In most cases, a person doesn’t become a firefighter for the money. Instead, it’s a calling – an innate desire to serve their community – mixed with a hint of an adrenaline junky personality. After all, firefighters put their lives on the line every day, and it takes something more than a desire to bring home a paycheck to be willing to take on that risk.
But, what exactly do firefighters make while serving their communities? Does firefighter pay make up for the level of risk?
Ultimately, whether firefighter salaries are enough depends on the person. Again, the drive to serve can run deep, creating intrinsic value that you don’t find in every other profession. However, some may be surprised to see just how little putting your life on the line can mean to your bank account.
Firefighter Pay By State
The Bureau of Labor Statistics compiled the data, showing median firefighter yearly salaries, as well as the median for first-line supervisors. Here’s what it reveals about firefighter pay.
Alabama
Median Firefighter Annual Salary: $40,700
Median First-Line Supervisor Annual Salary: $60,650
Alaska
Median Firefighter Annual Salary: $60,790
Median First-Line Supervisor Annual Salary: $84,530
Arizona
Median Firefighter Annual Salary: $45,840
Median First-Line Supervisor Annual Salary: $66,670
Arkansas
Median Firefighter Annual Salary: $35,440
Median First-Line Supervisor Annual Salary: $53,180
California
Median Firefighter Annual Salary: $35,440
Median First-Line Supervisor Annual Salary: $53,180
Colorado
Median Firefighter Annual Salary: $54,680
Median First-Line Supervisor Annual Salary: $81,910
Connecticut
Median Firefighter Annual Salary: $65,360
Median First-Line Supervisor Annual Salary: $82,420
Delaware
Median Firefighter Annual Salary: $44,250
Median First-Line Supervisor Annual Salary: $75,690
Florida
Median Firefighter Annual Salary: $50,170
Median First-Line Supervisor Annual Salary: $82,450
Georgia
Median Firefighter Annual Salary: $36,190
Median First-Line Supervisor Annual Salary: $57,600
Hawaii
Data on firefighter pay was not provided by BLS. However, here’s an estimate from Salary.com.
Median Firefighter Annual Salary: $47,605
Median First-Line Supervisor Annual Salary: $73,016
Idaho
Median Firefighter Annual Salary: $37,130
Median First-Line Supervisor Annual Salary: $57,410
Illinois
Median Firefighter Annual Salary: $51,850
Median First-Line Supervisor Annual Salary: $95,370
Indiana
Median Firefighter Annual Salary: $49,470
Median First-Line Supervisor Annual Salary: $62,760
Iowa
Median Firefighter Annual Salary: $41,890
Median First-Line Supervisor Annual Salary: $66,800
Kansas
Median Firefighter Annual Salary: $36,250
Median First-Line Supervisor Annual Salary: $58,870
Kentucky
Median Firefighter Annual Salary: $30,130
Median First-Line Supervisor Annual Salary: $57,150
Louisiana
Median Firefighter Annual Salary: $28,980
Median First-Line Supervisor Annual Salary: $56,270
Maine
Median Firefighter Annual Salary: $30,880
Median First-Line Supervisor Annual Salary: $57,800
Maryland
Median Firefighter Annual Salary: $30,880
Median First-Line Supervisor Annual Salary: $57,800
Massachusetts
Median Firefighter Annual Salary: $59,770
Median First-Line Supervisor Annual Salary: $83,180
Michigan
Median Firefighter Annual Salary: $44,210
Median First-Line Supervisor Annual Salary: $66,790
Minnesota
Median Firefighter Annual Salary: $29,820
Median First-Line Supervisor Annual Salary: $71,900
Mississippi
Median Firefighter Annual Salary: $28,980
Median First-Line Supervisor Annual Salary: $44,040
Missouri
Median Firefighter Annual Salary: $47,790
Median First-Line Supervisor Annual Salary: $74,260
Montana
Median Firefighter Annual Salary: $50,420
Median First-Line Supervisor Annual Salary: $67,850
Nebraska
Median Firefighter Annual Salary: $51,370
Median First-Line Supervisor Annual Salary: $66,120
Nevada
Median Firefighter Annual Salary: $65,960
Median First-Line Supervisor Annual Salary: $95,360
New Hampshire
Median Firefighter Annual Salary: $46,820
Median First-Line Supervisor Annual Salary: $72,480
New Jersey
Median Firefighter Annual Salary: $75,420
Median First-Line Supervisor Annual Salary: $116,230
