Firefighter Salary Ranges

26 December 2009 2 Comments

Firefighting, although a selfless and profound choice in terms of one’s own path in life, can also prove to be a very prudent decision in terms of a career choice as well. Not only is a firefighter handsomely compensated for her/his dedication to duty and service, it is one of the few professions in this world from which we derive a long standing sense of satisfaction and good will from performing our duties as well. It should be noted that even though firefighting is a career choice that comes with a handsome income, one cannot expect to succeed as a good firefighter if their motivations are simply financial in nature. That being said, following are some of the approximate salary ranges that are quoted in relation to firefighter services, Note that pay scales are subjective to employing state, rank, title held within the department. Also, the category of firefighters that get paid a certain amount per annum is differentiated according to individuals who have just come into active service, or individuals who have been taken into the department pending a probationary evaluation during which time their salary scale falls on this level, to individuals who have gained a level of experience and proficiency to be eligible for a higher pay grade.

The usual annual salary of firefighters range from US $30000 to US $50000, with salary varying according to the qualifications of the respective individuals. The main factors of consideration are; Certification, Specialization (EMT, Technician etc), Experience, Rank, Proficiency, Dedication to the job etc, the above figure may also increase to around $70,000 for an individual who has outstanding credentials. However that would be an optimistic figure and most firefighters average between $30000 to $55000.


Salary statistics by categories: (Source: Payscale.com)

1. According to state or province: Where the firefighter is employed plays the biggest role in determining annual pay, with California coming in at the top as the highest salary payer at a range averaging between $45,000 to $80,000 and North Carolina at the bottom of the list paying roughly between $29,000 to $41,000.


2. According to Degree/Major subject: A firefighter’s educational qualification also plays a major role in deciding her/his annual salary. Typically, one with a Degree or Major in Science stands at a more positive position to earn more than others, the amount varies from approx. $40,000 – $70,000 for Associate of Science Major to $35,000 – $68,000 for a Bachelors’ Degree in Science.

3. According to Certification: The amount of work related certifications held by a firefighter is a major consideration, with certified professionals in EMT (Emergency Medical Technician) services earning between $34,000 – $66,000, based on other certifications held as well.

4. Level of experience: A firefighter with a higher level of experience would logically be paid more; the amount starts at $29,000 – $44,000 for a “rookie” firefighter to around $50,000 to $75,000 for veterans who have crossed more than two decades of service. A veteran firefighter with more than 5 years of service stands to earn an average $35,000 – $56,000 with the difference in pay scale being an average $5,000 – $8,000 per 5 years of experience.

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2 Comments »

  • carmel said:

    The aforementioned pay-scale is a decent salary-range. Although professions like this have greater reward than just their salaries.

    # 9 November 2010 at 12:58 am
  • Michael said:

    I dunno… I have talked to a many a firefighters who are purely in it for the cash. I think this is the case with any profession. Some people love it for the work and others love it for the dough. People assume that firefighters are all hero type personalities who actually “care” for the community and the people they serve. This is NOT the case for everyone that wears a uniforms and badge. Every fireman is NOT a hero. There are plenty of citizens having the experience they have would agree.

    I have personally witnessed some horrid conduct from so called professionals and if you were to look a little deeper you certainly would find those that have been dismissed from serving as a result of their issues.

    I am not slamming the profession or the nobility that goes along with serving others. I’m just saying…just because they look like angels don’t mean they were sent by God.

    # 11 November 2010 at 7:56 pm

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