Firefighter Salary
Firefighters earn a median $59,280 a year nationally. Protective Service Occupations
U.S. median
$59,280
$28.50 per hour
Range
$34,910 – $101,040
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
345,990
across the U.S.
▼0.4%
Pay trend: The median for firefighters in the U.S. fell from $59,530 (May 2024) to $59,280 (May 2025). That trailed inflation (2.4%), so buying power slipped about 2.8%.
What firefighters do
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.
- Typical education
- Postsecondary nondegree award
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Long-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +3.7% (about average)
- Openings per year
- 26,800
Employment of firefighters is projected to grow 3.7% from 2025 to 2035, about the same as the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 26,800 openings are expected each year, on average, including jobs left by workers who retire or switch careers.
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Firefighter take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
Your take-home pay
$49,811
per year · effective tax rate 16.0%
$4,151Monthly
$2,075Twice a month
$1,916Every 2 weeks
$23.95Hourly
- Federal income tax$4,934
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,675
- Medicare (1.45%)$860
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$49,811
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Pay by experience
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home (no state tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $34,910 | $16.78 | $30,230 |
| 25th percentile | $44,490 | $21.39 | $37,928 |
| Median (50th) | $59,280 | $28.50 | $49,811 |
| 75th percentile | $77,250 | $37.14 | $63,175 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $101,040 | $48.58 | $79,912 |
Best cities for firefighters (after tax & cost of living)
| # | Metro area | Median | Take-home | Real value* | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $101,090 | $79,947 | $71,938 | 3,760 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $113,700 | $80,995 | $70,057 | 3,450 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $106,420 | $78,458 | $69,701 | 14,960 |
| 4 | Sacramento, CA | $94,080 | $69,272 | $64,941 | 2,590 |
| 5 | Denver, CO | $87,980 | $67,561 | $63,868 | 3,010 |
| 6 | Los Angeles, CA | $98,050 | $71,644 | $63,086 | 7,200 |
| 7 | Chicago, IL | $82,820 | $63,139 | $60,948 | 14,560 |
| 8 | Philadelphia, PA | $78,050 | $61,342 | $59,814 | 3,970 |
| 9 | St. Louis, MO | $68,970 | $55,046 | $57,890 | 2,680 |
| 10 | Indianapolis, IN | $68,480 | $55,015 | $57,489 | 3,740 |
| 11 | Riverside, CA | $79,160 | $60,358 | $56,705 | 3,390 |
| 12 | San Antonio, TX | $63,360 | $53,090 | $56,052 | 2,910 |
| 13 | Baltimore, MD | $73,810 | $57,613 | $55,139 | 2,510 |
| 14 | Cleveland, OH | $62,720 | $51,633 | $54,974 | 3,660 |
| 15 | Miami, FL | $75,710 | $62,092 | $54,393 | 6,600 |
| 16 | Columbus, OH | $61,780 | $50,904 | $53,320 | 4,130 |
| 17 | Kansas City, MO | $60,770 | $49,090 | $53,045 | 3,000 |
| 18 | Boston, MA | $73,990 | $57,402 | $53,020 | 8,510 |
| 19 | Dallas, TX | $64,900 | $54,327 | $52,699 | 8,780 |
| 20 | Providence, RI | $66,150 | $53,468 | $52,536 | 2,550 |
| 21 | Cincinnati, OH | $58,570 | $48,413 | $50,763 | 3,380 |
| 22 | Houston, TX | $59,120 | $49,683 | $50,374 | 5,780 |
| 23 | Detroit, MI | $62,730 | $50,168 | $50,019 | 3,520 |
| 24 | Tampa, FL | $59,660 | $50,117 | $49,675 | 3,220 |
| 25 | San Diego, CA | $70,900 | $55,327 | $49,449 | 2,880 |
*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).
