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Control and extinguish fires or respond to emergency situations where life, property, or the environment is at risk. Duties may include fire prevention, emergency medical service, hazardous material response, search and rescue, and disaster assistance.
Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for Firefighters:
Employment (1) | Employment RSE (3) |
Mean hourly wage |
Mean annual wage (2) |
Wage RSE (3) |
---|---|---|---|---|
315,460 | 0.8 % | $ 29.03 | $ 60,390 | 0.5 % |
Percentile wage estimates for Firefighters:
Percentile | 10% | 25% | 50% (Median) |
75% | 90% |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hourly Wage | $ 15.19 | $ 19.34 | $ 27.46 | $ 36.21 | $ 45.06 |
Annual Wage (2) | $ 31,600 | $ 40,230 | $ 57,120 | $ 75,320 | $ 93,720 |
Industries with the highest published employment and wages for Firefighters are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in Firefighters, see the Create Customized Tables function.
Industries with the highest levels of employment in Firefighters:
Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | 276,260 | 5.01 | $ 29.93 | $ 62,250 |
Other Support Services | 18,800 | 5.76 | $ 18.12 | $ 37,690 |
State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | 9,800 | 0.46 | $ 25.21 | $ 52,440 |
Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | 7,410 | 0.35 | $ 28.71 | $ 59,720 |
Other Ambulatory Health Care Services | 540 | 0.16 | $ 22.01 | $ 45,780 |
Industries with the highest concentration of employment in Firefighters:
Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Other Support Services | 18,800 | 5.76 | $ 18.12 | $ 37,690 |
Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | 276,260 | 5.01 | $ 29.93 | $ 62,250 |
State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | 9,800 | 0.46 | $ 25.21 | $ 52,440 |
Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | 7,410 | 0.35 | $ 28.71 | $ 59,720 |
Other Ambulatory Health Care Services | 540 | 0.16 | $ 22.01 | $ 45,780 |
Top paying industries for Firefighters:
Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing | 70 | 0.07 | $ 52.58 | $ 109,370 |
Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution | 70 | 0.02 | $ 45.99 | $ 95,650 |
Support Activities for Mining | (8) | (8) | $ 35.20 | $ 73,220 |
Scientific Research and Development Services | 130 | 0.01 | $ 34.92 | $ 72,630 |
Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing | 240 | 0.05 | $ 34.39 | $ 71,520 |
States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for Firefighters are provided. For a list of all areas with employment in Firefighters, see the Create Customized Tables function.
States with the highest employment level in Firefighters:
State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Texas | 28,570 | 2.11 | 1.01 | $ 28.42 | $ 59,120 |
California | 27,750 | 1.55 | 0.74 | $ 42.26 | $ 87,890 |
Florida | 22,130 | 2.31 | 1.11 | $ 29.19 | $ 60,720 |
Ohio | 17,320 | 3.17 | 1.52 | $ 27.21 | $ 56,610 |
North Carolina | 16,970 | 3.54 | 1.70 | $ 19.20 | $ 39,940 |
States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Firefighters:
State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
New Hampshire | 2,540 | 3.76 | 1.81 | $ 25.58 | $ 53,210 |
Maine | 2,300 | 3.70 | 1.78 | $ 22.53 | $ 46,870 |
Alaska | 1,130 | 3.63 | 1.75 | $ 27.84 | $ 57,910 |
North Carolina | 16,970 | 3.54 | 1.70 | $ 19.20 | $ 39,940 |
Rhode Island | 1,730 | 3.54 | 1.70 | $ 31.65 | $ 65,840 |
Top paying states for Firefighters:
State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
California | 27,750 | 1.55 | 0.74 | $ 42.26 | $ 87,890 |
New Jersey | 5,530 | 1.32 | 0.63 | $ 40.79 | $ 84,850 |
Washington | 6,660 | 1.90 | 0.92 | $ 40.21 | $ 83,630 |
New York | 10,190 | 1.08 | 0.52 | $ 38.92 | $ 80,950 |
Illinois | 14,950 | 2.49 | 1.20 | $ 36.35 | $ 75,610 |
Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in Firefighters:
Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI | 11,570 | 2.57 | 1.24 | $ 39.71 | $ 82,600 |
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | 10,950 | 1.15 | 0.56 | $ 41.85 | $ 87,060 |
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH | 8,280 | 3.00 | 1.44 | $ 36.55 | $ 76,030 |
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 7,820 | 1.97 | 0.95 | $ 31.03 | $ 64,540 |
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 7,380 | 2.39 | 1.15 | $ 28.33 | $ 58,930 |
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX | 6,440 | 2.03 | 0.98 | $ 27.15 | $ 56,480 |
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 5,990 | 0.97 | 0.47 | $ 48.53 | $ 100,950 |
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 5,950 | 2.11 | 1.02 | $ 22.23 | $ 46,250 |
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 5,640 | 2.07 | 1.00 | $ 39.38 | $ 81,910 |
Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ | 4,370 | 1.91 | 0.92 | $ 27.43 | $ 57,060 |
Metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Firefighters:
Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fayetteville, NC | 920 | 7.06 | 3.40 | $ 19.74 | $ 41,060 |
Hinesville, GA | 130 | 6.54 | 3.15 | $ 21.72 | $ 45,180 |
Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Beaufort, SC | 520 | 6.51 | 3.13 | $ 25.42 | $ 52,880 |
Prescott, AZ | 450 | 6.44 | 3.10 | $ 25.08 | $ 52,160 |
Jacksonville, NC | 330 | 6.34 | 3.05 | $ 19.26 | $ 40,060 |
Lake Havasu City-Kingman, AZ | 340 | 6.26 | 3.01 | $ 23.52 | $ 48,910 |
Leominster-Gardner, MA | 310 | 6.06 | 2.92 | $ 29.45 | $ 61,250 |
Dover-Durham, NH-ME | 300 | 5.97 | 2.87 | $ 25.07 | $ 52,140 |
Gadsden, AL | 190 | 5.92 | 2.85 | $ 15.55 | $ 32,340 |
Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZ | 200 | 5.91 | 2.85 | $ 21.96 | $ 45,670 |
Top paying metropolitan areas for Firefighters:
Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 1,370 | 1.20 | 0.58 | $ 58.64 | $ 121,960 |
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA | 3,030 | 1.25 | 0.60 | $ 51.93 | $ 108,020 |
Vallejo-Fairfield, CA | 330 | 2.43 | 1.17 | $ 49.30 | $ 102,540 |
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 5,990 | 0.97 | 0.47 | $ 48.53 | $ 100,950 |
Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA | 2,360 | 2.26 | 1.09 | $ 47.57 | $ 98,950 |
Fort Collins, CO | 370 | 2.11 | 1.02 | $ 45.36 | $ 94,350 |
Modesto, CA | 350 | 1.83 | 0.88 | $ 44.80 | $ 93,180 |
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 3,600 | 1.73 | 0.83 | $ 44.50 | $ 92,560 |
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | 350 | 1.73 | 0.83 | $ 44.13 | $ 91,780 |
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | 10,950 | 1.15 | 0.56 | $ 41.85 | $ 87,060 |
Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest employment in Firefighters:
Nonmetropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Piedmont North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | 1,130 | 4.41 | 2.12 | $ 16.19 | $ 33,680 |
Kansas nonmetropolitan area | 930 | 2.39 | 1.15 | $ 20.99 | $ 43,660 |
Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area | 860 | 13.98 | 6.73 | $ 33.40 | $ 69,480 |
North Northeastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area (noncontiguous) | 850 | 2.61 | 1.26 | $ 19.76 | $ 41,100 |
North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area | 820 | 8.09 | 3.90 | $ 32.39 | $ 67,360 |
Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Firefighters:
Nonmetropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area | 860 | 13.98 | 6.73 | $ 33.40 | $ 69,480 |
North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area | 820 | 8.09 | 3.90 | $ 32.39 | $ 67,360 |
Northern New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area | 270 | 7.63 | 3.67 | $ 21.65 | $ 45,030 |
South Florida nonmetropolitan area | 500 | 5.92 | 2.85 | $ 23.86 | $ 49,640 |
Arizona nonmetropolitan area | 520 | 5.55 | 2.67 | $ 21.87 | $ 45,490 |
Top paying nonmetropolitan areas for Firefighters:
Nonmetropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area | 860 | 13.98 | 6.73 | $ 33.40 | $ 69,480 |
Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area | 490 | 4.84 | 2.33 | $ 33.33 | $ 69,330 |
North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area | 820 | 8.09 | 3.90 | $ 32.39 | $ 67,360 |
North Coast Region of California nonmetropolitan area | 490 | 4.61 | 2.22 | $ 31.78 | $ 66,110 |
Central East New York nonmetropolitan area | 170 | 1.09 | 0.52 | $ 31.55 | $ 65,610 |
These estimates are calculated with data collected from employers in all industry sectors, all metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas, and all states and the District of Columbia. The top employment and wage figures are provided above. The complete list is available in the downloadable XLS files.
The percentile wage estimate is the value of a wage below which a certain percent of workers fall. The median wage is the 50th percentile wage estimate—50 percent of workers earn less than the median and 50 percent of workers earn more than the median. More about percentile wages.
(1) Estimates for detailed occupations do not sum to the totals because the totals include occupations not shown separately. Estimates do not include self-employed workers.
(2) Annual wages have been calculated by multiplying the hourly mean wage by a "year-round, full-time" hours figure of 2,080 hours; for those occupations where there is not an hourly wage published, the annual wage has been directly calculated from the reported survey data.
(3) The relative standard error (RSE) is a measure of the reliability of a survey statistic. The smaller the relative standard error, the more precise the estimate.
(8) Estimate not released.
(9) The location quotient is the ratio of the area concentration of occupational employment to the national average concentration. A location quotient greater than one indicates the occupation has a higher share of employment than average, and a location quotient less than one indicates the occupation is less prevalent in the area than average.
Other OEWS estimates and related information:
May 2023 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2023 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2023 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2023 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
Last Modified Date: April 3, 2024