State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
Firefighter Salary (2026): Data, Outlook & How to Become One
The median pay for Firefighters is $59,280 a year ($28.50/hr), according to BLS OEWS, May 2025. Employment is projected to grow 3.4% through 2034, with about 27,100 openings a year (BLS EP, 2024–2034). Typical entry-level education: Postsecondary nondegree award.
SOC 33-2011Protective ServiceLast updated August 15, 2026
- Median pay
- $59,280
- Projected growth
- +3.4%
- Openings a year
- 27,100
- Typical education
- Certificate
BLS OEWS, May 2025
BLS EP, 2024–2034
BLS EP, 2024–2034
BLS EP, 2024–2034
Also advertised as: Fire Engineer, Fire Equipment Operator, Fire Fighter, Fire Management Specialist, Fire Technician (Fire Tech), Firefighter.
How much do Firefighters make?
10th percentile$34,910
Entry / lowest-paid tenth
25th percentile$44,490
Lower quartile
Median (50th)$59,280
Half earn more, half earn less
75th percentile$77,250
Upper quartile
90th percentile$101,040
Top-paid tenth
| Median annual wage | $59,280 |
|---|---|
| Median hourly wage | $28.50/hr |
| Mean annual wage | $63,630 |
| People employed | 345,990 |
Versus all US occupations
At $59,280, Firefighters earn 16% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $8,300 a year.
Versus protective service occupations
The median is typical for the Protective Service group, where the middle occupation pays $59,110.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $101,040 or more while the bottom 10% earn $34,910, a gap of 2.9×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 41% of the 923 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
New York pays the most at $100,960, and still leads at $93,550 once local prices are taken into account.
Which states pay Firefighters the most?
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | $100,960 | $93,550 | 12,950 |
| Washington | $94,520 | $88,326 | 7,560 |
| California | $85,120 | $76,879 | 31,470 |
| New Jersey | $84,130 | $77,322 | 7,500 |
| Illinois | $78,380 | $78,413 | 18,400 |
| Connecticut | $77,630 | $74,925 | 2,970 |
| District of Columbia | $75,870 | $69,035 | 1,480 |
| Colorado | $74,170 | $71,973 | 6,510 |
| Maryland | $73,810 | $70,323 | 5,340 |
| Pennsylvania | $73,460 | $75,288 | 5,020 |
Is Firefighter a growing career?
Firefighters3.4%
All US occupations3.1%
+3.4% projected growth vs 3.1% for all occupations.
About as fast as average
BLS projects employment of Firefighters to change 3.4% over 2024–2034, against 3.1% projected for all occupations. That is 11,800 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 27,100 openings are projected each year, 7.9% of the 344,900 jobs that existed in 2024. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Although improved building materials and building codes have resulted in a long-term decrease in fires and fire fatalities, firefighters will still be needed to respond to fires. Wildland firefighters will still be needed to combat active fires and manage the environment to reduce the impact of fires. Firefighters will also continue to respond to medical emergencies.
How to become a Firefighter
Firefighters typically need a high school diploma and training in emergency medical services. Prospective firefighters must pass written and physical tests, complete interviews, and train at a fire academy. Additionally, fire departments may require firefighters to have other credentials, such as emergency medical technician (EMT) certification. Firefighters must complete continuing education to obtain or maintain these credentials.
Applicants for firefighter jobs typically must be at least 18 years old and have a valid driver’s license. They must also pass a medical exam and drug screening to be hired. After being hired, firefighters may be subject to random drug tests and also need to complete routine physical fitness assessments.
| Typical entry-level education | Postsecondary nondegree award |
|---|---|
| Preparation needed (O*NET job zone) | Some preparation |
| Work experience in a related occupation | None |
| Typical on-the-job training | Long-term on-the-job training |
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as firefighters.
- High School Diploma35.9%
- Post-Secondary Certificate24.6%
- Some College Courses19.5%
- Less than a High School Diploma9.4%
- Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)7.2%
What does a Firefighter 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.
Firefighters control and put out fires and respond to emergencies involving life, property, or the environment.
Day-to-day tasks
- Respond to fire alarms and other calls for assistance, such as automobile and industrial accidents.
- Clean and maintain fire stations and fire fighting equipment and apparatus.
- Extinguish flames and embers to suppress fires, using shovels or engine- or hand-driven water or chemical pumps.
- Participate in fire drills and demonstrations of fire fighting techniques.
- Assess fires and situations and report conditions to superiors to receive instructions, using two-way radios.
- Drive and operate fire fighting vehicles and equipment.
- Dress with equipment such as fire-resistant clothing and breathing apparatus.
- Inform and educate the public on fire prevention.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Where firefighters work
| Local government, excluding education and hospitals | 88% |
|---|---|
| State government, excluding education and hospitals | 3% |
| Federal government, excluding postal service | 2% |
BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2024–2034 edition.
Core skills
- Critical Thinking3.9/5
- Active Listening3.5/5
- Speaking3.5/5
- Active Learning3.5/5
- Monitoring3.5/5
- Reading Comprehension3.1/5
- Writing2.9/5
- Learning Strategies2.9/5
Transferable skills
- Coordination3.6/5
- Service Orientation3.6/5
- Judgment and Decision Making3.6/5
- Social Perceptiveness3.4/5
- Complex Problem Solving3.3/5
- Operations Monitoring3.3/5
- Operation and Control3.3/5
- Time Management3.1/5
Tools and software
- Data base user interface and query software · in demand
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Operating system software · in demand
- Presentation software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Analytical or scientific software
- Geographic information system
- Internet browser software
- Project management software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
What personality type suits a Firefighter?
Interest profile: O*NET Occupational Interests, scored 1–7
Realisticprimary6.5
Investigative2.9
Artistic1.3
Socialprimary3.4
Enterprising3.0
Conventionalprimary3.5
Day to day this is work built around hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors, combined with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data.
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Firefighter: frequently asked questions
How much do Firefighters make?
Firefighters earn a median of $59,280 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 16% above the $50,980 US median across all occupations. That works out at $28.50/hr. The middle half earn between $44,490 and $77,250. The top 10% earn $101,040 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Firefighter?
Not a degree, but you do need credentialled training: BLS lists a postsecondary non-degree award (a certificate or licence programme) as the typical entry route for Firefighters. BLS also lists long-term on-the-job training as typical on-the-job training. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 35.9% hold high school diploma.
Is Firefighter a growing career?
It is stable rather than fast-growing: employment is projected to change 3.4% over 2024–2034, about the same as the 3.1% projected across all occupations (BLS EP, 2024–2034). BLS still projects about 27,100 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Firefighter do?
Firefighters control and put out fires and respond to emergencies involving life, property, or the environment. A core O*NET task: respond to fire alarms and other calls for assistance, such as automobile and industrial accidents. Employers most often ask for Data base user interface and query software, Electronic mail software, Office suite software.
Which states pay Firefighters the most?
The highest state medians for Firefighters are New York ($100,960), Washington ($94,520), California ($85,120) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits a Firefighter?
O*NET scores Firefighters highest on the Realistic, Conventional and Social interest areas, so the work mixes hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with ISTJ personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 923 occupations in the bank.