Firefighter earnings by seniority

90th percentile

Top-level firefighter earnings begin at:

$36.83 per hour

$76,610 per year

75th percentile

Senior-level firefighter earnings begin at:

$28.50 per hour

$59,280 per year

50th percentile

Mid-level firefighter earnings begin at:

$22.40 per hour

$46,590 per year

25th percentile

Junior-level firefighter earnings begin at:

$15.86 per hour

$32,980 per year

10th percentile

Starting level firefighter earnings begin at:

$11.03 per hour

$22,950 per year

Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.

Firefighter salary by state

State Name Average Salary
New Jersey $79,910
Washington $78,620
New York $78,520
California $77,640
Connecticut $75,060
Oregon $65,120
Colorado $63,830
Nebraska $63,290
Rhode Island $63,080
Hawaii $61,130
Massachusetts $61,130
Pennsylvania $61,130
Alaska $60,320
Illinois $59,860
Maryland $59,860
Nevada $59,280
Texas $52,420
Montana $51,220
Indiana $50,700
Florida $50,690
Ohio $50,690
New Hampshire $50,280
North Dakota $50,130
Iowa $48,800
Virginia $48,000
Arizona $47,520
Oklahoma $47,520
Vermont $47,520
Guam $47,440
South Dakota $47,020
Michigan $46,930
Missouri $46,590
Wyoming $46,590
Maine $46,210
Alabama $40,330
Wisconsin $40,130
Delaware $40,090
Idaho $39,800
Utah $39,540
Kansas $39,490
Georgia $39,210
Tennessee $39,210
South Carolina $37,750
Arkansas $36,750
New Mexico $36,750
West Virginia $36,450
North Carolina $34,470
Minnesota $32,240
Mississippi $31,530
Kentucky $30,940
Louisiana $29,500
Puerto Rico $27,890

How do firefighter salaries compare to similar careers?

Firefighters earn about the same as related careers in Missouri. On average, they make less than postal service workers but more than probation officers.

Career Median Salary
Postal service worker salary $50K
Travel agent salary $45K
Precious metal worker salary $50K
Meter reader salary $38K
American sign language interpreter salary $48K
Firefighter salary $47K
Financial clerk salary $41K
Family social worker salary $37K
Ambulance dispatcher salary $38K
Probation officer salary $37K

Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)