Do firefighters make a lot of money? What is the average pay for firefighters?
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, firefighters in the United States earn an average of $54,650 a year, equivalent to $26.27 an hour. Firefighters make 2% more than the average American worker.
Firefighters in California are the best paid, making $84,370 a year, while firefighters in Mississippi make the least at $30,180.
| Percentile | Hourly | Annually |
|---|---|---|
| 90th | $44.24 | $92,020 |
| 75th | $33.19 | $69,040 |
| 50th | $24.45 | $50,850 |
| 25th | $16.57 | $34,470 |
| 10th | $12.29 | $25,550 |
In what states do firefighters make the most? In what states do firefighters make the least?
In the map below, green represents higher pay and red represents lower pay. Keep scrolling down to see a table with the average wages in each state.
| State | Hourly | Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $20.13 | $41,870 |
| Alaska | $26.14 | $54,380 |
| Arizona | $22.53 | $46,870 |
| Arkansas | $17.66 | $36,730 |
| California | $40.56 | $84,370 |
| Colorado | $30.31 | $63,050 |
| Connecticut | $31.59 | $65,700 |
| Delaware | $22.30 | $46,390 |
| Florida | $24.66 | $51,300 |
| Georgia | $18.70 | $38,900 |
| Hawaii | $30.82 | $64,110 |
| Idaho | $18.88 | $39,260 |
| Illinois | $27.97 | $58,170 |
| Indiana | $24.55 | $51,050 |
| Iowa | $22.42 | $46,640 |
| Kansas | $17.91 | $37,250 |
| Kentucky | $16.36 | $34,030 |
| Louisiana | $14.98 | $31,150 |
| Maine | $18.96 | $39,430 |
| Maryland | $30.17 | $62,750 |
| Massachusetts | $30.14 | $62,680 |
| Michigan | $22.12 | $46,010 |
| Minnesota | $18.94 | $39,390 |
| Mississippi | $14.51 | $30,180 |
| Missouri | $24.57 | $51,110 |
| Montana | $24.94 | $51,880 |
| Nebraska | $24.11 | $50,150 |
| Nevada | $33.32 | $69,310 |
| New Hampshire | $22.65 | $47,120 |
| New Jersey | $38.89 | $80,890 |
| New Mexico | $17.61 | $36,620 |
| New York | $36.13 | $75,160 |
| North Carolina | $16.40 | $34,110 |
| North Dakota | $22.15 | $46,080 |
| Ohio | $22.99 | $47,820 |
| Oklahoma | $21.57 | $44,860 |
| Oregon | $32.95 | $68,540 |
| Pennsylvania | $28.23 | $58,720 |
| Rhode Island | $27.00 | $56,150 |
| South Carolina | $17.48 | $36,360 |
| South Dakota | $22.03 | $45,820 |
| Tennessee | $21.34 | $44,400 |
| Texas | $26.33 | $54,760 |
| Utah | $18.44 | $38,360 |
| Vermont | $19.22 | $39,970 |
| Virginia | $25.71 | $53,470 |
| Washington | $37.01 | $76,970 |
| West Virginia | $17.74 | $36,890 |
| Wisconsin | $19.40 | $40,360 |
| Wyoming | $22.20 | $46,180 |
| Metro Area | Hourly | Annually |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose, CA | $53.63 | $111,550 |
| Vallejo, CA | $49.93 | $103,850 |
| San Francisco, CA | $47.44 | $98,680 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $46.85 | $97,450 |
| Oxnard, CA | $45.51 | $94,670 |
| Portland, OR | $40.80 | $84,850 |
| Seattle, WA | $40.68 | $84,610 |
| Santa Barbara, CA | $39.21 | $81,560 |
| New York, NY | $39.17 | $81,470 |
| Sacramento, CA | $38.69 | $80,470 |
| Year | Hourly | Annually |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $26.27 | $54,650 |
| 2018 | $25.60 | $53,240 |
| 2017 | $24.97 | $51,930 |
| 2016 | $24.29 | $50,520 |
| 2015 | $23.72 | $49,330 |
| 2014 | $23.44 | $48,750 |
| 2013 | $23.21 | $48,270 |
| 2012 | $23.00 | $47,850 |
| 2011 | $22.94 | $47,720 |