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

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

How does experience change A Firefighter's salary?

A Firefighter's salary grows with experience: a Fire Fighter I (1-3 years)earns $43,928, a Firefighter (3-5 years)earns $60,897, a Fire Captain (5+ years)earns $82,923,

What are the highest paying states for a Firefighter?

Firefighter salary varies significantly by state. The top 3 highest paying states for Firefighter roles are District of Columbia $69,020, California $68,758, Massachusetts $67,841. These tech hubs typically pay 10-15% above the national average.

How much do different types of Firefighter roles make?

Salaries for Firefighter level roles vary by specialization: Firefighter Engineer: $76,075; Firefighter Trainee: $64,646; Industrial Firefighter: $63,533; Volunteer Firefighter: $62,483; Probationary Firefighter: $61,530.

How do different companies affect a Firefighter's salary?

Company size, industry, and compensation structure create significant salary variations for Firefighter roles. Large, established industry leaders like Kpmg Us LLP ($114,295) and Warner Bros Discovery ($114,096) offer base salaries 35-40% above the national average. In contrast, smaller firms or startups may offer closer to $88,138.

Firefighter Salary in the United States

How much does a Firefighter make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Firefighter in the United States is $62,337 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $30.

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

Top Earners (90th percentile): $75,544
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $56,511 to $69,250
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $51,207

Compensation Planning

Develop a Job Description

Pay Equity

2026 Compensation Trend

Smart Recruiting

AI-Powered Talent

Salary Salary + Bonus Benefits

View as table

Firefighter Salaries by Percentile

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$69,250	$5,771	$1,332	$33
Average	$62,337	$5,195	$1,199	$30
25th Percentile	$56,511	$4,709	$1,087	$27

You may get higher pay by adjusting the following factors:

Change Search Criteria

Check out Firefighter Job Openings in the United States

Physician Emergency Medicine Ohio Permanent Emergency Medicine Physician near Columbus Ohio Job

MD Staff, LLC - Columbus, OH

Physician Oncology Ohio Permanent Associate Medical Director

eviCore healthcare - Columbus, OH

Physician Neurology Ohio Locum Tenens Locums Physician

MD Staff, LLC - Columbus, OH

Local CDL

C.R. England - Columbus, OH

Search More Firefighter Jobs in the United States

Key Factors That Influence Firefighter Salaries

A Firefighter'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 and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Do Firefighter 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 Firefighters. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

District of Columbia: $69,020.
California: $68,758.
Massachusetts: $67,841.

District of Columbia $69,020 California $68,758 Massachusetts $67,841 Washington $67,592 New Jersey $67,567 Alaska $67,480 Connecticut $66,620 New York $66,271

Hawaii $65,155 Rhode Island $64,631 Maryland $64,276 Minnesota $63,790 Colorado $63,603 Illinois $63,540 Oregon $63,303 Delaware $63,129

New Hampshire $63,019 Virginia $62,773 Pennsylvania $62,057 Nevada $61,695 North Dakota $61,577 Michigan $61,390 Wisconsin $61,321 Vermont $61,184

Texas $60,804 Maine $60,779 Arizona $60,741 Ohio $60,698 Georgia $60,124 Indiana $59,837 Wyoming $59,781 Utah $59,694

Iowa $59,657 Kansas $59,357 Louisiana $59,270 North Carolina $59,239 Missouri $59,226 Florida $58,983 Montana $58,852 Nebraska $58,728

Kentucky $58,659 South Carolina $58,410 Tennessee $58,254 Idaho $58,192 New Mexico $57,737 Oklahoma $57,637 Alabama $57,269 South Dakota $56,652

Arkansas $56,315 West Virginia $56,135 Mississippi $55,592

Top Paying Cities for Firefighters

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: $78,626
San Francisco: $77,765
Oakland: $76,126

