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Best states for a fire fighter
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
Job opportunities vary from state to state, and protective service careers are no different. Because we know how difficult it can be to know which states are the best when it comes to fire fighter jobs, we decided to crunch some numbers to bring you the best states for fire fighters.Our research shows that Idaho is the best state in the country for fire fighters.
We figured that the best places for fire fighter jobs has three things everyone would agree on. There would be high annual wages, good career prospects (no matter what phase of the career you are in), and a lot of job opportunities.Idaho is the best state, and Fort Wayne is the city with the highest pay for fire fighters.
10 best states for fire fighters in 2026
1. Idaho
Total fire fighter jobs: 139 Average annual salary: $67,422 Lowest 10 percent earn: $41,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $110,000 Location Quotient: 7.96
2. Indiana
Total fire fighter jobs: 76 Average annual salary: $71,678 Lowest 10 percent earn: $44,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $114,000 Location Quotient: 1.09
3. North Dakota
Total fire fighter jobs: 14 Average annual salary: $65,610 Lowest 10 percent earn: $44,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $96,000 Location Quotient: 1.42
4. Arizona
Total fire fighter jobs: 103 Average annual salary: $62,316 Lowest 10 percent earn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $102,000 Location Quotient: 1.66
5. Virginia
Total fire fighter jobs: 110 Average annual salary: $65,720 Lowest 10 percent earn: $39,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $109,000 Location Quotient: 1.1
6. Pennsylvania
Total fire fighter jobs: 99 Average annual salary: $65,549 Lowest 10 percent earn: $40,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $107,000 Location Quotient: 0.8
7. Florida
Total fire fighter jobs: 111 Average annual salary: $68,599 Lowest 10 percent earn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $121,000 Location Quotient: 0.67
8. Maine
Total fire fighter jobs: 9 Average annual salary: $69,348 Lowest 10 percent earn: $45,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $106,000 Location Quotient: 0.64
9. New York
Total fire fighter jobs: 88 Average annual salary: $67,742 Lowest 10 percent earn: $41,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $110,000 Location Quotient: 0.65
10. Washington
Total fire fighter jobs: 103 Average annual salary: $59,523 Lowest 10 percent earn: $35,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $98,000 Location Quotient: 1.33
Fire fighter jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a fire fighter
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a fire fighter
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Idaho | $67,422 | $41,000 | 1,716,943 | 139 |
| 2 | Indiana | $71,678 | $44,000 | 6,666,818 | 76 |
| 3 | North Dakota | $65,610 | $44,000 | 755,393 | 14 |
| 4 | Arizona | $62,316 | $37,000 | 7,016,270 | 103 |
| 5 | Virginia | $65,720 | $39,000 | 8,470,020 | 110 |
| 6 | Pennsylvania | $65,549 | $40,000 | 12,805,537 | 99 |
| 7 | Florida | $68,599 | $38,000 | 20,984,400 | 111 |
| 8 | Maine | $69,348 | $45,000 | 1,335,907 | 9 |
| 9 | New York | $67,742 | $41,000 | 19,849,399 | 88 |
| 10 | Washington | $59,523 | $35,000 | 7,405,743 | 103 |
| 11 | Wyoming | $52,827 | $34,000 | 579,315 | 48 |
| 12 | Oregon | $57,175 | $34,000 | 4,142,776 | 101 |
| 13 | Iowa | $55,348 | $35,000 | 3,145,711 | 43 |
| 14 | New Jersey | $68,119 | $41,000 | 9,005,644 | 33 |
