What are the main factors that influence a First Responder's salary?

The primary factors are: 1) Experience Level, 2) Geographic Location, 3) Education/Skills, 4) Company Size & Industry

How does experience change a First Responder's salary?

A First Responder's salary grows with experience: starting around $82,046 for beginners, reaching about $84,433 at mid-level, and approach $87,928 for experts.

What are the highest paying states for a First Responder?

First Responder salary varies significantly by state. The top 3 highest paying states for First Responder roles are District of Columbia $91,477, California $91,130, Massachusetts $89,915. These tech hubs typically pay 10-15% above the national average.

How much do different types of First Responder roles make?

Salaries for First Responder level roles vary by specialization: cyber incident responder: $94,636; Cyber Security Incident Responder: $92,403; Incident Responder: $90,616; Hazardous Materials Responder: $89,080; Crisis Responder: $66,268.

How do different companies affect a First Responder's salary?

Company size, industry, and compensation structure create significant salary variations for First Responder roles. Large, established industry leaders like C R Bard Inc ($128,509) and Henry Schein Canada ($124,697) offer base salaries 35-40% above the national average. In contrast, smaller firms or startups may offer closer to $82,041.

First Responder Salary in the United States

How much does a First Responder make in the United States?

As of January 01, 2026, the average salary for a First Responder in the United States is $82,620 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $40.

However, a First Responder's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

Top Earners (90th percentile): $95,876
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $76,715 to $89,559
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $71,339

Compensation Planning

Develop a Job Description

Pay Equity

2025 Compensation Trend

AI Onboarding

AI-Powered HR

Salary Salary + Bonus Benefits

View as table

First Responder Salaries by Percentile

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$89,559	$7,463	$1,722	$43
Average	$82,620	$6,885	$1,589	$40
25th Percentile	$76,715	$6,393	$1,475	$37

You may get higher pay by adjusting the following factors:

Change Search Criteria

Check out First Responder Job Openings in the United States

Advanced Practice Provider

First Care Medical Clinic - ROCK HILL, SC

Registered Nurse

First Nations Community HealthSource - ALBUQUERQUE, NM

Lead Teacher

First Care Health Center - PARK RIVER, ND

Paramedic

First Care Health Center - PARK RIVER, ND

Search More First Responder Jobs in the United States

Key Factors That Influence First Responder Salaries

A First Responder's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects First Responder Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a First Responder's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $82,046
Early Career (1-2 years): $82,210
Mid-Level (2-4 years): $84,433
Senior-Level (5-8 years): $87,695
Expert (over 8 years): $87,928

Levels	Salary
Entry Level First Responder	$82,046
Intermediate Level First Responder	$82,210
Senior Level First Responder	$84,433
Specialist Level First Responder	$87,695
Expert Level First Responder	$87,928

View as Graph

What Am I Worth?

How Do First Responder Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract First Responders. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

District of Columbia: $91,477.
California: $91,130.
Massachusetts: $89,915.

District of Columbia $91,477 California $91,130 Massachusetts $89,915 Washington $89,585 New Jersey $89,552 Alaska $89,436 Connecticut $88,296 New York $87,833

Hawaii $86,355 Rhode Island $85,661 Maryland $85,190 Minnesota $84,545 Colorado $84,297 Illinois $84,215 Oregon $83,901 Delaware $83,669

New Hampshire $83,524 Virginia $83,198 Pennsylvania $82,248 Nevada $81,769 North Dakota $81,612 Michigan $81,364 Wisconsin $81,273 Vermont $81,092

Texas $80,588 Maine $80,555 Arizona $80,505 Ohio $80,447 Georgia $79,687 Indiana $79,307 Wyoming $79,233 Utah $79,117

Iowa $79,067 Kansas $78,671 Louisiana $78,555 North Carolina $78,514 Missouri $78,497 Florida $78,175 Montana $78,002 Nebraska $77,836

Kentucky $77,746 South Carolina $77,415 Tennessee $77,208 Idaho $77,126 New Mexico $76,523 Oklahoma $76,391 Alabama $75,903 South Dakota $75,085

