Firefighters Salary — US State Breakdown (2025)
✓ Sourced directly from BLS OES · Checked for accuracy at every rebuild · Last updated: 2026-09-02
BLS OES May 2025 · SOC 33-2011As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Links below are affiliate links.
US Salary Overview
The national median wage for firefighters in the United States is $59,280 per year, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025) — real government survey data, not an algorithmic salary estimate. Pay ranges from $34,910 at the 10th percentile to $101,040 at the 90th percentile. In the UK, the equivalent occupation (Fire service officers (watch manager and below)) has a median of £40,775 — figures are shown in local currency and are not converted. Signing a US offer? Employment contract templates at LawDepot cover offer letters, NDAs and employment agreements.
US Salary Percentiles
| Percentile | Annual (gross) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $34,910 | Entry level / lowest decile |
| 25th | $44,490 | Early career |
| 50th (median) | $59,280 | Typical pay |
| 75th | $77,250 | Experienced |
| 90th | $101,040 | Senior / highest decile |
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Start $1 Trial →Median Salary by State
| State | Median salary | Mean salary | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | $100,960 | $87,150 | 13,000 |
| Washington | $94,520 | $89,200 | 8,000 |
| California | $85,120 | $95,090 | 31,000 |
| New Jersey | $84,130 | $85,810 | 8,000 |
| Illinois | $78,380 | $76,530 | 18,000 |
| Connecticut | $77,630 | $73,760 | 3,000 |
| District of Columbia | $75,870 | $79,550 | 1,000 |
| Colorado | $74,170 | $78,380 | 7,000 |
| Maryland | $73,810 | $72,550 | 5,000 |
| Pennsylvania | $73,460 | $71,340 | 5,000 |
| Massachusetts | $72,800 | $73,220 | 12,000 |
| Oregon | $70,900 | $71,290 | 4,000 |
| Rhode Island | $67,380 | $67,480 | 2,000 |
| Nevada | $66,570 | $70,510 | 3,000 |
| Indiana | $62,780 | $62,420 | 9,000 |
| Nebraska | $61,040 | $59,190 | 1,000 |
| Texas | $60,180 | $60,390 | 28,000 |
| Ohio | $59,370 | $58,130 | 18,000 |
| Montana | $59,310 | $57,660 | 1,000 |
| Arizona | $59,280 | $60,850 | 8,000 |
| Alaska | $58,830 | $59,190 | 1,000 |
| Virginia | $58,670 | $58,240 | 11,000 |
| Florida | $58,550 | $61,370 | 25,000 |
| Wyoming | $58,090 | $56,800 | 680 |
| New Hampshire | $56,620 | $55,730 | 3,000 |
| Iowa | $55,810 | $57,240 | 2,000 |
| North Dakota | $55,080 | $57,980 | 820 |
| Michigan | $54,640 | $56,250 | 7,000 |
| Oklahoma | $49,710 | $52,280 | 4,000 |
| Tennessee | $49,300 | $51,590 | 7,000 |
| Missouri | $49,080 | $55,240 | 7,000 |
| Utah | $48,310 | $51,270 | 3,000 |
| Maine | $48,290 | $50,230 | 2,000 |
| South Dakota | $48,160 | $51,180 | 610 |
| Alabama | $47,600 | $49,720 | 7,000 |
| Idaho | $47,320 | $54,470 | 2,000 |
| Wisconsin | $46,850 | $50,710 | 8,000 |
| Delaware | $46,710 | $53,420 | 560 |
| Georgia | $46,550 | $47,170 | 13,000 |
| Vermont | $46,430 | $49,570 | — |
| Kansas | $45,900 | $49,110 | 3,000 |
| South Carolina | $42,570 | $43,900 | 8,000 |
| New Mexico | $41,590 | $43,180 | 2,000 |
| Arkansas | $39,690 | $43,380 | 2,000 |
| Minnesota | $38,110 | $45,170 | 6,000 |
| North Carolina | $37,940 | $43,060 | 19,000 |
| West Virginia | $37,350 | $40,100 | 900 |
| Kentucky | $37,150 | $42,100 | 5,000 |
| Puerto Rico | $37,120 | $38,280 | 2,000 |
| Mississippi | $35,880 | $37,230 | 3,000 |
| Louisiana | $33,120 | $36,610 | 5,000 |
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How Does This Compare to the UK?
Firefighters is the US equivalent of fire service officers (watch manager and below) in the UK, which has a national median of £40,775. Figures are shown in local currency, not converted — cost of living, tax systems and benefits packages differ enough between the two countries that a currency conversion alone would be misleading. See the full UK breakdown, or use our comparison tool to set this role against another job title side by side, with location and experience-level filters.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average salary for a firefighters in the US?
The US national median wage for firefighters is $59,280 per year (gross, before tax), based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025).
What is the pay range for firefighters in the US?
Pay ranges from $34,910 at the 10th percentile to $101,040 at the 90th percentile. This difference typically reflects experience level, employer size, and location.
Which US states pay firefighters the most?
The highest-paying states for firefighters include New York ($100,960), Washington ($94,520), California ($85,120). Pay varies by state due to cost of living, local demand and industry concentration.
How much does firefighters salary vary by state?
The gap between the highest- and lowest-paying states is significant — New York ($100,960) pays roughly 205% more than Louisiana ($33,120). Check the state breakdown above for the exact figure in your location.
How does firefighters pay compare between the US and UK?
The UK equivalent role (Fire service officers (watch manager and below)) has a national median of £40,775. Figures are shown in local currency rather than converted, since cost of living and tax systems differ enough between the two countries that a straight currency conversion would be misleading.
← Back to the UK-focused fire service officers (watch manager and below) salary page
Data: BLS OES, May 2025 · ONS ASHE Table 14/15, 2025 provisional · Page built 2026-09-02