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Salary remains the top priority for many job seekers, especially firefighters. If you’re wondering about firefighter salaries in your area, you’re not alone.
While individual salaries can vary based on experience, location, and department, comprehensive data exists that outlines average firefighter salaries by state, factoring in different levels of seniority. These averages provide a good indication of what you might expect to earn.
To gain insights into firefighter salaries across the United States, we analyzed the latest available data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This analysis considers not just the salary figures but also adjusts for the cost of living in each state, as your earnings will stretch further in some places than in others.
After adjusting for cost of living, New Jersey ranks as the state with the highest firefighter salary. Below is a snapshot of the top ten states for firefighter salaries in 2026:
Let’s delve into how these figures were determined and provide a complete ranking of firefighter salaries across all states.
How We Analyzed Firefighter Salaries by State
Our analysis is based on the most recent average annual salary data for firefighters sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, specifically their “Occupational Employment Statistics.”
To ensure an accurate comparison, we adjusted salaries based on the cost of living in each state. For instance, we created an index by dividing the average wage for a state by the cost of living index. For example, with California having a cost of living index of 135.9 and an average salary of $71,790, the adjusted value would be:
$71,790 * (100 / 135.9) = $52,825
We then ranked each state based on this adjusted salary index, with the highest value indicating the best average salary for firefighters.
Detailed List of Firefighter Salaries by State
| Rank | State | Adjusted Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Jersey | $67,046 |
| 2 | Washington | $65,522 |
| 3 | Nevada | $60,232 |
| 4 | Illinois | $58,625 |
| 5 | Nebraska | $57,423 |
| 6 | Texas | $56,482 |
| 7 | Missouri | $56,349 |
| 8 | Pennsylvania | $54,497 |
| 9 | Oregon | $54,091 |
| 10 | California | $52,825 |
| 11 | New York | $52,557 |
| 12 | Indiana | $52,089 |
| 13 | Florida | $51,658 |
| 14 | Michigan | $50,101 |
| 15 | Virginia | $49,841 |
| 16 | Colorado | $49,768 |
| 17 | Wyoming | $49,128 |
| 18 | Montana | $48,918 |
| 19 | Connecticut | $48,339 |
| 20 | Ohio | $47,942 |
| 21 | Oklahoma | $47,634 |
| 22 | Maryland | $46,294 |
| 23 | Rhode Island | $46,246 |
| 24 | Arizona | $46,153 |
| 25 | North Dakota | $45,603 |
| 26 | Delaware | $45,098 |
| 27 | Iowa | $44,769 |
| 28 | Massachusetts | $44,715 |
| 29 | Alaska | $44,561 |
| 30 | Alabama | $44,353 |
| 31 | Tennessee | $44,250 |
| 32 | Idaho | $42,280 |
| 33 | South Dakota | $41,523 |
| 34 | Kansas | $41,034 |
| 35 | Arkansas | $40,861 |
| 36 | Georgia | $38,599 |
| 37 | Wisconsin | $38,533 |
| 38 | New Hampshire | $37,829 |
| 39 | Kentucky | $37,602 |
| 40 | Utah | $36,924 |
| 41 | Mississippi | $36,589 |
| 42 | North Carolina | $36,560 |
| 43 | New Mexico | $36,476 |
| 44 | Louisiana | $35,369 |
| 45 | South Carolina | $35,040 |
| 46 | Minnesota | $34,494 |
| 47 | West Virginia | $34,475 |
| 48 | Hawaii | $33,633 |
| 49 | Vermont | $30,437 |
| 50 | Maine | $30,126 |
Author
Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.
