347 metro areas
Firefighter Salary by City (2026)
Firefighters earn the most in Bakersfield, CA, an average of $199,490 a year, against $63,630 nationally. After local prices, pay goes furthest in Bakersfield, CA ($197,740 in national-average dollars). Every metro area with its own BLS estimate is ranked below.
- US average (mean)
- $63,630BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Highest-paying city
- $199,490Bakersfield, CA
- Best after cost of living
- $197,740Bakersfield, CA
- Metro areas
- 347With their own estimate
Top cities
Highest-paying cities for firefighters
Top 10 metro areas
- Bakersfield, CA$199,490
- San Jose, CA$134,260
- San Francisco, CA$110,590
- Los Angeles, CA$108,870
- Seattle, WA$100,460
- Vallejo, CA$99,530
- Sacramento, CA$97,430
- Bellingham, WA$93,600
- New York, NY-NJ$92,410
- Bremerton, WA$90,020
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $199,490 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $134,260 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $110,590 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $108,870 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $100,460 |
| Vallejo, CA | $99,530 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $97,430 |
| Bellingham, WA | $93,600 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $92,410 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $90,020 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Mean wage ÷ BEA price level
- Bakersfield, CA$199,490 nominal$197,740
- San Jose, CA$134,260 nominal$121,590
- Los Angeles, CA$108,870 nominal$95,860
- San Francisco, CA$110,590 nominal$95,660
- Vallejo, CA$99,530 nominal$91,750
- Sacramento, CA$97,430 nominal$91,340
- Bellingham, WA$93,600 nominal$90,580
- Seattle, WA$100,460 nominal$90,400
- Fort Collins, CO$89,590 nominal$88,590
- Olympia, WA$89,960 nominal$86,780
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $197,740 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $121,590 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $95,860 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $95,660 |
| Vallejo, CA | $91,750 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $91,340 |
| Bellingham, WA | $90,580 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $90,400 |
| Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | $88,590 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $86,780 |
Source: BLS OEWS 2025 · BEA RPP 2024
Every city
Firefighter salary in every metro area
Mean annual wage, with the Department of Labor's entry (Level I) and experienced (Level IV) prevailing-wage benchmarks for the same metro, and the mean at national-average prices. Sorted by mean pay.
| # | Metro area | Mean | Entry (Level I) | Experienced (Level IV) | At US prices |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bakersfield, CA | $199,490 | $50,840 | $272,710 | $197,740 |
| 2 | San Jose, CA | $134,260 | $76,900 | $162,530 | $121,590 |
| 3 | San Francisco, CA | $110,590 | $78,520 | $126,400 | $95,660 |
| 4 | Los Angeles, CA | $108,870 | $67,600 | $129,190 | $95,860 |
| 5 | Seattle, WA | $100,460 | $76,900 | $112,050 | $90,400 |
| 6 | Vallejo, CA | $99,530 | $64,110 | $116,980 | $91,750 |
| 7 | Sacramento, CA | $97,430 | $60,690 | $115,500 | $91,340 |
| 8 | Bellingham, WA | $93,600 | $67,580 | $106,430 | $90,580 |
