Firefighter Salary in the USA 2025 | How to become? What do they do? Benefits & Career Guide
The average salary of a firefighter is around $63,530/yr in the USA in 2025. For more details, like how to become a firefighter? What do they do? Benefits are details related to the firefighter, like a career guide, are given below;
How much do Firefighters make?
National median (August 2025): $63,530/yr.
Lowest 10%: $34,490 • Highest 10%: $101,330.
Firefighter Salary by Experience (via Percentiles)
| Experience Level | Approximate Pay (Annual, USD) |
|---|---|
| Entry-Level (10th Percentile) | $34,490 |
| Mid-Level / Typical (50th) | $59,530 |
| Experienced / Highly Paid (90th) | $101,330 |
High-Paying States (≥ $70,000 yearly)
| State / Territory | Annual | Monthly | Weekly |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $98,200 | $8,183 | $1,900 |
| New Jersey | $87,710 | $7,309 | $1,683 |
| Washington | $87,240 | $7,270 | $1,680 |
| New York | $86,680 | $7,223 | $1,663 |
| District of Columbia | $80,320 | $6,693 | $1,541 |
| Illinois | $76,650 | $6,388 | $1,470 |
| Massachusetts | $73,130 | $6,094 | $1,414 |
| Connecticut | $72,090 | $6,008 | $1,395 |
| Maryland | $72,070 | $6,006 | $1,393 |
| Oregon | $71,930 | $5,994 | $1,381 |
Median-Paying States ($50,000 – $69,999 yearly)
| State / Territory | Annual | Monthly | Weekly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nevada | $69,050 | $5,754 | $1,355 |
| Rhode Island | $68,840 | $5,737 | $1,321 |
| Pennsylvania | $67,930 | $5,661 | $1,304 |
| Florida | $63,610 | $5,301 | $1,220 |
| Montana | $62,840 | $5,237 | $1,231 |
| Indiana | $61,850 | $5,154 | $1,186 |
| Texas | $60,880 | $5,073 | $1,173 |
| Arizona | $60,660 | $5,055 | $1,170 |
| Alaska | $59,730 | $4,977 | $1,152 |
| Ohio | $59,170 | $4,931 | $1,137 |
| Nebraska | $58,960 | $4,913 | $1,157 |
| Virginia | $58,510 | $4,876 | $1,127 |
| Iowa | $57,440 | $4,787 | $1,101 |
| Idaho | $56,370 | $4,698 | $1,081 |
| North Dakota | $56,000 | $4,667 | $1,077 |
| Michigan | $55,970 | $4,664 | $1,082 |
| New Hampshire | $55,800 | $4,650 | $1,065 |
| Wyoming | $54,970 | $4,581 | $1,059 |
| Delaware | $54,760 | $4,563 | $1,060 |
| Utah | $53,580 | $4,465 | $1,032 |
| Missouri | $53,180 | $4,432 | $1,026 |
| Wisconsin | $51,840 | $4,320 | $999 |
| Oklahoma | $50,090 | $4,174 | $963 |
Low-Paying States (< $50,000 yearly)
| State / Territory | Annual | Monthly | Weekly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $49,640 | $4,137 | $957 |
| Maine | $49,210 | $4,101 | $943 |
| Tennessee | $49,810 | $4,151 | $959 |
| Minnesota | $48,510 | $4,042 | $937 |
| South Dakota | $48,500 | $4,042 | $933 |
| Kansas | $48,410 | $4,034 | $929 |
| Vermont | $47,140 | $3,928 | $907 |
| Georgia | $47,340 | $3,945 | $908 |
| South Carolina | $45,730 | $3,811 | $878 |
| West Virginia | $44,450 | $3,704 | $857 |
| New Mexico | $44,110 | $3,676 | $847 |
| Arkansas | $43,870 | $3,656 | $847 |
| North Carolina | $42,450 | $3,538 | $815 |
| Kentucky | $40,960 | $3,413 | $785 |
| Mississippi | $38,560 | $3,213 | $744 |
| Puerto Rico (Terr.) | $37,660 | $3,138 | $726 |
| Louisiana | $37,270 | $3,106 | $714 |
Firefighter Salary Trends
Compare the current firefighter salary with the last 6-7 years.
How to become a Firefighter?
- Meet the basics: High school diploma/GED, valid driver’s license, pass a background check and physical fitness/medical exams.
- Get EMT (often required): Many departments require EMT (some prefer paramedic). EMT courses typically range from 4–20+ weeks depending on schedule; programs are usually 170+ hours at minimum. cpc.mednet.ucla.edu+1NYU Langone Health
- Apply & test: Written exam, Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT) or similar, and interviews.
- Fire academy: If hired, you’ll complete a department or state academy (see next section).
- Probation & ongoing training: After the academy, you’ll serve a probationary period and keep up certifications.
How long does it take to become a Firefighter?
EMT: ~4–20 weeks depending on program intensity (examples: 4-week accelerated, 10-week online+labs, ~18–20 weeks part-time). cpc.mednet.ucla.eduNYU Langone HealthMaricopa Community Colleges
Fire academy: Commonly 3–6 months, but varies by department:
- 12 weeks (state academy example).
- ~16–20 weeks (many colleges/academies). Treasure Coast Public Safety TrainingNash College
- ~6–9 months at some big city departments (e.g., Houston). City of Houston
Total time: If you already have EMT, many people go from hire to sworn firefighter in ~4–9 months depending on academy length.
Most Common Firefighter Benefits
Benefits vary by city/union contract, but state & local public-sector jobs (which is where most firefighters work) commonly include:
- Health insurance (medical, often dental/vision),
- Retirement pension,
- Paid vacation/sick leave,
- Overtime/holiday pay, and
- Protective gear/uniforms and training paid by employer.
State & local workers in general have high access to retirement and health benefits, which aligns with what firefighters typically receive.
Do Volunteer Firefighters Get Paid
- Usually, no regular salary. Many volunteer departments are truly volunteer.
- Some departments give small stipends, per-call payments, or reimbursements (for example, a Texas city pays $25 per call/training to volunteers). Check your local department’s policy.
Volunteer Firefighter Retirement Benefits Texas
- Monthly pension (annuity) after meeting age and qualified service requirements (your department contributes on your behalf).
- On-duty death benefit: $100,000 lump sum to beneficiaries plus a survivor annuity for spouse/minor children equal to the member’s service pension.
- Off-duty death benefit (lump sum; survivor annuity option if vested and other conditions).
- Disability benefit: at least $400/month (can be higher depending on the department’s contribution level). TESRS
Not every volunteer department participates. Ask your Texas department if they’re enrolled in TESRS. data.prb.texas.gov
What do Firefighters do?
- Put out fires – stop fires from spreading and save people, animals, and property.
- Give first aid – help injured or sick people until doctors or paramedics arrive.
- Rescue in accidents – free people trapped in cars, buildings, or other dangerous places.
- Handle emergencies – respond to floods, storms, gas leaks, and other disasters.
- Check buildings – make sure homes, offices, and factories follow fire safety rules.
- Teach fire safety – visit schools and communities to explain how to stay safe from fires.
- Maintain equipment – check and repair fire trucks, hoses, and protective gear.
- Work as a team – always work together to stay safe and protect others.
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