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Best states for a firefighter/paramedic
Quoted expert
April Heinze
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
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- 41 - 51
Do you wonder which states in the U.S. are the best for firefighter/paramedics? If so, we have the full list of best to worst states for firefighter/paramedic jobs for you to check out and see if you think it's time to move and start anew. Not all states fare the same when it come to job opportunity and pay.Although there are abundant firefighter/paramedic jobs in the United States, a large number of them are in the Midwest. Indiana is the best state in the country for firefighter/paramedic jobs.
Indiana is the best state for jobs for firefighter/paramedics, and Virginia is the worst. The most common pay in Indiana is $58,135, while the median pay in Virginia is $45,940.We found that the Midwest is best for firefighter/paramedics, and the Northeast is the worst. San Rafael, CA is the best city in the country for firefighter/paramedic jobs, where as Indiana is the best state in the country.
10 best states for firefighter/paramedics in 2025
1. Indiana
Total firefighter/paramedic jobs: 247 Average annual salary: $58,135 Lowest 10 percent earn: $43,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $78,000 Location Quotient: 2.05
2. West Virginia
Total firefighter/paramedic jobs: 61 Average annual salary: $58,946 Lowest 10 percent earn: $42,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $80,000 Location Quotient: 2.18
3. Louisiana
Total firefighter/paramedic jobs: 76 Average annual salary: $57,253 Lowest 10 percent earn: $41,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $78,000 Location Quotient: 1.3
4. Connecticut
Total firefighter/paramedic jobs: 58 Average annual salary: $61,969 Lowest 10 percent earn: $45,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $85,000 Location Quotient: 0.95
5. Tennessee
Total firefighter/paramedic jobs: 164 Average annual salary: $54,210 Lowest 10 percent earn: $40,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $73,000 Location Quotient: 1.52
6. New Jersey
Total firefighter/paramedic jobs: 228 Average annual salary: $58,739 Lowest 10 percent earn: $42,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $81,000 Location Quotient: 1.57
7. Mississippi
Total firefighter/paramedic jobs: 53 Average annual salary: $53,984 Lowest 10 percent earn: $39,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $73,000 Location Quotient: 1.36
8. Texas
Total firefighter/paramedic jobs: 533 Average annual salary: $53,602 Lowest 10 percent earn: $39,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $72,000 Location Quotient: 1.44
9. Washington
Total firefighter/paramedic jobs: 61 Average annual salary: $60,420 Lowest 10 percent earn: $46,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $78,000 Location Quotient: 0.46
10. Massachusetts
Total firefighter/paramedic jobs: 80 Average annual salary: $60,149 Lowest 10 percent earn: $44,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $81,000 Location Quotient: 0.48
Firefighter/paramedic jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a firefighter/paramedic
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a firefighter/paramedic
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Indiana | $58,135 | $43,000 | 6,666,818 | 247 |
| 2 | West Virginia | $58,946 | $42,000 | 1,815,857 | 61 |
| 3 | Louisiana | $57,253 | $41,000 | 4,684,333 | 76 |
| 4 | Connecticut | $61,969 | $45,000 | 3,588,184 | 58 |
| 5 | Tennessee | $54,210 | $40,000 | 6,715,984 | 164 |
| 6 | New Jersey | $58,739 | $42,000 | 9,005,644 | 228 |
| 7 | Mississippi | $53,984 | $39,000 | 2,984,100 | 53 |
| 8 | Texas | $53,602 | $39,000 | 28,304,596 | 533 |
| 9 | Washington | $60,420 | $46,000 | 7,405,743 | 61 |
| 10 | Massachusetts | $60,149 | $44,000 | 6,859,819 | 80 |
| 11 | California | $62,192 | $45,000 | 39,536,653 | 354 |
| 12 | Nevada | $55,127 | $40,000 | 2,998,039 | 30 |
| 13 | Vermont | $58,030 | $44,000 | 623,657 | 4 |
| 14 | Maine | $52,708 | $40,000 | 1,335,907 | 31 |