New Mexico
Median Firefighter Annual Salary: $35,140
Median First-Line Supervisor Annual Salary: $52,380
New York
Median Firefighter Annual Salary: $73,480
Median First-Line Supervisor Annual Salary: $98,220
North Carolina
Median Firefighter Annual Salary: $33,760
Median First-Line Supervisor Annual Salary: $67,490
North Dakota
Median Firefighter Annual Salary: $44,110
Median First-Line Supervisor Annual Salary: $66,330
Ohio
Median Firefighter Annual Salary: $46,360
Median First-Line Supervisor Annual Salary: $71,140
Oklahoma
Median Firefighter Annual Salary: $41,920
Median First-Line Supervisor Annual Salary: $68,550
Oregon
Median Firefighter Annual Salary: $66,880
Median First-Line Supervisor Annual Salary: $88,650
Pennsylvania
Median Firefighter Annual Salary: $56,240
Median First-Line Supervisor Annual Salary: $75,380
Rhode Island
Median Firefighter Annual Salary: $58,450
Median First-Line Supervisor Annual Salary: $73,370
South Carolina
Median Firefighter Annual Salary: $33,610
Median First-Line Supervisor Annual Salary: $53,430
South Dakota
Median Firefighter Annual Salary: $43,870
Median First-Line Supervisor Annual Salary: $74,570
Tennessee
Median Firefighter Annual Salary: $38,460
Median First-Line Supervisor Annual Salary: $54,750
Texas
Median Firefighter Annual Salary: $52,420
Median First-Line Supervisor Annual Salary: $77,430
Utah
Median Firefighter Annual Salary: $32,420
Median First-Line Supervisor Annual Salary: $72,190
Vermont
Median Firefighter Annual Salary: $38,540
Median First-Line Supervisor Annual Salary: $52,070
Virginia
Median Firefighter Annual Salary: $50,160
Median First-Line Supervisor Annual Salary: $81,520
Washington
Median Firefighter Annual Salary: $73,380
Median First-Line Supervisor Annual Salary: $96,690
West Virginia
Median Firefighter Annual Salary: $33,450
Median First-Line Supervisor Annual Salary: $42,320
Wisconsin
Median Firefighter Annual Salary: $36,580
Median First-Line Supervisor Annual Salary: $75,180
Wyoming
Median Firefighter Annual Salary: $43,430
Median First-Line Supervisor Annual Salary: $69,220
A Note on Median Firefighter Salaries
By definition, a median salary represents the midpoint of all salaries within that particular field (in this case, firefighters and first-line supervisors). That means half of all people in that group earn less than that amount.
In some cases, the entry-level firefighters (those in the bottom 10 percent of the pay range) could earn wages that fall below the federal poverty line.
In 2018, the poverty guidelines for the lower 48 states for a family of four is $25,100. That means, if a firefighter was the sole provider for a family of four and in the bottom 10 percent for pay according to the BLS data, they would potentially fall below the federal poverty guidelines in these states:
- Alabama
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Georgia
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- New Mexico
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Utah
- Vermont
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
Alaska’s poverty guideline for a family of four is $31,380, but even the lowest 10th percentile easily cross that mark.
Hawaii’s poverty guideline is $28,870 for a family of four. Data is not available to show whether the lower 10 percent meet that mark for firefighter pay.
Beyond Firefighter Pay
While having a reasonable salary is essential for daily survival, firefighters typically also get a range of benefits, increasing their level of compensation.
Exactly what they receive can vary somewhat by state. However, these are usually part of the total compensation package:
- Medical Insurance
- Dental Insurance
- Vision Insurance
- Retirement Options
Ultimately, firefighter pay can vary wildly from one state to the next. It’s also important to realize that some of your neighborhood heroes may be risking their lives while living on a salary that falls below the poverty guidelines for their area. So, don’t forget to show appreciation to your community’s firefighters. After all, they are willing to put themselves on the line for the safety of you, your family, and your community.
