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Firefighter: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 23, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$59,280median pay per year, or $28.50 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $34,910lowest 10% earn less
  2. $44,49025th percentile
  3. $59,280median
  4. $77,25075th percentile
  5. $101,040top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[6]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[2]

A firefighter in the US earned a median of $59,280 a year in May 2025, above the median for all jobs[1][2]. Getting hired usually means passing tests and finishing a few months at a fire academy, and BLS expects about 26,800 openings each year[3][4][5].

Job growth, 2025–35
+3.7%[7]
Openings per year
26,800[5]
Typical entry education
Postsecondary nondegree award[8]

How much do firefighters make?

The median wage for firefighters was $59,280 a year, or $28.50 an hour, in May 2025[1]. That means half earned more and half earned less[9]. Across all US occupations the median was $50,980, so the typical firefighter earns more than the typical US worker[2].

The average (mean) wage was a bit higher, at $63,630 a year or $30.59 an hour[10].

Pay varies a lot. These figures are boundaries, not a starting salary, since BLS does not publish one[9].

Percentile Per year Per hour
10th $34,910 $16.79
25th $44,490 $21.39
50th (median) $59,280 $28.50
75th $77,250 $37.14
90th $101,040 $48.58

Sources for the table:[1][6][11].

The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $34,910 a year, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $101,040[6]. These numbers count wage and salary workers only. They leave out the self-employed, and they do not include nonproduction bonuses or what employers pay for benefits such as health insurance and retirement[12].

Pay by state and city

Firefighter pay differs a lot from state to state. Among the 49 states and DC with published data, New York had the highest median at $100,960, followed by Washington at $94,520, California at $85,120, New Jersey at $84,130 and Illinois at $78,380[13]. At the other end of the list, Louisiana had a median of $33,120[13].

California had the most firefighter jobs with 31,470[14]. Texas came second with 28,170 jobs, then Florida with 24,570, North Carolina with 19,410 and Illinois with 18,400[14]. A big job count does not always mean high pay. North Carolina, for example, had a median of $37,940[13].

Looking at metro areas that have 100 or more firefighter jobs, the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA area paid the highest median at $152,100[15]. Next came San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA at $113,700 and New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ at $106,420[15]. The New York metro also had the most firefighter jobs of any metro (14,960), ahead of Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN with 14,560 and a median of $82,820[16].

Show median pay in 49 states and DC
StateMedian per yearJobs
New York[13]$100,96012,950
Washington$94,5207,560
California$85,12031,470
New Jersey$84,1307,500
Illinois$78,38018,400
Connecticut$77,6302,970
District of Columbia$75,8701,480
Colorado$74,1706,510
Maryland$73,8105,340
Pennsylvania$73,4605,020
Massachusetts$72,80011,940
Oregon$70,9003,790
Rhode Island$67,3801,620
Nevada$66,5702,640
Indiana$62,7808,530
Nebraska$61,0401,070
Texas$60,18028,170
Ohio$59,37018,100
Montana$59,3101,010
Arizona$59,2807,500
Alaska$58,8301,040
Virginia$58,67011,160
Florida$58,55024,570
Wyoming$58,090680
New Hampshire$56,6202,700
Iowa$55,8102,170
North Dakota$55,080820
Michigan$54,6406,610
Oklahoma$49,7104,150
Tennessee$49,3007,020
Missouri$49,0806,580
Utah$48,3102,870
Maine$48,2902,480
South Dakota$48,160610
Alabama$47,6007,260
Idaho$47,3202,240
Wisconsin$46,8508,120
Delaware$46,710560
Georgia$46,55012,700
Vermont$46,430n/a
Kansas$45,9003,360
South Carolina$42,5707,780
New Mexico$41,5902,420
Arkansas$39,6902,480
Minnesota$38,1105,810
North Carolina$37,94019,410
West Virginia$37,350900
Kentucky$37,1505,150
Mississippi$35,8802,920
Louisiana$33,1205,230

How to become a firefighter

The BLS describes a common path into the job[3]:

1) Meet the basic conditions: Applicants usually need to be 18 or older and hold a valid driver's license[17]. 2) Finish high school: BLS lists a high school diploma or equivalent as the usual education to start[18]. 3) Train in emergency medical care: Departments may ask for EMT certification, and getting it usually takes some postsecondary courses in things like assessing patients and handling trauma[3][18]. Rules for EMTs differ by city and state[18]. 4) Pass the hiring steps: Expect written and physical tests, interviews, a medical exam and a drug screening[3][17]. 5) Attend a fire academy: New recruits spend a few months at an academy run by the department or the state, learning firefighting, fire prevention, local building codes and emergency medical procedures[4]. 6) Get through probation: After the academy, firefighters usually serve a probationary period[4].

The BLS Employment Projections program classifies the typical entry education as a postsecondary nondegree award, with long-term on-the-job training and no related work experience needed[8].

Volunteering as a firefighter can help you land a paid job later[19].

Licenses and credentials. Requirements differ by state or locality, so check with your state licensing agency or the local fire department[20]. Firefighters may need EMT or paramedic certification[21]. In some places you also need a commercial driver's license (CDL) or a driver's license with a firefighter endorsement to drive a fire truck[22]. Credentials must be kept current through continuing education[23]. Once hired, firefighters may face random drug tests and regular fitness checks[17].

Other training. People who want to fight wildland fires may join apprenticeship programs of up to 4 years that mix classes with supervised work[24]. Some firefighters also take federal courses from the National Fire Academy on topics such as arson prevention, disaster preparedness and hazardous materials[25].