| 15 | New Hampshire | $54,267 | $40,000 | 1,342,795 | 33 |
| 16 | New Mexico | $51,378 | $38,000 | 2,088,070 | 112 |
| 17 | Oregon | $58,194 | $43,000 | 4,142,776 | 25 |
| 18 | Nebraska | $54,483 | $41,000 | 1,920,076 | 20 |
| 19 | Ohio | $50,617 | $37,000 | 11,658,609 | 218 |
| 20 | Wyoming | $52,710 | $39,000 | 579,315 | 10 |
| 21 | Rhode Island | $55,475 | $40,000 | 1,059,639 | 2 |
| 22 | District of Columbia | $60,569 | $43,000 | 693,972 | 15 |
| 23 | Kansas | $49,460 | $37,000 | 2,913,123 | 71 |
| 24 | New York | $55,348 | $40,000 | 19,849,399 | 186 |
| 25 | Florida | $51,072 | $36,000 | 20,984,400 | 383 |
| 26 | Alaska | $57,311 | $50,000 | 739,795 | 3 |
| 27 | Delaware | $54,986 | $39,000 | 961,939 | 6 |
| 28 | Iowa | $49,688 | $37,000 | 3,145,711 | 69 |
| 29 | Missouri | $49,890 | $37,000 | 6,113,532 | 128 |
| 30 | Michigan | $49,758 | $36,000 | 9,962,311 | 133 |
| 31 | Colorado | $53,302 | $40,000 | 5,607,154 | 82 |
| 32 | Pennsylvania | $48,913 | $35,000 | 12,805,537 | 224 |
| 33 | Arizona | $49,737 | $36,000 | 7,016,270 | 120 |
| 34 | Hawaii | $51,437 | $42,000 | 1,427,538 | 17 |
| 35 | South Carolina | $48,164 | $35,000 | 5,024,369 | 87 |
| 36 | Illinois | $50,614 | $37,000 | 12,802,023 | 186 |
| 37 | Oklahoma | $47,556 | $35,000 | 3,930,864 | 69 |
| 38 | Wisconsin | $48,833 | $36,000 | 5,795,483 | 90 |
| 39 | Idaho | $50,011 | $37,000 | 1,716,943 | 9 |
| 40 | North Dakota | $48,608 | $38,000 | 755,393 | 11 |
| 41 | Maryland | $51,967 | $37,000 | 6,052,177 | 49 |
| 42 | Arkansas | $47,322 | $35,000 | 3,004,279 | 39 |
| 43 | Alabama | $47,135 | $34,000 | 4,874,747 | 76 |
| 44 | Montana | $49,117 | $37,000 | 1,050,493 | 14 |
| 45 | South Dakota | $45,856 | $35,000 | 869,666 | 21 |
| 46 | North Carolina | $47,522 | $34,000 | 10,273,419 | 180 |
| 47 | Kentucky | $45,168 | $33,000 | 4,454,189 | 80 |
| 48 | Georgia | $42,011 | $30,000 | 10,429,379 | 252 |
| 49 | Utah | $46,383 | $34,000 | 3,101,833 | 44 |
| 50 | Minnesota | $46,542 | $35,000 | 5,576,606 | 68 |
| 51 | Virginia | $45,940 | $33,000 | 8,470,020 | 122 |
Highest paying states for firefighter/paramedics
| Rank | State | Avg. Firefighter/Paramedic Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Indiana | $58,135 |
| 2 | West Virginia | $58,946 |
| 3 | Louisiana | $57,253 |
| 4 | Connecticut | $61,969 |
| 5 | Tennessee | $54,210 |
| 6 | New Jersey | $58,739 |
| 7 | Mississippi | $53,984 |
| 8 | Texas | $53,602 |
| 9 | Washington | $60,420 |
| 10 | Massachusetts | $60,149 |
| 11 | California | $62,192 |
| 12 | Nevada | $55,127 |
| 13 | Vermont | $58,030 |
| 14 | Maine | $52,708 |
| 15 | New Hampshire | $54,267 |
| 16 | New Mexico | $51,378 |
| 17 | Oregon | $58,194 |
| 18 | Nebraska | $54,483 |
| 19 | Ohio | $50,617 |
| 20 | Wyoming | $52,710 |
| 21 | Rhode Island | $55,475 |
| 22 | District of Columbia | $60,569 |
| 23 | Kansas | $49,460 |
| 24 | New York | $55,348 |
| 25 | Florida | $51,072 |
| 26 | Alaska | $57,311 |
| 27 | Delaware | $54,986 |
| 28 | Iowa | $49,688 |
| 29 | Missouri | $49,890 |
| 30 | Michigan | $49,758 |
| 31 | Colorado | $53,302 |
| 32 | Pennsylvania | $48,913 |
| 33 | Arizona | $49,737 |
| 34 | Hawaii | $51,437 |
| 35 | South Carolina | $48,164 |
| 36 | Illinois | $50,614 |
| 37 | Oklahoma | $47,556 |
| 38 | Wisconsin | $48,833 |
| 39 | Idaho | $50,011 |
| 40 | North Dakota | $48,608 |
| 41 | Maryland | $51,967 |
| 42 | Arkansas | $47,322 |
| 43 | Alabama | $47,135 |
| 44 | Montana | $49,117 |
| 45 | South Dakota | $45,856 |
| 46 | North Carolina | $47,522 |
| 47 | Kentucky | $45,168 |
| 48 | Georgia | $42,011 |
| 49 | Utah | $46,383 |
| 50 | Minnesota | $46,542 |
| 51 | Virginia | $45,940 |
Expert opinions on the best states for firefighter/paramedics
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for firefighter/paramedics to find work opportunities?
April Heinze
NENA's 9-1-1 and PSAP Operations Director, NENA
There are job opportunities within the public safety communications field all across the United States. Prospective candidates simply need to go to the local, county, and/or state municipality websites and search for job vacancies.
Firefighter/paramedic best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025