Introduction
The average income of firefighters is $53,240 as of 2017, according to the latest data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Employment Statistics. In this article we have discussed about Fire-fighter Salary in US, their average salary, salary according to the cities and many more.
That is, unfortunately, slightly less than the current U.S. median household income of $57,652. Considering you have to potentially put your life on the line for this job, it’s a shame.
Luckily, firefighter salaries aren’t the same everywhere. You can earn far above $53,240 depending on which state you decide to settle in and work.
Salary outlook for Firefighters
Average base salary
$47,135
The average salary for a firefighter is $47,135 per year in the United States. 1.5k salaries reported, updated at September 5, 2022.
Fire Fighter Average Hourly Wage in United States
The average hourly wage (pay per hour) in United States is 26 USD. This means that the average Fire Fighter in United States earns approximately 26 USD for every worked hour.
Hourly Wage = Annual Salary ÷ ( 52 x 5 x 8 )
The hourly wage is the salary paid in one worked hour.
How Much Does a Firefighter Make?
Firefighters made a median salary of $52,500 in 2020. The best-paid 25 percent made $70,870 that year, while the lowest-paid 25 percent made $35,850.
Salary Range
Fire Fighter salaries in United States range from 25,300 USD per year (minimum salary) to 87,400 USD per year (maximum salary).
Median Salary
The median salary is 59,400 USD per year, which means that half (50%) of people working as Fire Fighter(s) are earning less than 59,400 USD while the other half are earning more than 59,400 USD.
The median represents the middle salary value. Generally speaking, you would want to be on the right side of the graph with the group earning more than the median salary.
Percentiles
Closely related to the median are two values: the 25th and the 75th percentiles. Reading from the salary distribution diagram, 25% of Fire Fighter(s) are earning less than 38,100 USD while 75% of them are earning more than 38,100 USD.
National estimates for Firefighters
Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for Firefighters
| Employment | Employment RSE | Mean hourly wage | Mean annual wage | Wage RSE |
| 317,310 | 1.2 % | $ 26.58 | $ 55,290 | 0.6 % |
Percentile wage estimates for Firefighters
| Percentile | 10% | 25% | 50% (Median) | 75% | 90% |
| Hourly Wage | $ 13.96 | $ 17.86 | $ 24.38 | $ 31.72 | $ 39.25 |
| Annual Wage | $ 29,030 | $ 37,140 | $ 50,700 | $ 65,980 | $ 81,640 |
Firefighter salary per region
Firefighter earnings by seniority
- Top-level firefighter earns
$39.25per hour
$81,640per year
- Senior-level firefighter earns
$31.72per hour
$65,980per year
- Mid-level firefighter earns
$24.38per hour
$50,700per year
- Junior-level firefighter earns
$17.86per hour
$37,140per year
- Starting level firefighter earns
$13.96per hour
$29,030per year
Top-10 states in order of average incomes for firefighters
| Rank | State | 2017 Mean Annual Wage |
| 1 | New Jersey | $75,880 |
| 2 | California | $73,860 |
| 3 | New York | $70,560 |
| 4 | Washington | $70,300 |
| 5 | Nevada | $66,670 |
| 6 | Oregon | $64,330 |
| 7 | Connecticut | $63,130 |
| 8 | Alaska | $60,930 |
| 9 | Massachusetts | $60,550 |
| 10 | Maryland | $58,590 |
Nevada has seen impressive growth in firefighter incomes. From 2016 to 2017, the average annual income of firefighters rose by 7.2%, from $62,220 to $66,670. The biggest gain was made by Wisconsin, though only from $37,300 to $41,870.
Best-Paying States for Firefighters
The states and districts that pay Firefighters the highest mean salary are New Jersey ($86,880), California ($86,860), Washington ($77,700), New York ($77,380), and Hawaii ($68,590).
- New Jersey-$86,880
- California-$86,860
- Washington-$77,700
- New York-$77,380
- Hawaii-$68,590
10 States Where Firefighters Earn the Least Money
In terms of states that pay firefighters the least, the U.S. South dominates the list. The top-three worst-paying states are Mississippi, Louisiana and Kentucky, though followed by a New England state, Maine, in the fourth spot. South Carolina rounds out the worst-paying five states in the U.S.
| Rank | State | 2017 Mean Annual Wage |
| 1 | Mississippi | $30,690 |
| 2 | Louisiana | $32,710 |
| 3 | Kentucky | $32,800 |
| 4 | Maine | $33,500 |
| 5 | South Carolina | $34,730 |
| 6 | West Virginia | $34,900 |
| 7 | Utah | $35,680 |
| 8 | Minnesota | $35,750 |
| 9 | North Carolina | $36,110 |
| 10 | Georgia | $36,830 |
There are states outside of the South and Maine. Utah and Minnesota both put up weak numbers for firefighter salaries. The average income of a firefighter in Utah is $29,645 less than the median household income, and in Minnesota, firefighters on average earn $29,949 less than the median household income.
Highest paying cities for Firefighters in US
- Charleston, SC
$45,472 per year
7 salaries reported
- Savannah, GA
$43,656 per year
7 salaries reported
Top companies for Firefighters in United States
Industry profile for Firefighters
Industries with the highest published employment and wages for Firefighters are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in Firefighters, see the Create Customized Tables function.
Industries with the highest levels of employment in Firefighters
| Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
| Local Government, excluding schools and hospitals (OEWS Designation) | 279,570 | 5.20 | $ 27.23 | $ 56,640 |
| Other Support Services | 17,110 | 6.09 | $ 16.89 | $ 35,120 |
| State Government, excluding schools and hospitals (OEWS Designation) | 10,260 | 0.47 | $ 25.65 | $ 53,350 |
| Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) | 7,670 | 0.36 | $ 26.75 | $ 55,650 |
| Other Ambulatory Health Care Services | 660 | 0.21 | $ 19.23 | $ 40,000 |
Industries with the highest concentration of employment in Firefighters
| Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
| Other Support Services | 17,110 | 6.09 | $ 16.89 | $ 35,120 |
| Local Government, excluding schools and hospitals (OEWS Designation) | 279,570 | 5.20 | $ 27.23 | $ 56,640 |
| State Government, excluding schools and hospitals (OEWS Designation) | 10,260 | 0.47 | $ 25.65 | $ 53,350 |
| Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) | 7,670 | 0.36 | $ 26.75 | $ 55,650 |
| Other Ambulatory Health Care Services | 660 | 0.21 | $ 19.23 | $ 40,000 |
FAQ’s About Fire-fighter salary in US
Do firefighters get paid salary or hourly?
Firefighters in the USA get paid hourly.
Do you get paid more as a firefighter if you have a degree?
Comparatively, firefighters with a bachelor’s or master’s degree draw higher wages than those who do not possess a degree. This ancillary pay is to match with their level of education and varies by department.
How much does a Firefighter in United States make?
The national average salary for a Firefighter is $51,368 per year in United States. Filter by location to see a Firefighter salaries in your area. Salaries estimates are based on 745 salaries submitted anonymously to Glassdoor by a Firefighter employees.
What is the highest salary for a Firefighter in United States?
The highest salary for a Firefighter in United States is $86,501 per year.
What is the lowest salary for a Firefighter in United States?
The lowest salary for a Firefighter in United States is $30,504 per year.
Conclusion
Fire Fighter(s) in United States are likely to observe a salary increase of approximately 8% every 18 months. The national average annual increment for all professions combined is 8% granted to employees every 16 months. In this article we have discussed about Fire-fighter Salary in US, their average salary, salary according to the cities and many more.
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