| 9 | New York, NY-NJ | $92,410 | $61,420 | $107,660 | $82,100 |
| 10 | Bremerton, WA | $90,020 | $60,050 | $104,790 | $85,240 |
| 11 | Olympia, WA | $89,960 | $70,120 | $99,740 | $86,780 |
| 12 | Stockton, CA | $89,710 | $66,020 | $101,380 | $85,370 |
| 13 | Fort Collins, CO | $89,590 | $65,690 | $101,360 | $88,590 |
| 14 | Denver, CO | $88,250 | $63,860 | $100,280 | $83,430 |
| 15 | Santa Maria, CA | $87,650 | $62,730 | $99,920 | $80,560 |
| 16 | Portland, OR-WA | $87,380 | $62,980 | $99,400 | $82,890 |
| 17 | Santa Rosa, CA | $86,400 | $50,480 | $104,100 | $80,160 |
| 18 | Modesto, CA | $85,430 | $62,840 | $96,550 | $82,060 |
| 19 | Reno, NV | $85,220 | $56,100 | $99,570 | $84,360 |
| 20 | Riverside, CA | $84,120 | $57,910 | $97,030 | $79,030 |
| 21 | Salinas, CA | $82,830 | $54,680 | $96,700 | $75,960 |
| 22 | Spokane, WA | $82,580 | $51,580 | $97,860 | $82,300 |
| 23 | Rochester, NY | $82,530 | $65,190 | $91,060 | $85,050 |
| 24 | Fresno, CA | $82,510 | $54,640 | $96,240 | $80,770 |
| 25 | Boulder, CO | $81,950 | $58,410 | $93,540 | $77,900 |
| 26 | Chicago, IL-IN | $80,120 | $45,430 | $97,200 | $77,340 |
| 27 | Trenton, NJ | $79,960 | $53,230 | $93,120 | $77,500 |
| 28 | Mount Vernon, WA | $79,750 | $50,500 | $94,160 | $77,850 |
| 29 | Bridgeport, CT | $79,190 | $68,540 | $84,450 | $74,100 |
| 30 | Carson City, NV | $78,460 | $53,040 | $90,980 | $79,960 |
| 31 | Napa, CA | $78,460 | $56,370 | $89,340 | $69,710 |
| 32 | San Luis Obispo, CA | $77,790 | $55,350 | $88,840 | $71,630 |
| 33 | Corvallis, OR | $77,730 | $53,410 | $89,690 | $74,730 |
| 34 | Kennewick, WA | $77,650 | $48,320 | $92,100 | $77,590 |
| 35 | Longview, WA | $77,330 | $55,890 | $87,900 | $79,280 |
| 36 | Atlantic City, NJ | $76,860 | $46,260 | $91,920 | $77,750 |
| 37 | Miami, FL | $76,360 | $52,270 | $88,210 | $66,890 |
| 38 | Bozeman, MT | $76,270 | $58,220 | $85,180 | $74,400 |
| 39 | New Haven, CT | $76,250 | $64,900 | $81,850 | $72,930 |
| 40 | Port St. Lucie, FL | $75,820 | $53,520 | $86,800 | $75,650 |
| 41 | Boston, MA-NH | $75,400 | $54,950 | $85,470 | $69,640 |
| 42 | San Diego, CA | $74,550 | $54,910 | $84,200 | $66,630 |
| 43 | Waterbury, CT | $74,440 | $64,480 | $79,350 | $74,610 |
| 44 | Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $74,190 | $51,290 | $85,490 | $72,340 |
| 45 | Baltimore, MD | $73,650 | $51,710 | $84,490 | $70,490 |
| 46 | Yuba City, CA | $73,380 | $43,350 | $88,190 | $70,400 |
| 47 | Barnstable Town, MA | $73,320 | $54,290 | $82,680 | $74,550 |
| 48 | Chico, CA | $73,300 | $56,140 | $81,740 | $72,430 |
| 49 | Peoria, IL | $72,610 | $38,420 | $89,440 | $79,590 |
| 50 | Lubbock, TX | $72,490 | $54,290 | $81,450 | $79,380 |
| 51 | Oxnard, CA | $72,450 | $53,960 | $81,540 | $65,550 |
| 52 | Ames, IA | $72,380 | $47,650 | $84,550 | $81,480 |
| 53 | Kiryas Joel, NY | $72,360 | $54,810 | $81,020 | $66,130 |
| 54 | Erie, PA | $72,130 | $46,220 | $84,910 | $79,310 |
| 55 | Redding, CA | $71,700 | $50,480 | $82,140 | $71,210 |
| 56 | Hartford, CT | $71,430 | $53,160 | $80,430 | $69,520 |
| 57 | Santa Cruz, CA | $71,120 | $45,550 | $83,700 | $64,720 |
| 58 | Washington, DC-VA-MD-WV | $70,910 | $52,350 | $80,060 | $65,120 |
| 59 | Medford, OR | $70,470 | $41,120 | $84,930 | $69,470 |
| 60 | Fort Wayne, IN | $70,370 | $55,640 | $77,600 | $76,020 |
| 61 | Binghamton, NY | $69,950 | $52,100 | $78,750 | $75,330 |