San Jose, CA $78,626

San Francisco, CA $77,765

Oakland, CA $76,126

New York, NY $71,774

Paramus, NJ $70,902

Queens Village, NY $70,898

Passaic, NJ $70,839

Bergenfield, NJ $70,834

Stamford, CT $70,697

Huntington, NY $70,671

Newark, NJ $70,210

Bridgeport, CT $70,079

Vallejo, CA $69,955

New Brunswick, NJ $69,930

Petaluma, CA $69,892

Middlesex, NJ $69,774

Somerset, NJ $69,730

Santa Cruz, CA $69,649

Boston, MA $69,269

Monterey, CA $69,050

Seattle, WA $68,907

Santa Rosa, CA $68,895

Los Angeles, CA $68,876

Juneau, AK $68,714

Washington, DC $68,646

Orange, CA $68,424

Santa Ana, CA $68,259

Long Beach, CA $68,197

Anaheim, CA $68,184

Anchorage, AK $68,153

Santa Maria, CA $67,966

Everett, WA $67,954

Danbury, CT $67,734

Bremerton, WA $67,648

Tacoma, WA $67,424

New Suffolk, NY $67,423

Sacramento, CA $67,405

Santa Barbara, CA $67,337

Trenton, NJ $67,268

San Diego, CA $67,268

Brockton, MA $67,199

Fairbanks, AK $67,047

Lompoc, CA $66,888

Lowell, MA $66,837

Ventura, CA $66,825

Nashua, NH $66,813

Stockton, CA $66,807

Modesto, CA $66,352

Poughkeepsie, NY $66,214

Olympia, WA $66,096

Kennewick, WA $66,096

New Haven, CT $66,071

Lawrence, MA $65,847

Hartford, CT $65,784

Riverside, CA $65,772

New Bedford, MA $65,710

Richland, WA $65,710

Bakersfield, CA $65,622

San Bernardino, CA $65,597

New Britain, CT $65,591

Atlantic City, NJ $65,591

New London, CT $65,566

Norwich, CT $65,547

Portsmouth, NH $65,535

Boulder, CO $65,403

Portland, OR $65,317

Worcester, MA $65,311

Minneapolis, MN $65,117

Philadelphia, PA $65,030

Honolulu, HI $64,824

Saint Paul, MN $64,794

Vineland, NJ $64,781

Providence, RI $64,600

Chicago, IL $64,419

Bellingham, WA $64,344

Springfield, MA $64,294

Baltimore, MD $64,276

Chico, CA $64,120

Pittsfield, MA $63,952

Manchester, NH $63,833

Spokane, WA $63,559

Denver, CO $63,553

Albany, NY $63,260

Troy, NY $63,235

Nassau, NY $63,168

Schenectady, NY $63,104

Wilmington, DE $63,054

Burlington, VT $62,967

Salem, OR $62,942

Portland, ME $62,749

Yakima, WA $62,686

Rochester, MN $62,493

Reno, NV $62,462

Fresno, CA $62,462

Milwaukee, WI $62,406

Detroit, MI $62,343

Ann Arbor, MI $62,333

Allentown, PA $62,325

Colorado Springs, CO $62,219

Syracuse, NY $62,187

Carson City, NV $62,187

Houston, TX $62,100

Eugene, OR $62,069

Gary, IN $61,994

Springfield, OR $61,944

Bismarck, ND $61,932

Galveston, TX $61,888

Medford, OR $61,795

Fort Collins, CO $61,770

Concord, NH $61,739

Austin, TX $61,720

Mesa, AZ $61,589

Reading, PA $61,583

Phoenix, AZ $61,577

Dallas, TX $61,558

Saint Cloud, MN $61,498

Madison, WI $61,415

Utica, NY $61,246

Rochester, NY $61,146

Des Moines, IA $61,140

Raleigh, NC $61,134

Atlanta, GA $61,040

Battle Creek, MI $61,022

Salt Lake City, UT $61,003

Lancaster, PA $60,910

Harrisburg, PA $60,822

Kansas City, MO $60,760

Champaign, IL $60,748

Kansas City, KS $60,748

Fort Worth, TX $60,741

Columbus, OH $60,731

Boca Raton, FL $60,716

Pittsburgh, PA $60,691

Richmond, VA $60,666

Indianapolis, IN $60,654

Cleveland, OH $60,648

Las Vegas, NV $60,573

Cincinnati, OH $60,573

Petersburg, VA $60,479

Huntsville, AL $60,386

Lansing, MI $60,344

Lebanon, PA $60,336

Pueblo, CO $60,330

Appleton, WI $60,311

Buffalo, NY $60,286

Dayton, OH $60,268

Racine, WI $60,255

Charlotte, NC $60,249

Saint Louis, MO $60,230

York, PA $60,193

Elkhart, IN $60,193

Gastonia, NC $60,181

Billings, MT $60,166

Beaumont, TX $60,149

Lorain, OH $60,137

Benton Harbor, MI $60,124

Toledo, OH $60,112

Binghamton, NY $60,080

Rock Hill, SC $60,074

Rockford, IL $60,043

Springfield, IL $60,018

Elyria, OH $60,012

