Firefighters play a crucial role in protecting lives, property, and the environment by responding to emergencies and extinguishing fires.
This article will explore the best states for firefighters, based on the average annual salary for the occupation.
- 1. California ($78,350)
- 2. New Jersey ($77,740)
- 3. Washington ($76,930)
- 4. New York ($73,520)
- 5. Hawaii ($72,880)
- 6. District of Columbia ($71,140)
- 7. Illinois ($68,030)
- 8. Connecticut ($67,560)
- 9. Colorado ($67,340)
- 10. Massachusetts ($66,640)
- Conclusion
Key Takeaways
- The highest-paid firefighters are in California, where they earn an average of $78,350 per year.
- The lowest-paid firefighters are in Puerto Rico, where they earn an average of $27,250 per year.
- The U.S. average salary for firefighters is $52,024 per year.
1. California ($78,350)
Firefighters in California earn the highest average salary in the U.S. The median annual salary for
firefighters in California is
$78,350, which is +51% from the national average.
| Type | Annual Salary |
|---|
| Median Wage | $78,350 |
| 10th Percentile | $44,390 |
| 25th Percentile | $58,240 |
| 75th Percentile | $99,730 |
| 90th Percentile | $123,560 |
2. New Jersey ($77,740)
Firefighters in New Jersey earn the 2nd highest average salary in the U.S. The median annual salary for
firefighters in New Jersey is
$77,740, which is +49% from the national average.
| Type | Annual Salary |
|---|
| Median Wage | $77,740 |
| 10th Percentile | $39,520 |
| 25th Percentile | $52,320 |
| 75th Percentile | $103,920 |
| 90th Percentile | $117,860 |
3. Washington ($76,930)
Firefighters in Washington earn the 3rd highest average salary in the U.S. The median annual salary for
firefighters in Washington is
$76,930, which is +48% from the national average.
| Type | Annual Salary |
|---|
| Median Wage | $76,930 |
| 10th Percentile | $34,820 |
| 25th Percentile | $62,340 |
| 75th Percentile | $96,490 |
| 90th Percentile | $101,900 |
4. New York ($73,520)
Firefighters in New York earn the 4th highest average salary in the U.S. The median annual salary for
firefighters in New York is
$73,520, which is +41% from the national average.
| Type | Annual Salary |
|---|
| Median Wage | $73,520 |
| 10th Percentile | $51,380 |
| 25th Percentile | $63,070 |
| 75th Percentile | $81,410 |
| 90th Percentile | $86,230 |
5. Hawaii ($72,880)
Firefighters in Hawaii earn the 5th highest average salary in the U.S. The median annual salary for
firefighters in Hawaii is
$72,880, which is +40% from the national average.
| Type | Annual Salary |
|---|
| Median Wage | $72,880 |
| 10th Percentile | $51,190 |
| 25th Percentile | $66,670 |
| 75th Percentile | $82,440 |
| 90th Percentile | $88,250 |
6. District of Columbia ($71,140)
Firefighters in District of Columbia earn the 6th highest average salary in the U.S. The median annual salary for
firefighters in District of Columbia is
$71,140, which is +37% from the national average.
| Type | Annual Salary |
|---|
| Median Wage | $71,140 |
| 10th Percentile | $53,980 |
| 25th Percentile | $59,220 |
| 75th Percentile | $81,450 |
| 90th Percentile | $88,210 |
7. Illinois ($68,030)
Firefighters in Illinois earn the 7th highest average salary in the U.S. The median annual salary for
firefighters in Illinois is
$68,030, which is +31% from the national average.
| Type | Annual Salary |
|---|
| Median Wage | $68,030 |
| 10th Percentile | $35,860 |
| 25th Percentile | $45,760 |
| 75th Percentile | $94,880 |
| 90th Percentile | $107,250 |
8. Connecticut ($67,560)
Firefighters in Connecticut earn the 8th highest average salary in the U.S. The median annual salary for
firefighters in Connecticut is
$67,560, which is +30% from the national average.
| Type | Annual Salary |
|---|
| Median Wage | $67,560 |
| 10th Percentile | $46,180 |
| 25th Percentile | $61,820 |
| 75th Percentile | $77,390 |
| 90th Percentile | $79,440 |
9. Colorado ($67,340)
Firefighters in Colorado earn the 9th highest average salary in the U.S. The median annual salary for
firefighters in Colorado is
$67,340, which is +29% from the national average.
| Type | Annual Salary |
|---|
| Median Wage | $67,340 |
| 10th Percentile | $38,540 |
| 25th Percentile | $50,800 |
| 75th Percentile | $80,220 |
| 90th Percentile | $94,680 |
10. Massachusetts ($66,640)
Firefighters in Massachusetts earn the 10th highest average salary in the U.S. The median annual salary for
firefighters in Massachusetts is
$66,640, which is +28% from the national average.
| Type | Annual Salary |
|---|
| Median Wage | $66,640 |
| 10th Percentile | $47,270 |
| 25th Percentile | $58,740 |
| 75th Percentile | $76,710 |
| 90th Percentile | $87,830 |
Conclusion
The highest-paid firefighters are in California, where they earn an average of $78,350 per year. The lowest-paid firefighters are in Puerto Rico, where they earn an average of $27,250 per year. The U.S. average salary for firefighters is $52,024 per year and there are 323,460 jobs in the field.