| 62 | Missoula, MT | $69,640 | $52,080 | $78,310 | $72,210 |
| 63 | Utica, NY | $69,180 | $53,790 | $76,770 | $74,650 |
| 64 | Abilene, TX | $68,700 | $53,080 | $76,400 | $76,030 |
| 65 | Buffalo, NY | $68,290 | $52,940 | $75,840 | $71,250 |
| 66 | Merced, CA | $68,120 | $54,770 | $74,690 | $69,320 |
| 67 | Phoenix, AZ | $67,910 | $47,800 | $77,810 | $65,730 |
| 68 | Columbus, OH | $67,620 | $40,680 | $80,890 | $70,830 |
| 69 | Allentown, PA-NJ | $67,520 | $48,670 | $76,810 | $67,540 |
| 70 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $67,270 | $42,890 | $79,290 | $70,740 |
| 71 | Dallas, TX | $67,230 | $52,150 | $74,630 | $65,210 |
| 72 | Indianapolis, IN | $67,100 | $47,300 | $76,880 | $70,120 |
| 73 | Evansville, IN | $67,060 | $52,080 | $74,440 | $73,270 |
| 74 | Springfield, MA | $66,890 | $56,620 | $71,950 | $69,630 |
| 75 | Rockford, IL | $66,870 | $42,060 | $79,100 | $72,560 |
| 76 | Providence, RI-MA | $66,440 | $55,290 | $71,950 | $65,280 |
| 77 | Worcester, MA | $66,390 | $48,280 | $75,300 | $64,760 |
| 78 | Waterloo, IA | $66,290 | $50,650 | $73,990 | $76,150 |
| 79 | Albany, NY | $65,940 | $48,690 | $74,420 | $66,230 |
| 80 | Pittsburgh, PA | $65,920 | $49,820 | $73,860 | $69,630 |
| 81 | Reading, PA | $65,670 | $47,940 | $74,380 | $67,660 |
| 82 | Eugene, OR | $65,440 | $45,220 | $75,400 | $64,430 |
| 83 | Boise City, ID | $65,210 | $38,500 | $78,370 | $66,280 |
| 84 | Des Moines, IA | $65,020 | $38,900 | $77,900 | $70,900 |
| 85 | Salem, OR | $65,000 | $46,590 | $74,050 | $62,710 |
| 86 | Las Vegas, NV | $64,850 | $50,440 | $71,950 | $64,710 |
| 87 | Champaign, IL | $64,730 | $41,700 | $76,070 | $69,820 |
| 88 | Michigan City, IN | $64,670 | $54,520 | $69,660 | $70,540 |
| 89 | Tuscaloosa, AL | $64,380 | $41,140 | $75,820 | $73,390 |
| 90 | York, PA | $64,130 | $43,200 | $74,440 | $66,800 |
| 91 | Norwich, CT | $64,060 | $51,020 | $70,490 | $63,780 |
| 92 | Grand Junction, CO | $63,980 | $43,740 | $73,960 | $67,010 |
| 93 | Jacksonville, FL | $63,980 | $43,470 | $74,070 | $64,310 |
| 94 | Naples, FL | $63,960 | $48,610 | $71,510 | $61,980 |
| 95 | Syracuse, NY | $63,920 | $47,940 | $71,780 | $66,760 |
| 96 | Visalia, CA | $63,880 | $39,690 | $75,770 | $63,990 |
| 97 | Springfield, IL | $63,810 | $42,290 | $74,420 | $68,800 |
| 98 | Billings, MT | $63,070 | $52,020 | $68,490 | $67,440 |
| 99 | Bloomington, IL | $63,070 | $37,610 | $75,610 | $67,430 |
| 100 | Kankakee, IL | $62,900 | $40,440 | $73,960 | $65,250 |
| 101 | Vineland, NJ | $62,480 | $42,990 | $72,090 | $65,110 |
| 102 | Richmond, VA | $62,440 | $45,300 | $70,890 | $63,810 |
| 103 | Scranton, PA | $62,360 | $43,160 | $71,820 | $66,660 |
| 104 | Colorado Springs, CO | $62,280 | $46,880 | $69,870 | $61,840 |
| 105 | Greeley, CO | $62,280 | $46,720 | $69,930 | $62,170 |
| 106 | Cape Coral, FL | $62,150 | $43,760 | $71,200 | $60,720 |
| 107 | Davenport, IA-IL | $62,090 | $43,450 | $71,260 | $69,700 |
| 108 | Sebastian, FL | $62,090 | $52,580 | $66,770 | $63,160 |
| 109 | North Port, FL | $62,050 | $41,560 | $72,160 | $60,590 |
| 110 | Detroit, MI | $61,940 | $44,490 | $70,530 | $61,760 |
| 111 | Decatur, IL | $61,760 | $46,950 | $69,040 | $69,850 |
| 112 | San Antonio, TX | $61,670 | $48,340 | $68,240 | $65,110 |
| 113 | Lafayette, IN | $61,530 | $49,820 | $67,290 | $65,860 |
| 114 | Grand Forks, ND-MN | $61,460 | $36,590 | $73,720 | $70,920 |