| 15 | North Carolina | $60,938 | $36,000 | 10,273,419 | 59 |
| 16 | Alabama | $54,479 | $32,000 | 4,874,747 | 43 |
| 17 | Oklahoma | $51,520 | $31,000 | 3,930,864 | 40 |
| 18 | Kansas | $54,818 | $34,000 | 2,913,123 | 21 |
| 19 | New Mexico | $49,223 | $30,000 | 2,088,070 | 86 |
| 20 | California | $54,199 | $32,000 | 39,536,653 | 406 |
| 21 | Illinois | $58,183 | $36,000 | 12,802,023 | 52 |
| 22 | Georgia | $52,242 | $31,000 | 10,429,379 | 92 |
| 23 | Tennessee | $52,313 | $32,000 | 6,715,984 | 38 |
| 24 | West Virginia | $49,228 | $30,000 | 1,815,857 | 15 |
| 25 | Michigan | $52,026 | $32,000 | 9,962,311 | 53 |
| 26 | Minnesota | $52,859 | $34,000 | 5,576,606 | 49 |
| 27 | Wisconsin | $49,023 | $31,000 | 5,795,483 | 62 |
| 28 | Arkansas | $47,286 | $29,000 | 3,004,279 | 34 |
| 29 | Utah | $44,333 | $27,000 | 3,101,833 | 127 |
| 30 | Ohio | $48,477 | $30,000 | 11,658,609 | 49 |
| 31 | Texas | $49,219 | $28,000 | 28,304,596 | 120 |
| 32 | Nevada | $44,338 | $26,000 | 2,998,039 | 61 |
| 33 | Hawaii | $40,186 | $31,000 | 1,427,538 | 21 |
| 34 | Maryland | $47,389 | $28,000 | 6,052,177 | 61 |
| 35 | Kentucky | $45,637 | $28,000 | 4,454,189 | 28 |
| 36 | South Carolina | $45,001 | $26,000 | 5,024,369 | 45 |
| 37 | Alaska | $40,813 | $29,000 | 739,795 | 23 |
| 38 | Montana | $41,034 | $26,000 | 1,050,493 | 75 |
| 39 | Mississippi | $44,080 | $26,000 | 2,984,100 | 20 |
| 40 | Louisiana | $44,756 | $26,000 | 4,684,333 | 27 |
| 41 | Colorado | $42,149 | $27,000 | 5,607,154 | 92 |
| 42 | Delaware | $48,047 | $29,000 | 961,939 | 1 |
| 43 | Rhode Island | $45,929 | $28,000 | 1,059,639 | 7 |
| 44 | South Dakota | $41,574 | $27,000 | 869,666 | 10 |
| 45 | Connecticut | $47,251 | $29,000 | 3,588,184 | 10 |
| 46 | Nebraska | $42,284 | $27,000 | 1,920,076 | 17 |
| 47 | District of Columbia | $47,223 | $28,000 | 693,972 | 7 |
| 48 | Vermont | $41,002 | $26,000 | 623,657 | 8 |
| 49 | Missouri | $43,477 | $27,000 | 6,113,532 | 40 |
| 50 | Massachusetts | $44,437 | $28,000 | 6,859,819 | 53 |
| 51 | New Hampshire | $42,883 | $27,000 | 1,342,795 | 8 |
Highest paying states for fire fighters
| Rank | State | Avg. Fire Fighter Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Idaho | $67,422 |
| 2 | Indiana | $71,678 |
| 3 | North Dakota | $65,610 |
| 4 | Arizona | $62,316 |
| 5 | Virginia | $65,720 |
| 6 | Pennsylvania | $65,549 |
| 7 | Florida | $68,599 |
| 8 | Maine | $69,348 |
| 9 | New York | $67,742 |
| 10 | Washington | $59,523 |
| 11 | Wyoming | $52,827 |
| 12 | Oregon | $57,175 |
| 13 | Iowa | $55,348 |
| 14 | New Jersey | $68,119 |
| 15 | North Carolina | $60,938 |
| 16 | Alabama | $54,479 |
| 17 | Oklahoma | $51,520 |
| 18 | Kansas | $54,818 |
| 19 | New Mexico | $49,223 |
| 20 | California | $54,199 |
| 21 | Illinois | $58,183 |
| 22 | Georgia | $52,242 |
| 23 | Tennessee | $52,313 |
| 24 | West Virginia | $49,228 |
| 25 | Michigan | $52,026 |
| 26 | Minnesota | $52,859 |
| 27 | Wisconsin | $49,023 |
| 28 | Arkansas | $47,286 |
| 29 | Utah | $44,333 |
| 30 | Ohio | $48,477 |
| 31 | Texas | $49,219 |
| 32 | Nevada | $44,338 |
| 33 | Hawaii | $40,186 |
| 34 | Maryland | $47,389 |
| 35 | Kentucky | $45,637 |
| 36 | South Carolina | $45,001 |
| 37 | Alaska | $40,813 |
| 38 | Montana | $41,034 |
| 39 | Mississippi | $44,080 |
| 40 | Louisiana | $44,756 |
| 41 | Colorado | $42,149 |
| 42 | Delaware | $48,047 |
| 43 | Rhode Island | $45,929 |
| 44 | South Dakota | $41,574 |
| 45 | Connecticut | $47,251 |
| 46 | Nebraska | $42,284 |
| 47 | District of Columbia | $47,223 |
| 48 | Vermont | $41,002 |
| 49 | Missouri | $43,477 |
| 50 | Massachusetts | $44,437 |
| 51 | New Hampshire | $42,883 |
Fire fighter best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025