Firefighters
Salary, job outlook, AI risk & career information
Median Salary
$59,530
~$29/hr · ~$4,961/mo
US Jobs
345K
As fast as average
AI & Automation Risk
3/10
Low Risk
AI & Automation Risk
Low Risk 3/10
The core duties of firefighting are intensely physical and require real-time presence in unpredictable, hazardous environments where AI cannot currently operate. While AI may enhance peripheral tasks like incident reporting, equipment maintenance scheduling, and predictive wildfire modeling, the essential work of rescuing victims and extinguishing fires remains a human-centric manual task.
Salary by City — What You Actually Take Home
Real purchasing power = salary adjusted for cost of living. Higher = more money in your pocket.
| City | Local Salary | Cost of Living | Real Purchasing Power |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CABEST VALUE | $164,940 | Above avg (113.1) | $145,888 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $121,270 | Above avg (117.6) | $103,164 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $108,320 | Above avg (109.1) | $99,293 |
| Longview-Kelso, WA | $97,460 | Average (99.3) | $98,136 |
| Vallejo, CA | $104,460 | Above avg (109.4) | $95,520 |
| Ames, IA | $86,140 | Below avg (91.5) | $94,178 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $105,250 | Above avg (112.6) | $93,435 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $100,040 | Above avg (107.4) | $93,130 |
| Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | $88,270 | Average (97.3) | $90,712 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $102,220 | Above avg (112.7) | $90,676 |
| Rochester, NY | $88,380 | Average (98.4) | $89,827 |
| Bellingham, WA | $93,170 | Above avg (104.0) | $89,576 |
| Abilene, TX | $79,310 | Below avg (90.4) | $87,738 |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $88,970 | Average (102.4) | $86,869 |
| Rockford, IL | $78,060 | Below avg (90.2) | $86,574 |
Cost of Living Index: 100 = US national average. Below 100 = cheaper. Above 100 = more expensive.
Education & Requirements
Education Required
Postsecondary nondegree award
10-Year Growth
+3% (As fast as average)
Hourly Rate
~$29/hr
Monthly Income
~$4,961/mo
Related Careers
Data: Bureau of Labor Statistics OOH (2024)