| 115 | Watertown, NY | $61,400 | $43,950 | $69,990 | $70,020 |
| 116 | Cleveland, OH | $61,340 | $42,100 | $70,800 | $65,310 |
| 117 | Salt Lake City, UT | $61,320 | $40,750 | $71,450 | $60,790 |
| 118 | Lincoln, NE | $61,170 | $54,230 | $64,600 | $66,790 |
| 119 | Bend, OR | $61,150 | $46,570 | $68,330 | $59,020 |
| 120 | Akron, OH | $61,010 | $40,100 | $71,300 | $65,340 |
| 121 | Hanford, CA | $60,990 | $47,050 | $67,870 | $60,020 |
| 122 | Yakima, WA | $60,880 | $36,130 | $73,070 | $63,720 |
| 123 | Great Falls, MT | $60,860 | $51,360 | $65,540 | $62,840 |
| 124 | Coeur d'Alene, ID | $60,690 | $39,640 | $71,070 | $61,740 |
| 125 | Harrisburg, PA | $60,650 | $50,320 | $65,730 | $61,480 |
| 126 | Tampa, FL | $60,570 | $44,450 | $68,490 | $60,040 |
| 127 | Lebanon, PA | $60,530 | $47,470 | $66,960 | $64,940 |
| 128 | Toledo, OH | $60,470 | $40,330 | $70,390 | $66,120 |
| 129 | Elkhart, IN | $60,420 | $45,910 | $67,580 | $66,890 |
| 130 | Manchester, NH | $60,380 | $42,080 | $69,410 | $57,150 |
| 131 | Houston, TX | $60,280 | $45,340 | $67,640 | $61,120 |
| 132 | Omaha, NE-IA | $60,050 | $49,280 | $65,370 | $65,330 |
| 133 | Austin, TX | $59,610 | $43,280 | $67,640 | $60,790 |
| 134 | Kansas City, MO-KS | $59,570 | $41,270 | $68,580 | $64,370 |
| 135 | Sheboygan, WI | $59,450 | $31,720 | $73,090 | $63,240 |
| 136 | Waco, TX | $59,320 | $44,800 | $66,480 | $64,100 |
| 137 | Beaumont, TX | $59,090 | $40,480 | $68,270 | $65,620 |
| 138 | Albany, OR | $59,070 | $44,660 | $66,190 | $57,860 |
| 139 | Muncie, IN | $58,760 | $46,860 | $64,600 | $66,660 |
| 140 | Laredo, TX | $58,510 | $49,920 | $62,730 | $67,290 |
| 141 | Oklahoma City, OK | $58,470 | $39,920 | $67,600 | $64,670 |
| 142 | El Centro, CA | $58,430 | $34,530 | $70,200 | $61,390 |
| 143 | Janesville, WI | $58,410 | $33,900 | $70,470 | $62,340 |
| 144 | Lancaster, PA | $58,360 | $43,350 | $65,770 | $59,400 |
| 145 | Cedar Rapids, IA | $58,300 | $45,510 | $64,580 | $65,530 |
| 146 | Chambersburg, PA | $58,260 | $32,760 | $70,820 | $61,560 |
| 147 | Idaho Falls, ID | $58,160 | $33,240 | $70,430 | $61,600 |
| 148 | Pueblo, CO | $57,890 | $46,010 | $63,730 | $63,090 |
| 149 | Battle Creek, MI | $57,740 | $41,930 | $65,520 | $63,770 |
| 150 | Anchorage, AK | $57,550 | $33,160 | $69,560 | $54,590 |
| 151 | Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $57,550 | $38,380 | $67,000 | $62,430 |
| 152 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $57,510 | $38,940 | $66,640 | $60,300 |
| 153 | Virginia Beach, VA-NC | $57,510 | $43,080 | $64,630 | $58,720 |
| 154 | Sherman, TX | $57,430 | $41,160 | $65,440 | $61,240 |
| 155 | Racine, WI | $57,120 | $38,110 | $66,500 | $59,520 |
| 156 | Crestview, FL | $57,100 | $40,230 | $65,400 | $58,850 |
| 157 | Amherst Town, MA | $56,470 | $42,910 | $63,170 | $56,330 |
| 158 | Grand Rapids, MI | $56,350 | $41,700 | $63,540 | $58,980 |
| 159 | Yuma, AZ | $56,240 | $40,120 | $64,170 | $60,660 |
| 160 | Pittsfield, MA | $56,180 | $45,760 | $61,320 | $59,070 |
| 161 | Hagerstown, MD-WV | $56,140 | $41,500 | $63,360 | $59,610 |
| 162 | Niles, MI | $56,040 | $34,720 | $66,560 | $60,670 |
| 163 | South Bend, IN-MI | $55,950 | $44,350 | $61,670 | $60,250 |
| 164 | Lewiston, ID-WA | $55,560 | $34,840 | $65,750 | $60,950 |
| 165 | Tyler, TX | $55,390 | $38,500 | $63,710 | $60,100 |
| 166 | Flagstaff, AZ | $55,350 | $40,620 | $62,610 | $55,170 |
