Firefighters salary
Firefighters earn a median of $59,280 a year ($28.50/hr) in the U.S. – from $33,120 in Louisiana to $100,960 in New York. Enter your pay below to see how you compare.
Median pay, United States$28.50/hr · $59,280 a year
Pay range
90% earn more$34,910$16.79/hr
75% earn more$44,490$21.39/hr
half earn more, half less$59,280$28.50/hr
25% earn more$77,250$37.14/hr
top 10% earn more$101,040$48.58/hr
pulled up by top earners$63,630$30.59/hr
How does my pay compare?
Enter your pay to see where you stand among firefighters. Nothing you type leaves your device.
Pay by state
States ranked by median annual wage for firefighters. Tap a state for its minimum wage.
12,950 jobs · $48.54/hr$100,960
7,560 jobs · $45.44/hr$94,520
31,470 jobs · $40.92/hr$85,120
7,500 jobs · $40.45/hr$84,130
18,400 jobs · $37.68/hr$78,380
2,970 jobs · $37.32/hr$77,630
1,480 jobs · $36.48/hr$75,870
6,510 jobs · $35.66/hr$74,170
5,340 jobs · $35.49/hr$73,810
5,020 jobs · $35.32/hr$73,460
11,940 jobs · $35.00/hr$72,800
3,790 jobs · $34.09/hr$70,900
1,620 jobs · $32.39/hr$67,380
2,640 jobs · $32.01/hr$66,570
8,530 jobs · $30.18/hr$62,780
1,070 jobs · $29.35/hr$61,040
28,170 jobs · $28.94/hr$60,180
18,100 jobs · $28.54/hr$59,370
1,010 jobs · $28.52/hr$59,310
7,500 jobs · $28.50/hr$59,280
1,040 jobs · $28.28/hr$58,830
11,160 jobs · $28.21/hr$58,670
24,570 jobs · $28.15/hr$58,550
680 jobs · $27.93/hr$58,090
2,700 jobs · $27.22/hr$56,620
2,170 jobs · $26.83/hr$55,810
820 jobs · $26.48/hr$55,080
6,610 jobs · $26.27/hr$54,640
4,150 jobs · $23.90/hr$49,710
7,020 jobs · $23.70/hr$49,300
6,580 jobs · $23.60/hr$49,080
2,870 jobs · $23.23/hr$48,310
2,480 jobs · $23.22/hr$48,290
610 jobs · $23.15/hr$48,160
7,260 jobs · $22.89/hr$47,600
2,240 jobs · $22.75/hr$47,320
8,120 jobs · $22.53/hr$46,850
560 jobs · $22.46/hr$46,710
12,700 jobs · $22.38/hr$46,550
jobs n/a · $22.32/hr$46,430
3,360 jobs · $22.07/hr$45,900
7,780 jobs · $20.47/hr$42,570
2,420 jobs · $19.99/hr$41,590
2,480 jobs · $19.08/hr$39,690
5,810 jobs · $18.32/hr$38,110
19,410 jobs · $18.24/hr$37,940
900 jobs · $17.96/hr$37,350
5,150 jobs · $17.86/hr$37,150
1,780 jobs · $17.85/hr$37,120
2,920 jobs · $17.25/hr$35,880
5,230 jobs · $15.92/hr$33,120
Related jobs
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), SOC code 33-2011. Wages exclude the self-employed. All jobs · Minimum wage by state
Questions & answers
How much do firefighters make?
The median wage for firefighters in the U.S. was $28.50 an hour or $59,280 a year in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned between $44,490 and $77,250 a year.
Which state pays firefighters the most?
New York has the highest median wage for firefighters: $100,960 a year. The lowest published median is in Louisiana at $33,120. Living costs also differ a lot between states.
How many firefighters are there?
BLS estimates 345,990 firefighters were employed in the U.S. in May 2025, not counting the self-employed.
What is the difference between median and average pay?
The median is the middle wage: half of workers earn more and half earn less. The average (mean) adds everyone up and divides, so a few very high earners pull it up. The median is usually the better guide to typical pay.
What does the 10th or 90th percentile mean?
The 10th percentile is the wage that only 10% of workers earn less than – often entry-level pay. The 90th percentile is the wage that only 10% earn more than – usually the most experienced or highest-paid workers.