Arkansas $74,639 West Virginia $74,399 Mississippi $73,681

Top Paying Cities for First Responders

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

San Jose: $104,209
San Francisco: $103,184
Oakland: $100,896

San Jose, CA $104,209

San Francisco, CA $103,184

Oakland, CA $100,896

New York, NY $95,748

Queens Village, NY $95,129

Paramus, NJ $94,468

Passaic, NJ $94,385

Bergenfield, NJ $94,303

Stamford, CT $94,179

Huntington, NY $94,096

Newark, NJ $93,559

Bridgeport, CT $93,394

New Brunswick, NJ $93,121

Vallejo, CA $92,948

Middlesex, NJ $92,898

Somerset, NJ $92,824

Petaluma, CA $92,634

Santa Cruz, CA $92,311

Boston, MA $92,146

Monterey, CA $91,733

Fairbanks, AK $91,675

Los Angeles, CA $91,518

Washington, DC $91,477

Seattle, WA $91,328

Santa Rosa, CA $91,312

Juneau, AK $91,072

Orange, CA $90,799

Anchorage, AK $90,651

Anaheim, CA $90,593

Santa Ana, CA $90,469

Nassau, NY $90,419

Long Beach, CA $90,386

Danbury, CT $90,362

Santa Maria, CA $90,081

Everett, WA $90,064

Bremerton, WA $89,659

Trenton, NJ $89,502

Sacramento, CA $89,469

San Diego, CA $89,428

Brockton, MA $89,395

Tacoma, WA $89,362

Santa Barbara, CA $89,246

Lowell, MA $88,916

New Suffolk, NY $88,883

Nashua, NH $88,784

Lompoc, CA $88,651

Ventura, CA $88,569

Stockton, CA $88,544

New Haven, CT $88,379

Atlantic City, NJ $88,164

Hartford, CT $87,982

Modesto, CA $87,941

Poughkeepsie, NY $87,759

New Britain, CT $87,718

Olympia, WA $87,602

Kennewick, WA $87,602

New London, CT $87,586

Norwich, CT $87,561

Lawrence, MA $87,519

Bakersfield, CA $87,288

Riverside, CA $87,172

New Bedford, MA $87,172

Richland, WA $87,090

Portsmouth, NH $87,024

Vineland, NJ $87,007

San Bernardino, CA $86,941

Boulder, CO $86,710

Worcester, MA $86,644

Portland, OR $86,569

Saint Paul, MN $86,470

Minneapolis, MN $86,470

Philadelphia, PA $86,355

Honolulu, HI $85,917

Springfield, MA $85,627

Providence, RI $85,619

Chicago, IL $85,380

Bellingham, WA $85,280

Baltimore, MD $85,190

Chico, CA $84,983

Wilmington, DE $84,843

Pittsfield, MA $84,760

Manchester, NH $84,603

Spokane, WA $84,239

Denver, CO $84,231

Albany, NY $83,843

Troy, NY $83,810

Schenectady, NY $83,636

Burlington, VT $83,455

Portland, ME $83,165

Salem, OR $83,099

Yakima, WA $83,083

Ann Arbor, MI $83,058

Rochester, MN $82,827

Fresno, CA $82,785

Reno, NV $82,785

Milwaukee, WI $82,711

Detroit, MI $82,628

Allentown, PA $82,604

Carson City, NV $82,595

Houston, TX $82,471

Colorado Springs, CO $82,463

Syracuse, NY $82,422

Eugene, OR $82,265

Bismarck, ND $82,166

Gary, IN $82,166

Galveston, TX $82,166

Springfield, OR $82,100

Medford, OR $81,901

Fort Collins, CO $81,868

Austin, TX $81,802

Mesa, AZ $81,629

Phoenix, AZ $81,612

Dallas, TX $81,587

Reading, PA $81,538

Saint Cloud, MN $81,505

Concord, NH $81,430

Madison, WI $81,397

Utica, NY $81,174

Raleigh, NC $81,108

Las Vegas, NV $81,100

Rochester, NY $81,042

Des Moines, IA $81,034

Atlanta, GA $80,902

Battle Creek, MI $80,877

Salt Lake City, UT $80,852

Lancaster, PA $80,728

Champaign, IL $80,712

Harrisburg, PA $80,612

Durham, NC $80,538

Kansas City, MO $80,530

Kansas City, KS $80,513

Fort Worth, TX $80,505

Boca Raton, FL $80,472

Cleveland, OH $80,464

Columbus, OH $80,447

Pittsburgh, PA $80,439

Richmond, VA $80,406

Indianapolis, IN $80,389

Cincinnati, OH $80,282

Petersburg, VA $80,158

Billings, MT $79,976

Lansing, MI $79,976

Huntsville, AL $79,976

Lebanon, PA $79,968

Dayton, OH $79,960

Pueblo, CO $79,960

Appleton, WI $79,935

Buffalo, NY $79,902

Racine, WI $79,861

Charlotte, NC $79,852

Saint Louis, MO $79,828

Springfield, IL $79,794

Elkhart, IN $79,778

York, PA $79,778

Gastonia, NC $79,770

Benton Harbor, MI $79,770

Beaumont, TX $79,720

Lorain, OH $79,704

Toledo, OH $79,671

Binghamton, NY $79,629

Rock Hill, SC $79,621

Rockford, IL $79,580

Fargo, ND $79,538

Elyria, OH $79,538

Flagstaff, AZ $79,481

Fort Lauderdale, FL $79,431

Miami, FL $79,381

Duluth, MN $79,249

Bangor, ME $79,142

Cedar Rapids, IA $79,051