| 167 | Lansing, MI | $55,310 | $39,790 | $62,960 | $58,230 |
| 168 | Minot, ND | $55,240 | $43,450 | $61,050 | $63,470 |
| 169 | Lewiston, ME | $55,220 | $42,740 | $61,380 | $58,290 |
| 170 | Lake Havasu City, AZ | $55,120 | $37,270 | $63,920 | $58,580 |
| 171 | Killeen, TX | $54,950 | $45,240 | $59,740 | $60,300 |
| 172 | Dayton, OH | $54,870 | $36,090 | $64,150 | $59,190 |
| 173 | Fairbanks, AK | $54,830 | $38,830 | $62,710 | $53,130 |
| 174 | Topeka, KS | $54,790 | $34,900 | $64,600 | $61,690 |
| 175 | Midland, MI | $54,620 | $43,560 | $60,050 | $59,420 |
| 176 | Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $54,540 | $45,280 | $59,090 | $63,090 |
| 177 | Birmingham, AL | $54,410 | $36,090 | $63,440 | $59,370 |
| 178 | Burlington, VT | $54,370 | $38,150 | $62,380 | $53,860 |
| 179 | Madison, WI | $54,350 | $30,830 | $65,960 | $55,870 |
| 180 | Gainesville, FL | $54,020 | $42,120 | $59,860 | $55,840 |
| 181 | Milwaukee, WI | $54,000 | $35,550 | $63,090 | $55,710 |
| 182 | Helena, MT | $53,750 | $41,040 | $59,990 | $56,180 |
| 183 | Lakeland, FL | $53,580 | $40,580 | $59,970 | $55,160 |
| 184 | Prescott Valley, AZ | $53,580 | $37,040 | $61,710 | $54,530 |
| 185 | Rapid City, SD | $53,540 | $42,990 | $58,740 | $60,050 |
| 186 | Sierra Vista, AZ | $53,520 | $35,670 | $62,300 | $59,970 |
| 187 | Clarksville, TN-KY | $53,290 | $43,660 | $58,030 | $58,590 |
| 188 | Nashville, TN | $53,290 | $39,940 | $59,860 | $55,320 |
| 189 | Fargo, ND-MN | $53,190 | $38,810 | $60,260 | $58,530 |
| 190 | Ogden, UT | $52,640 | $37,960 | $59,900 | $52,460 |
| 191 | Corpus Christi, TX | $52,620 | $43,780 | $56,990 | $56,780 |
| 192 | Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $52,600 | $41,540 | $58,050 | $58,040 |
| 193 | Lawrence, KS | $52,370 | $36,380 | $60,260 | $58,030 |
| 194 | Appleton, WI | $52,310 | $28,830 | $63,880 | $56,600 |
| 195 | Tulsa, OK | $52,190 | $36,840 | $59,760 | $58,500 |
| 196 | Lima, OH | $52,170 | $36,730 | $59,780 | $58,180 |
| 197 | Victoria, TX | $52,120 | $47,510 | $54,390 | $58,010 |
| 198 | Hilton Head Island, SC | $52,020 | $36,420 | $59,720 | $53,070 |
| 199 | Huntsville, AL | $51,770 | $39,290 | $57,930 | $55,620 |
| 200 | Columbus, GA-AL | $51,480 | $45,010 | $54,660 | $57,650 |
| 201 | Manhattan, KS | $51,250 | $38,690 | $57,450 | $56,840 |
| 202 | Portland, ME | $51,230 | $40,080 | $56,720 | $50,300 |
| 203 | Jackson, MI | $51,110 | $40,210 | $56,450 | $55,690 |
| 204 | Terre Haute, IN | $51,040 | $42,810 | $55,100 | $58,130 |
| 205 | Panama City, FL | $50,960 | $35,900 | $58,360 | $52,380 |
| 206 | Savannah, GA | $50,520 | $36,610 | $57,370 | $53,060 |
| 207 | Mobile, AL | $50,500 | $37,020 | $57,160 | $57,320 |
| 208 | Atlanta, GA | $50,420 | $37,250 | $56,890 | $50,390 |
| 209 | Bismarck, ND | $50,400 | $42,020 | $54,520 | $55,370 |
| 210 | Johnstown, PA | $50,320 | $42,830 | $54,020 | $58,560 |
| 211 | Orlando, FL | $50,130 | $37,790 | $56,200 | $49,430 |
| 212 | Saginaw, MI | $50,070 | $37,170 | $56,430 | $55,090 |
| 213 | Greensboro, NC | $49,960 | $32,590 | $58,510 | $53,800 |
| 214 | Knoxville, TN | $49,900 | $34,400 | $57,530 | $53,910 |
| 215 | Texarkana, TX-AR | $49,880 | $37,940 | $55,760 | $59,370 |
| 216 | Amarillo, TX | $49,840 | $42,000 | $53,710 | $54,280 |
| 217 | Little Rock, AR | $49,840 | $33,820 | $57,740 | $55,770 |
| 218 | Ann Arbor, MI | $49,770 | $39,100 | $55,020 | $49,340 |
