What Firefighters do
The U.S. Department of Labor's O*NET database describes the work of Firefighters this way: "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."
The core tasks O*NET records for this occupation include: "Rescue survivors from burning buildings, accident sites, and water hazards"; "Dress with equipment such as fire-resistant clothing and breathing apparatus"; "Assess fires and situations and report conditions to superiors to receive instructions, using two-way radios"; "Move toward the source of a fire, using knowledge of types of fires, construction design, building materials, and physical layout of properties"; "Respond to fire alarms and other calls for assistance, such as automobile and industrial accidents".
Education, experience and training
According to the BLS Employment Projections, the typical education needed to enter this occupation is postsecondary nondegree award. Typical on-the-job training to reach competency is long-term on-the-job training.
Job outlook for Firefighters
The Bureau of Labor Statistics counted 355,300 jobs in this occupation in 2025 and projects 368,400 in 2035, an increase of 13,100 jobs (+3.7%). That is faster than the 3.5% projected for all occupations.
About 26,800 openings a year are projected on average, counting both new positions and positions vacated by workers who retire or switch occupations. Relative to today's employment that is 7.5% a year, against 10.3% for all occupations. BLS lists a national median annual wage of $59,280, compared with $50,980 for all occupations.
Where Firefighters earn the most
Across the 7 states with published data, the employment-weighted average of local median wages for this occupation ranges from $59,795 in Texas to $100,566 in New York, a gap of $40,771 (1.68 times). 7 of those 7 states average above the BLS national median of $59,280 and 0 average at or below it.
Texas employs the most people in this occupation among the states covered, 27,300, which is 19.7% of the 138,610 counted across them. Indiana follows with 27,050.
Highest-paying states
New York ($100,566), New Jersey ($99,317) and Illinois ($77,461) lead the ranking, while Texas ($59,795) and New Hampshire ($70,283) are at the bottom. The table below lists every state with a link to its county-level detail.
Firefighters: pay against the cost of living
We compare 7 labor markets, each represented by its most populous county. After federal, Social Security, Medicare and state taxes and the four basics (a one-bedroom rental, food, home energy and gasoline), the largest yearly margin is in Bergen County, NJ (New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ) at $47,503. The smallest margin is $19,594 in Middlesex County, MA.
The median wage for this occupation covers all four basics in 7 of the 7 markets. A one-bedroom apartment takes between 21.9% and 50.0% of take-home pay, depending on the market.
Frequently asked questions about Firefighters
What is the national median wage for Firefighters?
BLS lists a national median annual wage of $59,280. Across the states covered here the average local median ranges from $59,795 to $100,566.
Which state pays Firefighters the most?
New York, with an employment-weighted average local median wage of $100,566. New Jersey is next at $99,317.
What is the job outlook for Firefighters?
BLS projects employment to grow by 3.7% between 2025 and 2035, compared with 3.5% for all occupations, with about 26,800 openings a year.
What education do Firefighters need?
The typical entry-level education is postsecondary nondegree award and long-term on-the-job training, according to BLS.
Where can Firefighters afford to live best?
Among the markets covered, Bergen County, NJ leaves the largest yearly margin after taxes, rent, food, energy and gasoline: $47,503 on a median wage of $106,420.