Louisville, KY $79,010

Grand Rapids, MI $78,993

Hialeah, FL $78,985

Casper, WY $78,869

Scranton, PA $78,770

New Orleans, LA $78,745

Virginia Beach, VA $78,737

Akron, OH $78,696

Peoria, IL $78,588

Sarasota, FL $78,572

Green Bay, WI $78,514

Baton Rouge, LA $78,473

Charleston, SC $78,456

Nashville, TN $78,431

Jamestown, NY $78,415

Davenport, IA $78,415

Tucson, AZ $78,373

Cheyenne, WY $78,349

Saint Petersburg, FL $78,324

Tampa, FL $78,307

Omaha, NE $78,291

Port Arthur, TX $78,258

Evansville, IN $78,258

Bradenton, FL $78,225

Santa Fe, NM $78,076

Orlando, FL $77,993

Clearwater, FL $77,902

Canton, OH $77,729

La Crosse, WI $77,729

Grand Forks, ND $77,704

Albuquerque, NM $77,679

Tulsa, OK $77,679

Newport News, VA $77,671

High Point, NC $77,646

Ogden, UT $77,613

Corpus Christi, TX $77,547

Laramie, WY $77,498

Norfolk, VA $77,498

Rock Island, IL $77,448

Saginaw, MI $77,432

Jacksonville, FL $77,423

Salisbury, NC $77,407

Memphis, TN $77,390

Moline, IL $77,349

Fort Myers, FL $77,324

Waterloo, IA $77,217

Spartanburg, SC $77,134

Lincoln, NE $77,093

Fort Wayne, IN $77,076

Birmingham, AL $76,985

Cedar Falls, IA $76,969

Provo, UT $76,961

Springfield, OH $76,952

San Antonio, TX $76,936

Greensboro, NC $76,903

South Bend, IN $76,895

Winston Salem, NC $76,886

Boise, ID $76,861

Savannah, GA $76,804

Muskegon, MI $76,655

Lima, OH $76,556

Lake Charles, LA $76,523

Anderson, IN $76,506

Lexington, KY $76,481

Augusta, GA $76,457

Greenville, SC $76,457

Wichita, KS $76,382

Tuscaloosa, AL $76,382

Columbia, SC $76,308

Bloomington, IN $76,101

Roanoke, VA $76,052

Asheville, NC $75,944

Knoxville, TN $75,804

Shreveport, LA $75,796

Wilmington, NC $75,688

Frankfort, KY $75,531

Oklahoma City, OK $75,473

Chillicothe, OH $75,440

Longview, TX $75,432

Topeka, KS $75,407

Mobile, AL $75,283

Terre Haute, IN $75,250

Erie, PA $75,242

Altoona, PA $75,201

Melbourne, FL $75,176

Amarillo, TX $75,143

Killeen, TX $75,118

Fayetteville, AR $75,052

Sioux Falls, SD $74,994

Chattanooga, TN $74,945

Idaho Falls, ID $74,936

Gainesville, FL $74,763

Portsmouth, OH $74,722

Little Rock, AR $74,705

Lynchburg, VA $74,705

Lafayette, LA $74,672

Youngstown, OH $74,672

Temple, TX $74,639

Daytona Beach, FL $74,622

Clarksville, TN $74,614

Pensacola, FL $74,606

Hopkinsville, KY $74,358

Charleston, WV $74,350

Florence, SC $74,309

Sioux City, IA $74,259

Macon, GA $74,019

Tallahassee, FL $74,011

Fayetteville, NC $73,995

Waco, TX $73,978

Wichita Falls, TX $73,978

Pine Bluff, AR $73,945

Vincennes, IN $73,788

Lubbock, TX $73,755

Great Falls, MT $73,705

Alamogordo, NM $73,697

Abilene, TX $73,631

Rapid City, SD $73,524

Monroe, LA $73,524

Albany, GA $73,474

Huntington, WV $73,466

Jackson, MS $73,458

Greenville, MS $73,449

Parkersburg, WV $73,367

Montgomery, AL $73,350

Johnstown, PA $73,334

Springfield, MO $73,268

Biloxi, MS $73,226

Sumter, SC $73,053

Columbus, GA $73,044

Twin Falls, ID $72,995

Pascagoula, MS $72,887

Kingsport, TN $72,673

Gulfport, MS $72,648

Alexandria, LA $72,375

Fort Smith, AR $72,169

El Paso, TX $71,946

Helena, MT $71,838

Las Cruces, NM $71,574

Harlingen, TX $71,342

Pocatello, ID $71,268

Florence, AL $71,243

Brownsville, TX $71,227

Dothan, AL $71,095

Mcallen, TX $71,053

Columbus, MS $70,442

Altus, OK $70,062

Lawton, OK $69,905

Pierre, SD $69,607

What Skills Can Increase a First Responder's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

Planning (Mentioned in 5.16% Job Postings): An act or process of making or carrying out plans. Establishment of goals, policies, and procedures for a social or economic unit city planning business planning.
Nursing Process (Mentioned in 3.34% Job Postings): The nursing process is a modified scientific method. Nursing practise was first described as a four-stage nursing process by Ida Jean Orlando in 1958.
