How Much Do Firefighters Make? [with actual numbers]
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Also, here's a breakdown of the average salary by state:
Alabama - $42,000
Alaska - $56,970
Arizona - $47,590
Arkansas - $39,730
California - $86,860
Colorado - $63,160
Connecticut - $67,630
Delaware - $46,970
Florida - $52,720
Georgia - $38,400
Hawaii - $68,590
Idaho - $40,720
Illinois - $60,160
Indiana - $52,630
Iowa - $48,330
Kansas - $37,800
Kentucky - $34,580
Louisiana - $32,580
Maine - $40,020
Maryland - $64,490
Massachusetts - $65,310
Michigan - $49,170
Minnesota - $41,180
Mississippi - $31,630
Missouri - $51,970
Montana - $53,560
Nebraska - $52,880
Nevada - $64,410
New Hampshire - $47,870
New Jersey - $86,880
New Mexico - $38,400
New York - $77,380
North Carolina - $34,230
North Dakota - $49,600
Ohio - $50,440
Oklahoma - $44,410
Oregon - $63,680
Pennsylvania - $61,000
Puerto Rico - $27,880
Rhode Island - $57,750
South Carolina - $37,980
South Dakota - $46,890
Tennessee - $45,600
Texas - $56,610
Utah - $40,050
Virginia - $55,620
Washington - $77,700
West Virginia - $37,030
Wisconsin - $42,690
Wyoming - $48,030
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You were surprised at hawaii lol, highest cost of living in the US. Thank you for all your videos brother, i really appreciate it. Just did my interview earlier this month, still waiting for my letter to see if I get in. Thank you for all the guidance, tips and info. If i get in you would have been a major part of it. Mahalo 🤙🏽
I think first- thanks for these videos they are really helping me! Keep up the awesome work
Thank you! Love these videos
Thanks for the great content. I have an opportunity to become a firefighter this coming fall and thinking about it. I found your channel a few weeks ago.
the camera quality looks really good.
Hey Mike, can you make a video on virtual interviews? Love your content! Keep it up 🙏👍🏻
Really helping out with these videos man.God bless
Profile pic is crazy😂
Im from Greece and here the normal firefighters is making around 1.500€ per month which is a really good salary in comparison to the rest of the jobs here. My father was one and i am thinking on doing this job too im 17 years old yet and until the previous year i was hoping to become a physics teacher but with a physics degree in Greece there aren't many jobs to do and a normal school teacher is making around 800-85O€. Im still in a dilemma on what job to do so im watching your videos to decide.
Yeah, in Montana having a degree or certifications helps a lot, at least at our department, it means the difference between (normal being 60,000, after degree and certs it’s more like 80,000, 90,000 sometimes even more depending on ranks.
Haven’t even watch the video yet and I’m excited too watch it
Your videos are really great. I was curious how does vacation time work for firefighters? Do firefighters get vacation time and do they get it based on so many hours per year or days per year this is the question I was curious about thank you?
Can you make a video on the pros and cons of being in a smaller department compared to a larger one. Would like to see the insight of being in a smaller department. Thank you
Would love to see a video on this. Personal perspective: smaller = more freedom, more personable and close relationships, less resources, less training, less calls. Bigger = more structured, more resources, more rescues, calls, training, more opportunities to train into specialty type roles
In Edmonton Alberta starting wage is 38$ an hour and we cap out at 50$
Hi I’m a 22 year old guy, I was born in cuba, but I’m currently living in America, I’m fit, my background check is clean, I know how to cook, I know about construction, mechanics, painting, I’m bilingual, I don’t have a problem with doing the dishes or mapping the floors, I’m also a people person and I graduated as an English teacher back in cuba but i don’t really Wanna do that for a living any more. Becoming a firefighter is my dream since I was a kid, I’ve been watching ur videos for a while and I think I can be really helpful for a fire department but I’m scared to start the process because they might rather hire an American guy over me even when I speak perfect English. What do u think about it I need some advice. Thank u for ur service, thank u for ur time a thank u for making this awesome content.
Absolutely be a firefighter!
Do it, man!
I’m first gen American , over in Maryland a lot of police n fire are in need of bilingual so shoot bro
@@luisvillatoro6730 thank u bro for all the support
@Homer M. thank u man for supporting me
Bwahhahaha I just got my first recruit paycheck TODAY!!!! And see this I’m intrigued as to what is shared. Brother you’re so on POINT!!! Now watching
How much do recruits get paid ?
@@moreenaramirez1471 started out at about 1000$ and then after three checks a particular fraternal insurance company (police and firefighter insurance) kicked in for life, cancer and accidental insurance and it dropped to 937. Upon graduation it’ll jump up again to about 2 hundred or so more. I intend to start practicing (holistic - acupuncture massage) medicine on off days once I finish academy and that’ll balance things for me. I didn’t take this on for the money though. Also the insurance and benefits are substantial.
@@burningspear90 a week?
