090550
Rockford, IL$78,060360
Connecticut$77,6602,860
Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA$77,590260
Missoula, MT$77,390140
Redding, CA$77,130320
Stockton-Lodi, CA$77,100310
Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA$76,920190

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average salary for a Firefighters?
The national median annual salary for Firefighters is $59,530, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data. This means half of workers in this occupation earn more, and half earn less.
Where do Firefighterss earn the most?
The highest-paying metro area for Firefighterss is San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA, with a median salary of $164,940.
How much can an experienced Firefighters make?
Top-earning Firefighterss (90th percentile) make $101,330 or more annually. This typically reflects workers with significant experience, specialized skills, or positions in high-paying regions.