| 219 | McAllen, TX | $49,670 | $34,530 | $57,120 | $57,830 |
| 220 | Sandusky, OH | $49,630 | $32,200 | $58,200 | $55,590 |
| 221 | Columbus, IN | $49,610 | $37,790 | $55,410 | $53,340 |
| 222 | Tucson, AZ | $49,590 | $36,030 | $56,260 | $51,180 |
| 223 | Oshkosh, WI | $49,550 | $31,570 | $58,410 | $53,320 |
| 224 | Staunton, VA | $49,460 | $34,920 | $56,620 | $54,280 |
| 225 | Traverse City, MI | $49,320 | $36,550 | $55,620 | $52,820 |
| 226 | Bangor, ME | $49,230 | $35,590 | $55,970 | $51,010 |
| 227 | Palm Bay, FL | $49,000 | $38,920 | $53,980 | $49,000 |
| 228 | Longview, TX | $48,920 | $37,070 | $54,770 | $54,670 |
| 229 | Mansfield, OH | $48,900 | $34,940 | $55,760 | $55,020 |
| 230 | Homosassa Springs, FL | $48,860 | $33,160 | $56,600 | $52,280 |
| 231 | Augusta, GA-SC | $48,820 | $34,900 | $55,680 | $53,120 |
| 232 | Sebring, FL | $48,760 | $35,690 | $55,180 | $52,730 |
| 233 | Chattanooga, TN-GA | $48,670 | $35,420 | $55,180 | $53,210 |
| 234 | Jefferson City, MO | $48,630 | $37,980 | $53,890 | $55,280 |
| 235 | Kenosha, WI | $48,630 | $34,280 | $55,680 | $48,090 |
| 236 | Green Bay, WI | $48,400 | $30,330 | $57,280 | $51,990 |
| 237 | Raleigh, NC | $48,360 | $33,470 | $55,700 | $49,270 |
| 238 | Grants Pass, OR | $48,300 | $37,150 | $53,790 | $49,410 |
| 239 | San Angelo, TX | $48,280 | $44,430 | $50,170 | $52,220 |
| 240 | Iowa City, IA | $48,240 | $31,800 | $56,330 | $52,720 |
| 241 | Wausau, WI | $48,170 | $30,740 | $56,760 | $51,990 |
| 242 | Bowling Green, KY | $47,720 | $32,550 | $55,200 | $52,920 |
| 243 | Jacksonville, NC | $47,670 | $34,200 | $54,330 | $51,770 |
| 244 | Minneapolis, MN-WI | $47,570 | $30,620 | $55,930 | $45,380 |
| 245 | Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $47,530 | $35,480 | $53,460 | $51,070 |
| 246 | Charleston, SC | $47,490 | $33,570 | $54,350 | $47,040 |
| 247 | Montgomery, AL | $47,490 | $37,400 | $52,460 | $52,950 |
| 248 | Daphne, AL | $47,400 | $28,620 | $56,660 | $50,060 |
| 249 | Myrtle Beach, SC | $47,300 | $37,340 | $52,210 | $50,510 |
| 250 | Punta Gorda, FL | $47,130 | $35,150 | $53,020 | $46,880 |
| 251 | Charlotte, NC-SC | $47,070 | $32,410 | $54,290 | $48,350 |
| 252 | Wichita Falls, TX | $47,010 | $37,170 | $51,850 | $52,520 |
| 253 | Weirton, WV-OH | $46,820 | $34,720 | $52,790 | $52,590 |
| 254 | Gainesville, GA | $46,360 | $37,230 | $50,860 | $47,910 |
| 255 | Hinesville, GA | $46,360 | $33,630 | $52,620 | $49,350 |
| 256 | Monroe, MI | $46,090 | $36,710 | $50,730 | $49,300 |
| 257 | El Paso, TX | $45,950 | $33,450 | $52,100 | $51,110 |
| 258 | Kalamazoo, MI | $45,910 | $37,980 | $49,820 | $48,410 |
| 259 | Logan, UT-ID | $45,860 | $35,190 | $51,130 | $47,810 |
| 260 | Decatur, AL | $45,700 | $34,510 | $51,210 | $52,400 |
| 261 | Deltona, FL | $45,450 | $34,150 | $51,000 | $45,740 |
| 262 | Florence, AL | $45,180 | $33,160 | $51,110 | $53,270 |
| 263 | Pensacola, FL | $45,030 | $29,680 | $52,580 | $46,080 |
| 264 | La Crosse, WI-MN | $44,990 | $29,370 | $52,690 | $49,030 |
| 265 | Macon, GA | $44,910 | $35,380 | $49,590 | $50,730 |
| 266 | Springfield, MO | $44,890 | $33,070 | $50,710 | $50,670 |
| 267 | Alexandria, LA | $44,870 | $23,840 | $55,220 | $52,370 |
| 268 | Rochester, MN | $44,720 | $27,810 | $53,060 | $49,240 |
| 269 | Sumter, SC | $44,720 | $31,740 | $51,130 | $50,810 |
| 270 | Lawton, OK | $44,660 | $32,120 | $50,840 | $51,970 |