@@ryansflightreviews5394 yup a week. I graduated academy and now am working on the floor. So it’ll be interesting to see. All the aff and officers have businesses or jobs they work that they enjoy additional to ff. I’ll start my acupuncture practice soon.
@@burningspear90 oh dam , did you get a job right after the academy, and is there overtime?
You should do a video about industrial firefighting working at a big industrial site we handle fire rescue ems and hazmat
In Australia for entry level it ranges from about $AUD 1,500 - 2000 per week (USD$1,150 - 1,530)
That sounds like good money
that's not too bad tbh
Here in St. Louis County most departments start out around 56 to 60,000 a year and top out around 90,000 a year but obviously with overtime people make a lot more than that. Across the Mississippi the metro east suburbs in Illinois the paid departments here make as much if not more than the guys in stl county and city.
Canadian here. First class firefighter (4 years to get first class) is currently $103,939 CAD with LOTS of overtime opportunities in my department. That's roughly $82,750 USD base salary. That being said, most people are working a bit of overtime a year to make 125,000 + CAD.
Hey, that's awesome! Which province are you referring to?
hi! I'm thinking about becoming a firefighter, which province are referring to exactly?
Alberta
that’s decent money im from alberta too
where I live, Vancouver wa, starting pay is around 75k. can get to 100k if motivated to work OT. or just have a side hustle
I’m from Trinidad and Tobago been a firefighter for a couple years now and our salary converted from TTD to USD is $18000.00 USD a year...it’s kinda sad when you think about it given the risk we go into but it is what it is i suppose
My son makes $43K as an AEMT/FF in a very large metro Atlanta county. The county takes $400 a month for pension and insurance and then fed and state taxes. He ends up bringing home $2200. No OT available because the list is a mile long. He has to have a second job.
Thanks you
0:46 coffee's ready!
Suburbs outside of Chicago, especially Northwest and west burbs. Most start mid 60's and top out in high 80's or 90's. We also have quite a few that are in the 6 figures but we combine fire and ems so you gotta be a medic.
Hey, I’m from Orland park a suburb south west of Chicago maybe 45 mins away and really interested I. Becoming a firefighter do you know exactly which suburbs they are that are makin those salaries
Better than anything I'm making now 😅
Im 27 and I’ve been a technician for scba for almost 9 years now. Ive worked with mostly Scott, MSA, Drager and Sperian. I’ve worked SCBA’s, Masks and Bottles with different NFPA compliances from 97 to 2018. I want do the firefighter course at my local institution. What are some things I can do to become a real asset to the team. Thanks in advance.
Here in Greenville SC they start around $38,000 starting off with an EMT certification and no experience. Pay gradually rises as you gain experience and it seems to get around $47-60k on average. Of course there’s plenty of opportunity for overtime to greatly increase that pay if you want to sign up for all the city events and such.
@@timesup5105 I'm not totally sure how it works I'm still in recruit class at Greenville City. It's salaried, but if you pick up anything over your scheduled shifts (24/48) it's overtime. At least that's how the Greenville does it. I'm not sure how Parker does it.
THATS cheap. Cost of living in your area must be super cheap. Some departments around here start at 70k HOWEVER COST OF LIVING is extremely expensive
I’m around that area too, i wanted to be a firefighter but I would know my whole life I’m not making as much as I should
@@elevatione2845 Agreed 100% I jumped out of Greenville City FD to get into IT where the pay is much better.
I know you've answered this, but thought I would float it out there.. I'm 37, going through the volunteer program here in Nova Scotia.. I am motivated to make the move to a career FF, but have self-doubt that I am too old. I'm fit for duty, but am nervous to actually leave my current career and go for it... Thoughts? Thank for the vids, they have been a huge help during my time in making this decision..
For what it’s worth, my cousin joined Buffalo Fire at 42, and he absolutely loves it.
FDNY cutoff is 29 years old, with credit given for military service...but due to the time it takes to even get to that point, it's definitely not something you can decide to do as an afterthought. You realistically have to start the process at 18 because the process takes a few years and you have an age deadline. For example, you might decide at 18 to apply, but the city may have just finished the process and created an eligibility list. In that case they won't hold another test for 4 years. So you'll be 22 by the time you can take the next test.
I'm in south carolina, and I know that the cost of living is low here, however firefighting does not pay out well here at most departments.
Im in north carolina, it’s decent here. Currently going through the recruitment process
@@jesusvalg2365 how much ?
@@jesusvalg2365 how much and what part of North Carolina?
In Stockholm, Sweden it usually is minimum 2700 USD per month. Can be more - that’s the minimum.
Hey mike great video and thank you for the content. Is there anyway that you can make a video for people that are interested in getting into the fire service but are uncertified? For example i am soon gonna apply to the Miami dade fire rescue, since they take a pool of uncertified and certified candidates. Do you have any advice for me as an uncertified candidate besides scoring very well in the civil service exam?
Dude I’m from Miami too, my advice get your emt cert and go to the fire academy offered by mdc. And then Apply , that’s what I was told .