Fargo, ND $60,012

Flagstaff, AZ $59,968

Fort Lauderdale, FL $59,931

Duluth, MN $59,893

Miami, FL $59,893

Cheyenne, WY $59,850

Grand Forks, ND $59,850

Bangor, ME $59,713

Cedar Rapids, IA $59,644

Durham, NC $59,618

Louisville, KY $59,613

Grand Rapids, MI $59,601

Hialeah, FL $59,594

Casper, WY $59,507

Scranton, PA $59,432

New Orleans, LA $59,413

Virginia Beach, VA $59,407

Akron, OH $59,376

Peoria, IL $59,295

Sarasota, FL $59,283

Nashville, TN $59,239

Omaha, NE $59,239

Green Bay, WI $59,239

Baton Rouge, LA $59,208

Charleston, SC $59,195

Jamestown, NY $59,164

Davenport, IA $59,164

Tucson, AZ $59,133

Saint Petersburg, FL $59,096

Tampa, FL $59,083

Evansville, IN $59,046

Port Arthur, TX $59,046

Bradenton, FL $59,021

Santa Fe, NM $58,909

Orlando, FL $58,796

Clearwater, FL $58,778

Canton, OH $58,647

La Crosse, WI $58,647

Albuquerque, NM $58,609

Newport News, VA $58,603

High Point, NC $58,584

Ogden, UT $58,559

Corpus Christi, TX $58,510

Norfolk, VA $58,472

Laramie, WY $58,472

Rock Island, IL $58,435

Saginaw, MI $58,422

Jacksonville, FL $58,416

Salisbury, NC $58,404

Boise, ID $58,391

Moline, IL $58,360

Fort Myers, FL $58,341

Memphis, TN $58,329

Tulsa, OK $58,298

Waterloo, IA $58,260

Spartanburg, SC $58,198

Lincoln, NE $58,167

Fort Wayne, IN $58,154

Provo, UT $58,148

Cedar Falls, IA $58,073

San Antonio, TX $58,048

Greensboro, NC $58,023

South Bend, IN $58,017

Savannah, GA $57,949

Muskegon, MI $57,924

Birmingham, AL $57,917

Winston Salem, NC $57,887

Lake Charles, LA $57,737

Anderson, IN $57,724

Lexington, KY $57,705

Augusta, GA $57,687

Greenville, SC $57,687

Lima, OH $57,637

Wichita, KS $57,631

Tuscaloosa, AL $57,631

Columbia, SC $57,575

Springfield, OH $57,562

Asheville, NC $57,462

Bloomington, IN $57,419

Knoxville, TN $57,194

Shreveport, LA $57,188

Wilmington, NC $57,107

Roanoke, VA $57,107

Topeka, KS $56,995

Frankfort, KY $56,988

Oklahoma City, OK $56,945

Chillicothe, OH $56,920

Longview, TX $56,914

Melbourne, FL $56,908

Sioux Falls, SD $56,808

Mobile, AL $56,802

Terre Haute, IN $56,777

Altoona, PA $56,739

Amarillo, TX $56,696

Killeen, TX $56,677

Fayetteville, AR $56,627

Chattanooga, TN $56,608

Sioux City, IA $56,552

Idaho Falls, ID $56,540

Lynchburg, VA $56,490

Gainesville, FL $56,409

Portsmouth, OH $56,378

Little Rock, AR $56,365

Lafayette, LA $56,340

Youngstown, OH $56,340

Daytona Beach, FL $56,303

Clarksville, TN $56,297

Pensacola, FL $56,290

Temple, TX $56,286

Hopkinsville, KY $56,103

Erie, PA $56,091

Florence, SC $56,066

Charleston, WV $55,966

Great Falls, MT $55,935

Macon, GA $55,848

Tallahassee, FL $55,842

Fayetteville, NC $55,829

Waco, TX $55,817

Helena, MT $55,773

Pine Bluff, AR $55,749

Vincennes, IN $55,673

Lubbock, TX $55,648

Alamogordo, NM $55,611

Twin Falls, ID $55,555

Rapid City, SD $55,536

Jackson, MS $55,424

Huntington, WV $55,420

Greenville, MS $55,418

Parkersburg, WV $55,354

Montgomery, AL $55,343

Wichita Falls, TX $55,281

Springfield, MO $55,281

Biloxi, MS $55,249

Monroe, LA $55,187

Johnstown, PA $55,143

Sumter, SC $55,118

Columbus, GA $55,112

Pascagoula, MS $54,994

Abilene, TX $54,994

Kingsport, TN $54,832

Albany, GA $54,832

Gulfport, MS $54,813

Alexandria, LA $54,607

Fort Smith, AR $54,451

El Paso, TX $54,283

Las Cruces, NM $54,003

Harlingen, TX $53,844

Pocatello, ID $53,834

Florence, AL $53,753

Brownsville, TX $53,741

Mcallen, TX $53,610

Dothan, AL $53,523

Columbus, MS $53,152

Altus, OK $52,862

Lawton, OK $52,743

Pierre, SD $52,519

What Skills Can Increase a Firefighter's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