Moving up. Firefighters may be promoted to engineer, then to lieutenant, captain and battalion chief[26]. Above that sit the assistant chief, the deputy chief and finally the chief[26]. BLS says many departments want a bachelor's degree for jobs above battalion chief, ideally in fire science, public administration or a similar field[26]. With experience, some move into fire inspection or investigation[26].

What firefighters do

Firefighters put out fires and answer emergencies that put people, property or the environment in danger. The job can also include fire prevention, emergency medical care, hazardous material calls, search and rescue and disaster help[27]. Common tasks include[28]:

Job titles workers report include Fire Engineer, Fire Rescue Technician and Hot Shot[29].

Where they work

Local government (not counting education and hospitals) employed 87% of firefighters in 2025[30]. The BLS job counts leave out volunteer firefighters, who do the same work as paid crews[31]. Volunteers actually make up the largest share of firefighters in the country, above all in communities with fewer than 25,000 people[32].

The work is physically hard and risky. Protective gear can be heavy and hot[33]. Firefighters have one of the highest injury and illness rates of any occupation, and they can face collapsing floors and walls, flames and heavy smoke[34].

Schedules are long and irregular, and overtime is common. A firefighter might work a 24-hour shift and then have 48 or 72 hours off[35]. Between calls at the station, crews sleep, eat and handle other tasks such as maintaining equipment[33]. Wildland firefighters may live in a temporary fire camp for days or weeks during a big fire[36].

Job outlook

BLS expects the number of firefighter jobs to rise 3.7% between 2025 and 2035, about the same pace as the 3.5% expected for all occupations[7][37]. That is a gain of about 13,100 jobs, from about 355,300 to 368,400[7].

Openings far outnumber new jobs. BLS expects about 26,800 openings a year on average, counting jobs left by people who retire or switch careers[5]. Each year about 1.7% of firefighters leave the labor force and 5.3% move to a different occupation[38].

A note on the numbers: the projection counts (355,300 in 2025) include self-employed workers, while the May 2025 wage survey counted about 345,990 wage and salary jobs, so the two totals differ[7][39].

Is it a good fit?

Firefighting pays a median of $59,280, above the all-jobs median, and New York and Washington had state medians of $100,960 and $94,520[1][2][13]. The path in includes a few months at an academy plus EMT preparation, then probation and long-term on-the-job training[4][3][8], though hiring also depends on passing written, physical and medical checks[4][3][17]. Jobs are growing at about the national rate, with steady openings from turnover[7][37][5]. The trade-offs are real: long shifts, overtime and one of the highest injury rates of any job[34][35]. It may suit someone ready for regular fitness checks, real physical risk and shifts that can last 24 hours[17][34][35].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[40].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a firefighter make an hour?
The median hourly wage was $28.50 in May 2025[1]. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $16.79 an hour, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $48.58[11].
How long does it take to become a firefighter?
Fire academy training lasts a few months, followed by a probationary period[4]. EMT training may be needed too[3]. Wildland apprenticeship programs can last up to 4 years[24].
What education do you need to be a firefighter?
BLS says a high school diploma or equivalent is the usual starting education, plus emergency medical training, and departments may require EMT certification[3][18]. The BLS projections program lists a postsecondary nondegree award as the typical entry level[8].
What is the highest paying state for firefighters?
New York, with a median of $100,960 a year in May 2025, followed by Washington at $94,520[13].
Are firefighters in demand?
BLS expects jobs to rise 3.7% over 2025 to 2035, close to the 3.5% for all occupations, with about 26,800 openings a year[7][37][5].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Firefighters in the US was $59,280 per year and $28.50 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  3. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  4. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  5. BLS Employment Projections: about 26,800 openings for Firefighters are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  6. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Firefighters: 10th percentile $34,910, 25th percentile $44,490, 75th percentile $77,250, 90th percentile $101,040. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  7. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Firefighters is projected to grow 3.7% from 2025 to 2035, from about 355,300 to 368,400 jobs (a change of +13,100). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  8. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Firefighters: education needed for entry: Postsecondary nondegree award; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Long-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
  9. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Firefighters was $63,630 per year and $30.59 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Firefighters: 10th percentile $16.79, 25th percentile $21.39, 75th percentile $37.14, 90th percentile $48.58. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. Median annual wage for Firefighters in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Firefighters jobs: California 31,470; Texas 28,170; Florida 24,570; North Carolina 19,410; Illinois 18,400. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Firefighters (areas with at least 100 jobs): San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $152,100; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $113,700; New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $106,420; Bellingham, WA $101,130; Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $101,090; Fort Collins-Loveland, CO $99,930; Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $98,050; Vallejo, CA $95,950. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Firefighters jobs: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 14,960 (median $106,420); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 14,560 (median $82,820); Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 8,780 (median $64,900); Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH 8,510 (median $73,990); Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 7,610 (median $66,980); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 7,200 (median $98,050). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  17. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Other Experience. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  21. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  22. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  23. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  24. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  25. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  26. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Advancement. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  27. O*NET description of Firefighters. O*NET OnLine
  28. O*NET task list for Firefighters. O*NET OnLine
  29. O*NET 33-2011.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Fire Engineer, Fire Equipment Operator, Fire Rescue Technician (Fire Rescue Tech), Fire Technician (Fire Tech), Fireman, Forest Fire Suppression Specialist, Forestry Fire Technician (Forestry Fire Tech), Hot Shot. O*NET OnLine
  30. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of firefighters in 2025: Local government, excluding education and hospitals 87%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  31. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  32. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  33. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  34. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Injuries and Illnesses. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  35. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  36. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  37. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  38. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Firefighters: 1.7% of workers leave the labor force each year and 5.3% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  39. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 345,990 people were employed as Firefighters in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  40. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.