The median firefighter in the U.S. earns $59,280 a year ($28.50 an hour). Half earn between $44,490 and $77,250. Among the 50 largest metro areas, pay is highest in San Jose, CA ($152,100) and lowest in Charlotte, NC ($38,700).
Median $59,280
10th: $34,91090th: $101,040
Percentiles. Dark: the middle half of earners. Red line: median.
Firefighters, May 2025.
Annual pay
U.S.
10th percentile
$34,910
25th percentile
$44,490
Median
$59,280
75th percentile
$77,250
90th percentile
$101,040
Average
$63,630
Jobs
345,990
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U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, www.bls.gov/oes. BLS.gov cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from BLS.gov.