Highest-paying cities
- San Francisco, CA — $113,700
- New York, NY — $106,420
- Seattle, WA — $101,090
- Los Angeles, CA — $98,050
- Sacramento, CA — $94,080
- Denver, CO — $87,980
- Chicago, IL — $82,820
- Riverside, CA — $79,160
- Philadelphia, PA — $78,050
- Miami, FL — $75,710
- Boston, MA — $73,990
- Baltimore, MD — $73,810
- San Diego, CA — $70,900
- St. Louis, MO — $68,970
- Indianapolis, IN — $68,480
Firefighter salary by state
| State | Median | 1-yr change | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York | $100,960 | +14.2% | $74,939 | $56,390 – $106,440 | 12,950 |
| Washington | $94,520 | +1.1% | $75,325 | $47,640 – $123,980 | 7,560 |
| California | $85,120 | +2.1% | $63,919 | $52,390 – $136,150 | 31,470 |
| New Jersey | $84,130 | −4.0% | $64,846 | $47,920 – $123,940 | 7,500 |
| Illinois | $78,380 | −0.9% | $60,235 | $38,900 – $106,060 | 18,400 |
| Connecticut | $77,630 | −0.0% | $60,748 | $51,320 – $85,500 | 2,970 |
| District of Columbia | $75,870 | −4.5% | $58,719 | $61,050 – $99,760 | 1,480 |
| Colorado | $74,170 | −3.1% | $58,454 | $47,000 – $114,170 | 6,510 |
| Maryland | $73,810 | +4.6% | $57,613 | $48,030 – $98,770 | 5,340 |
| Pennsylvania | $73,460 | +2.8% | $58,254 | $48,620 – $89,190 | 5,020 |
| Massachusetts | $72,800 | −0.4% | $56,625 | $49,730 – $98,130 | 11,940 |
| Oregon | $70,900 | −3.2% | $53,334 | $38,800 – $104,070 | 3,790 |
| Rhode Island | $67,380 | −3.0% | $54,322 | $56,110 – $76,620 | 1,620 |
| Nevada | $66,570 | −0.8% | $55,662 | $47,600 – $101,450 | 2,640 |
| Indiana | $62,780 | +2.1% | $50,801 | $38,460 – $81,890 | 8,530 |
| Nebraska | $61,040 | −1.2% | $49,328 | $46,660 – $69,460 | 1,070 |
| Texas | $60,180 | −1.1% | $50,535 | $40,020 – $77,170 | 28,170 |
| Ohio | $59,370 | −0.2% | $49,033 | $34,420 – $84,010 | 18,100 |
| Montana | $59,310 | −7.4% | $47,805 | $32,810 – $76,620 | 1,010 |
| Arizona | $59,280 | +1.1% | $48,538 | $36,700 – $88,220 | 7,500 |
| Alaska | $58,830 | −6.9% | $49,450 | $35,520 – $82,360 | 1,040 |
| Virginia | $58,670 | +0.6% | $46,762 | $38,310 – $77,310 | 11,160 |
| Florida | $58,550 | +0.3% | $49,225 | $37,260 – $93,310 | 24,570 |
| Wyoming | $58,090 | +12.0% | $48,855 | $39,550 – $78,760 | 680 |
| New Hampshire | $56,620 | −0.7% | $47,674 | $35,450 – $78,570 | 2,700 |
| Iowa | $55,810 | +1.1% | $45,554 | $32,240 – $87,720 | 2,170 |
| North Dakota | $55,080 | +2.6% | $46,437 | $39,700 – $77,530 | 820 |
| Michigan | $54,640 | −1.7% | $44,012 | $37,190 – $78,550 | 6,610 |
| Oklahoma | $49,710 | +5.2% | $40,431 | $31,620 – $77,560 | 4,150 |
| Tennessee | $49,300 | +4.2% | $41,793 | $33,910 – $70,460 | 7,020 |
| Missouri | $49,080 | +1.3% | $40,246 | $31,140 – $79,360 | 6,580 |
| Utah | $48,310 | −1.9% | $39,789 | $27,660 – $80,320 | 2,870 |
| Maine | $48,290 | +1.7% | $38,903 | $35,740 – $63,740 | 2,480 |
| South Dakota | $48,160 | +1.3% | $40,877 | $39,240 – $61,420 | 610 |
| Alabama | $47,600 | +0.2% | $38,312 | $29,770 – $76,190 | 7,260 |
| Idaho | $47,320 | −12.1% | $38,802 | $30,280 – $81,190 | 2,240 |