| 271 | Anniston, AL | $44,640 | $30,280 | $51,710 | $51,940 |
| 272 | Dalton, GA | $44,600 | $34,840 | $49,400 | $49,640 |
| 273 | Albany, GA | $44,530 | $32,880 | $50,270 | $50,790 |
| 274 | Las Cruces, NM | $44,450 | $33,610 | $49,770 | $49,270 |
| 275 | Muskegon, MI | $44,450 | $35,260 | $48,980 | $48,040 |
| 276 | Fond du Lac, WI | $44,350 | $32,590 | $50,130 | $48,390 |
| 277 | Youngstown, OH | $44,160 | $31,820 | $50,230 | $50,530 |
| 278 | Charlottesville, VA | $44,140 | $28,870 | $51,670 | $44,520 |
| 279 | Elizabethtown, KY | $43,990 | $32,970 | $49,420 | $48,570 |
| 280 | Beckley, WV | $43,930 | $34,030 | $48,800 | $49,710 |
| 281 | Wichita, KS | $43,780 | $36,770 | $47,220 | $49,220 |
| 282 | Warner Robins, GA | $43,640 | $32,450 | $49,150 | $46,530 |
| 283 | Kingsport, TN-VA | $43,600 | $30,180 | $50,210 | $50,440 |
| 284 | Albuquerque, NM | $43,580 | $35,070 | $47,760 | $45,610 |
| 285 | Auburn, AL | $43,330 | $26,230 | $51,750 | $49,280 |
| 286 | St. Joseph, MO-KS | $43,330 | $34,630 | $47,610 | $50,160 |
| 287 | Joplin, MO-KS | $43,180 | $31,530 | $48,920 | $50,370 |
| 288 | Lynchburg, VA | $43,180 | $34,800 | $47,300 | $48,320 |
| 289 | Flint, MI | $43,160 | $34,420 | $47,490 | $46,390 |
| 290 | Wheeling, WV-OH | $43,120 | $31,280 | $48,960 | $48,820 |
| 291 | Pocatello, ID | $42,740 | $35,780 | $46,180 | $48,070 |
| 292 | Duluth, MN-WI | $42,720 | $27,850 | $50,040 | $48,130 |
| 293 | Greenville, SC | $42,680 | $30,330 | $48,780 | $45,760 |
| 294 | Canton, OH | $42,640 | $33,030 | $47,380 | $47,690 |
| 295 | St. George, UT | $42,580 | $33,400 | $47,090 | $43,750 |
| 296 | Fayetteville, AR | $42,540 | $32,410 | $47,530 | $46,570 |
| 297 | Durham, NC | $42,470 | $33,610 | $46,860 | $43,530 |
| 298 | Gulfport, MS | $42,290 | $31,620 | $47,550 | $46,990 |
| 299 | Harrisonburg, VA | $42,290 | $34,880 | $45,930 | $44,570 |
| 300 | Roanoke, VA | $42,100 | $30,620 | $47,740 | $44,970 |
| 301 | Brownsville, TX | $42,080 | $33,010 | $46,530 | $48,940 |
| 302 | Rocky Mount, NC | $42,000 | $31,800 | $47,010 | $47,720 |
| 303 | New Orleans, LA | $41,930 | $25,540 | $50,000 | $45,280 |
| 304 | Rome, GA | $41,310 | $33,180 | $45,320 | $45,820 |
| 305 | Bloomington, IN | $41,040 | $25,710 | $48,590 | $43,160 |
| 306 | Lexington, KY | $40,980 | $31,600 | $45,590 | $44,120 |
| 307 | Dothan, AL | $40,810 | $30,560 | $45,860 | $48,680 |
| 308 | Goldsboro, NC | $40,580 | $29,220 | $46,180 | $45,870 |
| 309 | Mankato, MN | $40,480 | $25,830 | $47,690 | $44,510 |
| 310 | Columbia, SC | $40,290 | $30,720 | $44,990 | $43,020 |
| 311 | Johnson City, TN | $40,290 | $31,300 | $44,720 | $45,820 |
| 312 | Santa Fe, NM | $40,290 | $31,200 | $44,780 | $40,790 |
| 313 | Provo, UT | $40,060 | $23,630 | $48,150 | $40,780 |
| 314 | Twin Falls, ID | $39,890 | $25,310 | $47,070 | $43,310 |
| 315 | Charleston, WV | $39,710 | $33,160 | $42,930 | $44,760 |
| 316 | Fayetteville, NC | $39,640 | $27,830 | $45,470 | $43,100 |
| 317 | Morristown, TN | $39,580 | $33,220 | $42,700 | $45,830 |
| 318 | Jonesboro, AR | $39,420 | $30,640 | $43,740 | $45,900 |
| 319 | Wilmington, NC | $39,310 | $30,240 | $43,800 | $40,770 |
| 320 | Asheville, NC | $39,250 | $30,850 | $43,390 | $40,670 |
| 321 | Eau Claire, WI | $39,170 | $29,310 | $44,030 | $42,210 |
| 322 | Lake Charles, LA | $39,000 | $26,440 | $45,200 | $45,430 |
