Home Salary Guide Firefighter

Public Safety

Firefighter Salary

Firefighters respond to fires and other emergencies, controlling and extinguishing fires, providing emergency medical services, and conducting rescue operations.

Median: $51,680 Growth: 4% BLS Data

Firefighter Salary Range

Entry Level

$32,000

0-2 years

Mid Career

$52,000

5-10 years

Senior Level

$80,000

10+ years

Salary Percentiles

10th Percentile $30,000

25th Percentile $37,370

Median (50th) $51,680

75th Percentile $72,840

90th Percentile $93,790

Top Paying States for Firefighters

1 New Jersey

$85,000

2 California

$82,000

3 Washington

$78,000

4 New York

$75,000

5 Connecticut

$72,000

Job Outlook & Education

Growth Rate

+4%

Stable

Education

High school diploma and EMT certification; fire science degree preferred

How Much Do Firefighters Make?

The median annual salary for a firefighter in the United States is $51,680 as of 2026. This means half of firefighters earn more than this amount, and half earn less.

Salary by Experience Level

Entry Level (0-2 years): $32,000
Mid Career (5-10 years): $52,000
Senior Level (10+ years): $80,000

Calculate Your Take-Home

See exactly how much you'll take home after taxes with our income calculator.

Calculate $51,680 Salary

Hourly Equivalent

Based on 2,080 work hours/year

$24/hr

See $24/hr Breakdown

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What Can a Firefighter Afford?

Based on median salary of $51,680

Max Rent $1,299/mo

Max Car Payment $519/mo

Monthly Savings $686/mo

See Full Budget Breakdown

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