Agility (Mentioned in 5.01% Job Postings): The ability to think quickly and clearly.
CPR (Mentioned in 5.28% Job Postings): Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) combines rescue breathing (mouth-to-mouth) and chest compressions to temporarily pump enough blood to the brain until specialized treatment is available.
Hydraulics (Mentioned in 1.79% Job Postings): Hydraulics is a technology and applied science using engineering, chemistry, and other sciences involving the mechanical properties and use of liquids.

See More Skills

Skills	Demand Percentage
Agility	5.01%
CPR	5.28%
Hydraulics	1.79%

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 Firefighter's salary.

Risk Management: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
Innovation: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
Analysis: Can increase your salary by up to 3%.

Skill	Salary	Salary % Increase
Risk Management	$65,454	5%
Innovation	$64,831	4%
Analysis	$64,207	3%
Leadership	$64,207	3%
Accountability	$64,207	3%
Dedication	$63,584	2%

Get Latest Data

Firefighter Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Firefighter roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 70% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Energy & Utilities and Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 40% above the average. In contrast, Firefighter positions in Software & Networking or Business Services typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Firefighter as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Firefighter

Industry Sector	Average Annual Salary	Average Hourly Rate	Pay vs.Avg
Energy & Utilities	$87,272	$42.0	40%
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit	$68,571	$33.0	10%

Firefighter Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Firefighter'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 August 01, 2026

$56,511

Average $62,337/year

$69,250

$4,709

Average $5,195/month

$5,771

$1,087

Average $1,199/week

$1,332

$27

Average $30/hour

$33

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$69,250	$5,771	$1,332	$33
Average	$62,337	$5,195	$1,199	$30
25th Percentile	$56,511	$4,709	$1,087	$27

Salaries of jobs related to Firefighter

Salary Trends for Firefighter

Salaries for a Firefighter can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $42,715 in 2023 to around $42,652 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Firefighter salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Firefighter Over Time

2022

$???

2023

$42,715

2024

$43,000

2025

$42,652

2026

$???

2027

$???

Year	Average Annual Salary
2022	View More
2023	$42,715
2024	$43,000
2025	$42,652
2026	View More
2027	View More

Most common benefits for Firefighter

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

Business Services

the United States

Find Your Next Firefighter Job

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

Maxim Healthcare

Columbus, OH

RN Private Duty Nursing Opportunity

Maxim Healthcare | Columbus, OH

Private duty nursing (PDN) allows medically fragile patients to receive quality, skilled nursing care in the comfort of their home: a setting preferred by ... more

13 Days Ago
XPO

Columbus, OH

CDL

XPO | Columbus, OH

XPO is Hiring Driver Teams. XPO Teams. As an XPO Team, you’ll run dedicated routes between XPO facilities in. new sleeper. trucks equipped with microwaves ... more

13 Days Ago
Schneider

Columbus, OH

Class CDL Company Driver

Schneider | Columbus, OH

CDL-A - Dedicated Reefer truck driver - Kroger. Dedicated Reefer truck driver - Kroger. Average pay. $1,200-$1,450 weekly. Home time. Daily. Experience. Al... more

14 Days Ago
Summit Recruiting Group

Columbus, OH

Dermatology Physician Assistant

Summit Recruiting Group | Columbus, OH

NP/PA Dermatology job opening in Columbus, OHPosition Details. Full-time, permanent opening. Experience required. Well-Established Practice. Seeking a NP/P... more

15 Days Ago
Family Dollar

Columbus, OH

Customer Service Associate

Family Dollar | Columbus, OH

Customer Service Associate. We're seeking a Customer Service Associate to join our team and deliver a great shopping experience for every customer. Duties ... more

16 Days Ago
GO Staffing

Columbus, OH

Surgery

GO Staffing | Columbus, OH

Locums - A well respected group has a Trauma Surgery APP opportunity available in Columbus, Ohio. Certified Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant. 1/1/... more

16 Days Ago

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.

FAQ about Firefighter

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Firefighter?

The Energy & Utilities industry offers the highest average compensation for Firefighter roles, with salaries approximately 40% above the market median.

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