| Wisconsin | $46,850 | −1.8% | $38,544 | $29,390 – $77,050 | 8,120 |
| Delaware | $46,710 | −2.8% | $37,796 | $41,960 – $72,160 | 560 |
| Georgia | $46,550 | +1.3% | $37,790 | $33,000 – $61,510 | 12,700 |
| Vermont | $46,430 | +0.7% | $38,365 | $29,790 – $77,200 | — |
| Kansas | $45,900 | +4.2% | $37,299 | $32,810 – $76,110 | 3,360 |
| South Carolina | $42,570 | −7.4% | $34,988 | $29,130 – $62,150 | 7,780 |
| New Mexico | $41,590 | −3.1% | $34,776 | $31,200 – $57,780 | 2,420 |
| Arkansas | $39,690 | −5.7% | $32,736 | $28,680 – $60,860 | 2,480 |
| Minnesota | $38,110 | −9.2% | $31,581 | $27,510 – $70,380 | 5,810 |
| North Carolina | $37,940 | +1.9% | $31,660 | $29,360 – $61,940 | 19,410 |
| West Virginia | $37,350 | −10.0% | $31,180 | $29,020 – $51,390 | 900 |
| Kentucky | $37,150 | +0.0% | $30,847 | $27,870 – $60,720 | 5,150 |
| Mississippi | $35,880 | −3.0% | $30,306 | $26,850 – $51,310 | 2,920 |
| Louisiana | $33,120 | −1.7% | $28,185 | $22,510 – $56,670 | 5,230 |
Related jobs
| Job | Median salary | Education | Growth 2025–35 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forest Fire Inspector and Prevention Specialist | $56,870 | High school diploma or equivalent | +13.1% |
| Fire Inspector and Investigator | $75,920 | Postsecondary nondegree award | +4.2% |
| Correctional Officer and Jailer | $58,940 | High school diploma or equivalent | -7.4% |
| Bailiff | $56,600 | High school diploma or equivalent | -1.9% |
| First-Line Supervisor of Security Workers | $55,940 | High school diploma or equivalent | +3.7% |
| Transportation Security Screener | $66,770 | High school diploma or equivalent | -4.2% |
| Private Detective and Investigator | $51,220 | High school diploma or equivalent | +5.5% |
| Parking Enforcement Worker | $46,730 | High school diploma or equivalent | -1.1% |
| Animal Control Worker | $45,660 | High school diploma or equivalent | +4.0% |
| Fish and Game Warden | $74,060 | Bachelor's degree | -5.7% |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a firefighter make?
The national median salary for firefighters is $59,280 a year ($28.50 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $34,910 and the top 10% earn over $101,040. Source: BLS, May 2025.
Which state pays firefighters the most?
New York has the highest median pay at $100,960. After taxes and local prices, Seattle, WA offers the best real take-home pay of any metro area.
How many firefighters are there in the U.S.?
About 345,990 people work as firefighters nationwide.
All 34 cities
- Atlanta, GA
- Baltimore, MD
- Birmingham, AL
- Boston, MA
- Charlotte, NC
- Chicago, IL
- Cincinnati, OH
- Cleveland, OH
- Columbus, OH
- Dallas, TX
- Denver, CO
- Detroit, MI
- Houston, TX
- Indianapolis, IN
- Kansas City, MO
- Los Angeles, CA
- Miami, FL
- Minneapolis, MN
- New York, NY
- Orlando, FL
- Philadelphia, PA
- Phoenix, AZ
- Providence, RI
- Raleigh, NC
- Riverside, CA
- Sacramento, CA
- San Antonio, TX
- San Diego, CA
- San Francisco, CA
- Seattle, WA
- St. Louis, MO
- Tampa, FL
- Virginia Beach, VA
- Washington, DC