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Job outlook for fire fighters in the United States
Fire fighter job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected fire fighter job growth rate is 6% from 2018-2028.
About 1,000 new jobs for fire fighters are projected over the next decade.
Fire fighter salaries have increased 6% for fire fighters in the last 5 years.
There are over 25,813 fire fighters currently employed in the United States.
There are 3,398 active fire fighter job openings in the US.
The average fire fighter salary is $56,792.
Are fire fighter jobs in demand?
Yes, fire fighter jobs are in demand. Fire fighter demand is projected to grow 6% from 2018 to 2028.
Fire fighter job and salary trends over time
Compare the number of fire fighter jobs and the average fire fighter salary over time.
Fire fighter jobs over time
Fire fighter job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 25,813 | 0.01% |
| 2020 | 22,018 | 0.01% |
| 2019 | 22,207 | 0.01% |
| 2018 | 21,035 | 0.01% |
| 2017 | 18,728 | 0.01% |
Average fire fighter salary over time
Fire fighter salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $56,792 | $27.30 | +1.4% |
| 2025 | $56,022 | $26.93 | +1.9% |
| 2024 | $54,963 | $26.42 | +0.2% |
| 2023 | $54,848 | $26.37 | +2.2% |
| 2022 | $53,674 | $25.80 | +3.2% |
Fire fighter jobs by state
The map below shows you the number of fire fighter job openings in each state. The darker areas on the map show where fire fighters earn the highest salaries across all 50 states.
Average salary: Job openings:
Most common states for fire fighters
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Idaho | 1,716,943 | 139 | 8% |
| 2 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 48 | 8% |
| 3 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 75 | 7% |
| 4 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 127 | 4% |
| 5 | New Mexico | 2,088,070 | 86 | 4% |
| 6 | Alaska | 739,795 | 23 | 3% |
| 7 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 101 | 2% |
| 8 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 92 | 2% |
| 9 | Nevada | 2,998,039 | 61 | 2% |
| 10 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 14 | 2% |
| 11 | Florida | 20,984,400 | 111 | 1% |
| 12 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 110 | 1% |
| 13 | Arizona | 7,016,270 | 103 | 1% |
| 14 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 103 | 1% |
| 15 | Pennsylvania | 12,805,537 | 99 | 1% |
| 16 | Indiana | 6,666,818 | 76 | 1% |
| 17 | North Carolina | 10,273,419 | 59 | 1% |
| 18 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 43 | 1% |
| 19 | Alabama | 4,874,747 | 43 | 1% |
| 20 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 9 | 1% |
Most common cities for fire fighters
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Saint Clair Shores | 1 | 2% | $52,504 |
| 2 | El Cajon | 1 | 1% | $51,375 |
| 3 | Los Angeles | 3 | 0% | $52,561 |