| 323 | Fort Smith, AR-OK | $38,830 | $29,370 | $43,510 | $45,210 |
| 324 | St. Cloud, MN | $38,730 | $28,020 | $44,010 | $44,200 |
| 325 | Blacksburg, VA | $38,670 | $26,170 | $44,820 | $41,710 |
| 326 | San Juan, PR | $38,290 | $31,890 | $41,480 | N/A |
| 327 | Greenville, NC | $38,250 | $30,010 | $42,310 | $43,270 |
| 328 | Spartanburg, SC | $38,150 | $28,120 | $43,100 | $41,900 |
| 329 | Burlington, NC | $38,000 | $27,770 | $43,060 | $40,770 |
| 330 | Huntington, WV-KY-OH | $37,790 | $27,500 | $42,850 | $42,740 |
| 331 | Pinehurst, NC | $37,650 | $28,120 | $42,350 | $42,620 |
| 332 | Valdosta, GA | $37,400 | $29,600 | $41,230 | $42,370 |
| 333 | Shreveport, LA | $37,290 | $26,640 | $42,540 | $43,990 |
| 334 | Jackson, TN | $36,840 | $28,270 | $41,040 | $43,080 |
| 335 | Hickory, NC | $36,630 | $29,560 | $40,100 | $41,400 |
| 336 | Slidell, LA | $36,320 | $23,500 | $42,640 | $39,170 |
| 337 | Winston, NC | $36,110 | $28,830 | $39,710 | $39,230 |
| 338 | Baton Rouge, LA | $35,400 | $25,920 | $40,080 | $39,000 |
| 339 | Jackson, MS | $35,360 | $27,890 | $39,020 | $39,710 |
| 340 | Florence, SC | $34,860 | $25,380 | $39,540 | $40,170 |
| 341 | Gadsden, AL | $34,740 | $28,120 | $38,000 | $40,560 |
| 342 | Hattiesburg, MS | $33,070 | $28,410 | $35,380 | $37,740 |
| 343 | Lafayette, LA | $32,840 | $25,080 | $36,670 | $37,660 |
| 344 | Hot Springs, AR | $32,220 | $26,290 | $35,130 | $37,580 |
| 345 | Hammond, LA | $30,180 | $22,650 | $33,880 | $35,730 |
| 346 | Houma, LA | $29,830 | $22,170 | $33,610 | $35,050 |
| 347 | Monroe, LA | $27,270 | $21,050 | $30,330 | $32,620 |
More
More on firefighters
Method
About these numbers
- Mean wages are BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2025 estimates for each metropolitan statistical area, as published in the Department of Labor’s 2026–27 OFLC prevailing-wage file. Only metros with their own BLS estimate are listed.
- Entry (Level I) and experienced (Level IV) are the Department of Labor’s prevailing-wage levels for the occupation in that metro, used for employer visa filings. They are benchmarks from the same OEWS survey, not percentiles.
- OEWS top-codes wages at $115 an hour ($239,200 a year); top-coded means are shown as "$239,200+" and left out of rankings.
- At US prices divides the mean by the metro’s BEA Regional Price Parity (2024) over 100, a NueCareer calculation.
Questions
Firefighter salary by city: FAQ
Which city pays firefighters the most?
Bakersfield, CA, where the average (mean) wage is $199,490 a year, followed by San Jose, CA ($134,260), San Francisco, CA ($110,590), Los Angeles, CA ($108,870). The national mean is $63,630 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Where do firefighters earn the most after cost of living?
Divided by each metro's BEA price level, pay goes furthest in Bakersfield, CA ($197,740 at national prices, $199,490 nominal), San Jose, CA ($121,590 at national prices, $134,260 nominal), Los Angeles, CA ($95,860 at national prices, $108,870 nominal).
How much do firefighters make in the biggest cities?
New York, NY-NJ: $92,410; Los Angeles, CA: $108,870; Chicago, IL-IN: $80,120; Dallas, TX: $67,230; Houston, TX: $60,280 (mean annual wage, BLS OEWS May 2025).
Where do firefighters earn the least?
Of the 347 metro areas with their own estimate, Monroe, LA has the lowest mean wage, $27,270. At local prices that is worth $32,620.