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Firefighter Career Salary in the United States

How much does a Firefighter Career make in the United States? As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Firefighter Career in the United States is $52,784 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $25.

However, a Firefighter Career's salary can vary significantly. Here's a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $66,556
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $48,366 to $59,993
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $44,344
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Check out Firefighter Career Job Openings in the United States

Key Factors That Influence Firefighter Career Salaries

A Firefighter Career's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Firefighter Career Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Firefighter Career's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $37,025
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $42,111
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $51,282
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $62,024
  • Expert (over 8 years): $61,860
Job RoleYears of ExperienceAverage Salary
Contact Center Representative I - Outbound less than 1 year $37,025
Contact Center Representative II - Outbound 1-2 years $42,111
Firefighter Career 2-4 years $51,282
Contact Center Representative IV - Outbound 5-8 years $62,024
Outbound Contact Center Supervisor over 8 years $61,860

How Do Firefighter Career Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Firefighter Careers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $58,443.
  • California: $58,221.
  • Massachusetts: $57,445.

Top Paying Cities for Firefighter Career

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $66,577
  • San Francisco: $65,848
  • Oakland: $64,460

Firefighter Career Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Firefighter Career roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 33% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Pharmaceuticals and Internet sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 18% above the average. In contrast, Firefighter Career positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit or Hospitality & Leisure typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Firefighter Career as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Firefighter Career

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Pharmaceuticals $62,285 $30.0 18%
Internet $59,118 $28.0 12%
Energy & Utilities $58,063 $28.0 10%
Biotechnology $55,424 $27.0 5%
Financial Services $55,424 $27.0 5%

How Education impacts a Firefighter Career's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Firefighter Career professionals enter the field with a high school degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Firefighter Career with a high school is between $51,090 and $56,002.

Firefighter Career Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Firefighter Career
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Degree 31.3%
High School 31.3%
Associate's Degree 18.8%
Bachelor's Degree 31.3%
Master's Degree or MBA 18.8%
JD, MD, PhD or Equivalent 0%
View as Graph

Firefighter Career Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Firefighter Career's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

  • Hourly
  • Monthly
  • Weekly
  • Yearly
  • Table View
Last Updated on August 01, 2026
$48,366
Average $52,784/year
$59,993
$4,031
Average $4,399/month
$4,999
$930
Average $1,015/week
$1,154
$23
Average $25/hour
$29
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $59,993 $4,999 $1,154 $29
Average $52,784 $4,399 $1,015 $25
25th Percentile $48,366 $4,031 $930 $23

Most common benefits for Firefighter Career

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Firefighter Career

Here are companies hiring for Firefighter Career and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next Firefighter Career Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Firefighter Career job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

  • McDonalds | Columbus, OH

    McDonalds

    McDonalds | Columbus, OH

    McDonald’s is seeking Crew Team Members to assist with daily restaurant operations including customer service, food preparation, and maintaining restaurant... more

    4 Days Ago

  • Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Vice President Strategic Solutions&Delivery

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Vice President, Strategic Solutions & Delivery. About the Company. Innovative provider of cost containment technology & case management services. Industry.... more

    5 Days Ago

  • The Curare Group, Inc | Columbus, OH

    Pediatrics Physician

    The Curare Group, Inc | Columbus, OH

    Hospital is seeking a Board Certified/Board Eligible Pediatrician to join a well-respected and growing practice located an hour from Columbus. Only Pediatr... more

    6 Days Ago

  • Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Associate Vice President Internal Communications

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Associate Vice President, Internal Communications. About the Company. National consulting & advisory services firm focused on the healthcare industry. Indu... more

    21 Days Ago

  • C.R. England | Columbus, OH

    Local CDL

    C.R. England | Columbus, OH

    Job Description. C.R. England is Now Urgently Hiring Local Dedicated CDL-A Truck Drivers. \n. Dedicated Local Fleet - Home Daily - Competitive Pay* - Full ... more

    26 Days Ago

  • Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Vice President Credit Risk Strategy&Data Science

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Vice President, Credit Risk Strategy & Data Science. About the Company. High-growth SMB lender building the next generation of credit decisioning. Industry... more

    26 Days Ago

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FAQ about Firefighter Career

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Firefighter Career?

The Pharmaceuticals industry offers the highest average compensation for Firefighter Career roles, with salaries approximately 18% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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