Firefighters Salary Trend (2011–2024)
Historical salary and employment data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Median Salary in 2024
$59,530
↑ 31.1% since 2011
Median Salary Over Time
Firefighters — Median Annual Salary
Employment Over Time
Firefighters — Total Employment
Key Insights
📈Salaries grew 31.1% since 2011 ($45,420 → $59,530)
🏆Peak year: 2024 at $59,530
🦠COVID impact: Salary rose 3.2% from 2019 to 2020, likely reflecting workforce composition changes.
💰After inflation (~3%/yr), real growth is approximately -11%
Year-by-Year Salary Data
| Year | Median Salary | YoY Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $59,530 | +4.2% |
| 2023 | $57,120 | +10.5% |
| 2022 | $51,680 | +1.9% |
| 2021 | $50,700 | -3.4% |
| 2020 | $52,500 | +3.2% |
| 2019 | $50,850 | +2.5% |
| 2018 | $49,620 | +1.1% |
| 2017 | $49,080 | +2.2% |
| 2016 | $48,030 | +2.5% |
| 2015 | $46,870 | +2.0% |
| 2014 | $45,970 | +0.8% |
| 2013 | $45,600 | +0.8% |
| 2012 | $45,250 | -0.4% |
| 2011 | $45,420 | — |
Data Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2011–2024. All figures are annual median wages in nominal dollars.