The Average Salary of Fire Fighters
Firefighters protect the public against the dangers of fire and other emergencies. They are often the first people at the scene of an accident. They bring specialized equipment and training to fight blazes, which often involves hazardous conditions and long, irregular hours. A high school diploma is the minimum requirement, but most firefighters typically receive additional specialized training at fire department training centers.
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Basics
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The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) says that in May of 2009, firefighters make a median hourly wage of $21.66, which is a yearly salary of $45,050. The bottom 10 percent earn $11.05 per hour or $22,990 per year, while the highest 10 percent make $35.76 or $74,390.
Rank
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Rank, which is a function of both skill and experience, determines salary. According to the City-County Management Association, average 2008 salaries by rank are $48,307 to $62,365 per year for engineers, $50,464 to $60,772 for fire lieutenants, $60,605 to $72,7169 for fire captains, $65,691 to $83,748 for assistant fire chiefs, $66,851 to $81,710 for battalion chiefs, $69,166 to $88,571 for deputy chiefs and $78,672 to $104,780 for fire chiefs.
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Industries
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The type of industry in which the firefighter works can affect salaries. The BLS states that as of May 2009, the highest-paying industries for this profession are computer systems design, with salaries at $30.57 or $63,590; colleges and universities, with salaries at $28.18 or $58,600; petroleum manufacturing, with salaries at $26.59 or $55,310; aerospace manufacturing, with salaries at $25.19 or $52,400; and facilities support services at $24.77 or $51,520.
States
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The state in which a job is located can change rates. The highest-paying for this profession are New Jersey, with salaries of $34.53 or $71,810; California, with salaries at $$32.19 or $66,950; Washington, with salaries at $30.27 or $62,950; New York, with salaries at $28.56 or $59,400; and Nevada, with salaries at $27.04 or $56,250.
Cities
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The city of employment affects salaries. Four of the highest payers for this job are in California. They include Los Angeles, with compensation at $44.18 or $91,890; Vallejo, with compensation at $41.82 or $86,990; Oakland, with compensation of $37.21 or $77,390; and San Jose with compensation of $35.11 or $73,020. Newark, New Jersey, with compensation of $38.62 or $80,330, is number two on the list.
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References
- Photo Credit firetrucks and firefighters on a boom image by Elnur from Fotolia.com