Long Term Care (Mentioned in 1.96% Job Postings): Long-term care (LTC) is a variety of services which help meet both the medical and non-medical needs of people with a chronic illness or disability who cannot care for themselves for long periods. Long term care is focused on individualized and coordinated services that promote independence, maximize patients' quality of life, and meet patients' needs over a period of time. It is common for long-term care to provide custodial and non-skilled care, such as assisting with normal daily tasks like dressing, feeding, using the bathroom. Increasingly, long-term care involves providing a level of medical care that requires the expertise of skilled practitioners to address the multiple chronic conditions associated with older populations. Long-term care can be provided at home, in the community, in assisted living facilities or in nursing homes. Long-term care may be needed by people of any age, although it is a more common need for senior citizens.

See More Skills

Skills	Demand Percentage
Planning	5.16%
Nursing Process	3.34%
Long Term Care	1.96%

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a First Responder's salary.

Telemetry: Can increase your salary by up to 3%.
Accountability: Can increase your salary by up to 2%.
Dedication: Can increase your salary by up to 2%.

Skill	Salary	Salary % Increase
Telemetry	$85,099	3%
Accountability	$84,273	2%
Dedication	$84,273	2%
Partnering	$84,273	2%
Innovation	$84,273	2%
Commitment	$84,273	2%

Get Latest Data

How Education impacts a First Responder's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many First Responders enter the field with a Associate's Degree degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a First Responder with a Associate's Degree is between $81,300 and $85,864).

First Responder Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for First Responder

No Diploma 0.1%

High School 2.1%

Associates 43.3%

Bachelors 48.9%

Masters 5.3%

Doctorate 0.3%

view as table

Degree Level	% of user with this level of education
No Diploma	0.1%
High School	2.1%
Associates	43.3%
Bachelors	48.9%
Masters	5.3%
Doctorate	0.3%

view as graph

First Responder Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a First Responder's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on January 01, 2026

$76,715

Average $82,620/year

$89,559

$6,393

Average $6,885/month

$7,463

$1,475

Average $1,589/week

$1,722

$37

Average $40/hour

$43

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$89,559	$7,463	$1,722	$43
Average	$82,620	$6,885	$1,589	$40
25th Percentile	$76,715	$6,393	$1,475	$37

Salaries of jobs related to First Responder

Salary Trends for First Responder

Salaries for a First Responder can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary increased from $73,831 in 2023 to around $73,995 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of First Responder salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of First Responder Over Time

2022

$???

2023

$73,831

2024

$74,466

2025

$73,995

2026

$???

2027

$???

Year	Average Annual Salary
2022	View More
2023	$73,831
2024	$74,466
2025	$73,995
2026	View More
2027	View More

Most common benefits for First Responder

Social Security

401(k)

Disability

Healthcare

Pension

Time Off (days)

For Employers

If your compensation planning software is too rigid to deploy winning incentive strategies, it’s time to find an adaptable solution.

Compensation Planning

Biotechnology

the United States

Find Your Next First Responder Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current First Responder job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

For Employees

Get a Salary Increase

Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.

Search Job Openings

Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.

For Employers

Adjust Employee Salary

Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.

Price My Industry Jobs

Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:

Detailed skills and competency reports for specific positions
Job and employee pricing reports
Compensation data tools, salary structures, surveys and benchmarks.

Learn about