Firefighter earnings by seniority

90th percentile

Top-level firefighter earnings begin at:

$24.71 per hour

$51,390 per year

75th percentile

Senior-level firefighter earnings begin at:

$21.20 per hour

$44,100 per year

50th percentile

Mid-level firefighter earnings begin at:

$17.96 per hour

$37,350 per year

25th percentile

Junior-level firefighter earnings begin at:

$15.84 per hour

$32,950 per year

10th percentile

Starting level firefighter earnings begin at:

$13.95 per hour

$29,020 per year

Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.

Firefighter salary by state

State Name Average Salary
Washington $94,520
California $85,120
New Jersey $84,130
Illinois $78,380
Connecticut $77,630
District of Columbia $75,870
Colorado $74,170
Maryland $73,810
Pennsylvania $73,460
Massachusetts $72,800
Oregon $70,900
Rhode Island $67,380
Nevada $66,570
Indiana $62,780
Hawaii $61,130
Nebraska $61,040
Texas $60,180
Ohio $59,370
Montana $59,310
Arizona $59,280
Alaska $58,830
Virginia $58,670
Florida $58,550
Wyoming $58,090
New Hampshire $56,620
Iowa $55,810
North Dakota $55,080
Michigan $54,640
Oklahoma $49,710
Tennessee $49,300
Missouri $49,080
Utah $48,310
Maine $48,290
South Dakota $48,160
Alabama $47,600
Guam $47,440
Idaho $47,320
Wisconsin $46,850
Delaware $46,710
Georgia $46,550
Vermont $46,430
Kansas $45,900
South Carolina $42,570
New Mexico $41,590
Arkansas $39,690
Minnesota $38,110
North Carolina $37,940
West Virginia $37,350
Kentucky $37,150
Mississippi $35,880
Louisiana $33,120
Puerto Rico $27,890
New York $100,960

How do firefighter salaries compare to similar careers?

Firefighters earn about the same as related careers in West Virginia. On average, they make less than piano tuners but more than tour guides.

Career Median Salary
Piano tuner salary $39K
Medical administrative assistant salary $38K
Nail technician salary $38K
Concierge salary $35K
Hairdresser salary $34K
Firefighter salary $37K
Switchboard operator salary $37K
Courier salary $35K
Recreation worker salary $30K
Tour guide salary $29K

Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)