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Fire chief: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 26, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$93,530median pay per year, or $44.96 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $53,430lowest 10% earn less
  2. $72,14025th percentile
  3. $93,530median
  4. $119,50075th percentile
  5. $140,010top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[5]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[2]

First-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers, the official category that includes fire chiefs, earned a median of $93,530 a year, compared with $50,980 for all occupations[1][2]. BLS projects job growth from 2025 to 2035, at about the same pace as all occupations[3][4].

Job growth, 2025–35
+3.7%[3]
Openings per year
6,600[6]
Typical entry education
Postsecondary nondegree award[7]

How much do fire chiefs make?

The median pay in this BLS category was $93,530 a year, or $44.96 an hour, in May 2025[1]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. The average was $96,930 a year, or $46.60 an hour[8]. The median for all occupations in the US was $50,980[2]. The category also covers other supervisors, such as those with the titles fire captain and fire lieutenant[9].

Annual and hourly wage percentiles looked like this:

Percentile Annual wage Hourly wage
10th[5][10] $53,430 $25.69
25th[5][10] $72,140 $34.68
Median[1] $93,530 $44.96
75th[5][10] $119,500 $57.45
90th[5][10] $140,010 $67.31

A percentile is a boundary. The lowest-paid 10% of workers earned less than $53,430[5]. BLS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary[11]. These figures cover wage and salary workers. They leave out the self-employed and do not count bonuses or benefits[12]. About 99,140 people held these wage and salary jobs[13].

Pay by state and city

New Jersey had the highest state median at $133,210, followed by New York at $132,520 and Washington at $129,350[14]. Mississippi had the lowest median among the 49 states and DC with published data, at $48,250[14].

The most jobs were in Florida (9,540), Texas (8,660), California (8,170), North Carolina (5,050) and New York (4,100)[15]. The Florida median was $98,560 and the Texas median was $81,710[14].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, Bakersfield-Delano, CA was listed first at $632,190, followed by San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA at $171,740 and Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA at $169,350[16]. The New York-Newark-Jersey City area had the most jobs, 4,610, with a median of $132,810[17].

Show median pay in 49 states and DC
StateMedian per yearJobs
New Jersey[14]$133,2102,210
New York$132,5204,100
Washington$129,3503,350
California$127,6308,170
District of Columbia$126,560380
Illinois$123,5003,240
Maryland$120,5302,380
Colorado$102,5801,900
Pennsylvania$101,0501,340
Utah$100,380770
Oregon$100,2601,160
Florida$98,5609,540
Connecticut$98,5001,310
Virginia$97,7803,300
Massachusetts$96,6003,370
Arizona$96,4702,670
Nevada$93,9201,080
New Hampshire$93,720450
Alaska$92,760310
Idaho$92,630520
Indiana$88,3101,290
Oklahoma$85,3102,000
Rhode Island$85,170770
Ohio$84,4903,960
Wisconsin$83,3101,330
Vermont$83,25090
North Dakota$82,880130
Montana$82,820320
Texas$81,7108,660
Nebraska$80,810370
Wyoming$80,260150
Kansas$78,8801,450
Minnesota$78,8001,120
Tennessee$77,9202,210
Michigan$77,5501,830
Iowa$76,010600
Missouri$75,9701,950
Maine$74,790410
Delaware$74,670n/a
Alabama$73,3201,440
South Dakota$72,420120
Georgia$67,2003,730
South Carolina$65,1601,450
Arkansas$61,890920
Kentucky$60,8501,250
Louisiana$59,7501,810
North Carolina$59,5605,050
New Mexico$58,430820
West Virginia$55,380180
Mississippi$48,2501,550

How to become a fire chief

The facts for this category are short on detail, but BLS projections describe the typical path[7]:

O*NET groups this work in Job Zone Three, which means previous work-related skill, knowledge or experience is required[18]. Sample job titles reported by workers include battalion chief, fire captain, fire chief, fire lieutenant and fire marshal[9].

What fire chiefs and other fire supervisors do

They directly supervise and coordinate the work of firefighting and fire prevention crews[19]. Common tasks include[20]:

Job outlook

BLS projects employment to grow 3.7% from 2025 to 2035, from about 101,600 to 105,400 jobs[3]. That is a gain of about 3,800 jobs[3]. For all occupations the projected growth is 3.5%[4].

About 6,600 openings are projected each year on average[6]. Openings count both new jobs and spots left by workers who retire or switch occupations[6]. Each year, 2.3% of workers leave the labor force and 3.8% move to a different occupation[21].

The projection counts 101,600 jobs[3]. The wage data count 99,140 wage and salary jobs[13]. The projection counts include self-employed workers, and the wage data do not[3][13].

Is it a good fit?

The pay is well above the all-occupations median, and growth is about the same as the average for all occupations[1][2][3][4]. BLS lists a postsecondary nondegree award, less than 5 years of related experience and moderate-term on-the-job training[7]. The facts suggest it suits people who already work in firefighting or fire prevention and want to lead crews[7][19]. Pay varies a lot by state, from $48,250 in Mississippi to $133,210 in New Jersey[14].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[22].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a fire chief make an hour?
The median for this category was $44.96 an hour in May 2025, and the average was $46.60[1][8].
What is the highest paying state for fire chiefs?
New Jersey, with a median of $133,210, followed by New York at $132,520[14].
What education do you need to be a fire chief?
BLS lists a postsecondary nondegree award for entry, plus less than 5 years of related experience[7].
Is fire chief in demand?
BLS projects 3.7% growth from 2025 to 2035 and about 6,600 openings a year[3][6].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers in the US was $93,530 per year and $44.96 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. BLS Employment Projections: employment of First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers is projected to grow 3.7% from 2025 to 2035, from about 101,600 to 105,400 jobs (a change of +3,800). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  4. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers: 10th percentile $53,430, 25th percentile $72,140, 75th percentile $119,500, 90th percentile $140,010. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. BLS Employment Projections: about 6,600 openings for First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers 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
  7. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers: education needed for entry: Postsecondary nondegree award; work experience in a related occupation: Less than 5 years; typical on-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers was $96,930 per year and $46.60 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. O*NET 33-1021.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Battalion Chief, Engine Boss, Fire Battalion Chief, Fire Captain, Fire Chief, Fire Lieutenant, Fire Marshal, Fire Suppression Captain. O*NET OnLine
  10. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers: 10th percentile $25.69, 25th percentile $34.68, 75th percentile $57.45, 90th percentile $67.31. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. 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
  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. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 99,140 people were employed as First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. Median annual wage for First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers jobs: Florida 9,540; Texas 8,660; California 8,170; North Carolina 5,050; New York 4,100. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers (areas with at least 100 jobs): Bakersfield-Delano, CA $632,190; San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $171,740; Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $169,350; Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA $160,450; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $159,570; Bellingham, WA $137,720; Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA $135,050; Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $134,830. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  17. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers jobs: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 4,610 (median $132,810); Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL 3,740 (median $120,390); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 2,600 (median $126,200); Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 2,530 (median $94,490); Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH 2,460 (median $96,740); Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 2,420 (median $118,570). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  18. O*NET 33-1021.00: Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed. Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job. O*NET OnLine
  19. O*NET description of First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers. O*NET OnLine
  20. O*NET task list for First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers. O*NET OnLine
  21. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers: 2.3% of workers leave the labor force each year and 3.8% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  22. 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.