But don’t they also take uncertified people as well? Because I definitely don’t have enough time to get those certifications for this job opening
@@damianrodriguez4875 same here but I recently moved to Orlando so I'm going to the get certified then go to the academy.
Hey bro if you have already made it into fire resuce is pay good because im having doubts
Mike nice glasses.🙂
Here in NJ at my department we start around 43k and top out around 110k a year for FF.
Nice I live in Williamstown nj volunteer
I'm from San Diego that offers a higher salary too but the cost of living is super high, I wonder what places actually have firefighters live more comfortably going off their wage/cost of living ratio ...I ask a lot of questions lol
oh ur part of sdfd? i'm trying to get into that department. what station are you at rn if i may?
@@lycanbarron6181 I do not work with the SDFD :( . I'm trying to get on it too, I recommend you do all the prerequisites for the job and Fire technology courses at Miramar. I worked as a wildland ff but trying to transition to a municipal one! FEMA has courses you can take for free that will look good on your resume as well :)
I live across the water from Seattle, in a much much smaller town, and although the cost of living is getting a bit higher due to covid, I'd get wages just like Seattle. I'd be rich living here as a firefighter
In texas we still have a pretty good wage to cost of living ratio. Starts about 70-71k at my department (41500$ during academy)
For example Florida where I am from there is a huge difference in salary between North Florida and South Florida
Which one make more?
@@joeydesanctis2411 more likely South Florida
I was just going to say this. On average the entire stats of florida might not be that high but if you seperate south florida from north and central florida, south florida (miami dade, broward, and palm beach) pay pretty high. But north florida like Tallahassee or central florida like orlando is much lower from what I’ve heard. I work in south florida and make pretty good pay also overtime plus even more overtime due to covid has been a lot the last 2 years. But in south florida most departments only hire firefighters that are also certified paramedics also
i think a great video would be how to overall increase the longevity of your life while in the service
wear PPE, take mental health seriously, drink water, get regular check up's, stretch and keep your heart healthy with exercise.
Haha. Quit, its the only way. Sleep cant be made back up with water and stretching.
We in Saudi Arabia work as firefighters with an annual salary of up to $60,000
West coast is the best coast 🤣, I’m here in California hired as volunteer firefighter I can’t wait to be rookie fire fighter
How about a vid on the job I just retired from. AIRPORT CRASH RESCUE..
hi i really want to be a firefighter but am 14 and waiting tell i be 18 years old so any advice or workout i should do or any training 😅 🤔
You know numbers are involved in the topic when he busts the glasses out.
Today was my first day of orientation as a part timer. Still not sure how much I'm making XD
Im at $60k in midwest however my house, which is big and nice, was $155k, so cost of living is low. Id likely be at $100k in a big city.
Im in Belize
Do these numbers include OT?
I am a Junior in high school and I have been wanting to start taking the steps to becoming a fire fighter. I live in Washington so I luckily will be making a little bit more then some other states but I really just want a job that is going to leave and impact. I want to know I am making a difference in someone's life. What steps do you recommend for me or what videos do you have that could help me? Again I am a Junior in High School.
what im doing i joining the navy so that i have the resume advantage of being in the military but most importantly a branch where they make you a firefighter by default. if youre interesting in the medical scene, having an EMT cert is a huge boost in pay aswell as priority in selection.
IT’S ALL RELATIVE! Remember, cost of living effects salaries. If you live in a high cost of living area like I do, you can expect a bit more. Like I said, it’s all relative.
New jersey/ NY and CA have high cost of living cost. In Cali they get paid more because CALI IS ON FIRE!
NJ and California are very expensive places to live
Do departments differ in their pay scale? Im interested in joining a department near my house but I dont know how much they pay
I would call them or the city and ask. It should be public information.
How much would a rookie firefighter make per year
The information below is from Mesquite, Texas Base Salary (Effective January 1, 2021) $63,147.02 per year starting $66,300.98 per year after one year of service $69,615.83 per year after two years of service $73,102.29 per year after three years of service $76,747.43 per year after four years of service $80,594.17 per year after five years of service $84,623.88 per year after six years of service
@Fausto DeBellis I believe they are net
Is Jamaica included in these numbers
Colorado is currently paying 1st class firefighters nearly 90k a year without specialty
How much do rookie firefighters start off with ? And how much do you get paid while being at the academy ?
Don't you have to pay to be in the academy?
@@snotte.a8670 wrong I’m paid $15 hourly while in academy
depends on where you live. for example raleigh nc makes you a city employee as soon as the academy starts therefore you’re being paid to train. the starting salary as a firefighter for rfd is like 46k which is pretty good imo
I didn't hear this in the video, but how often do firefighters get their paycheck? Is it weekly, every other week? Also, what age is someone able to start being a volunteer Firefighter?
You have to be 18 or older
A lot of vfds have Junior programs and allow juniors (after some training) to ride on the truck to emergencies and do more menial tasks on scenes. Generally Juniors have to be 15-18 or somewhere around that. Call the department to ask.
I was able to start at 14 and I can start training for fire1 at 16 and so forth
@@hunterkingspittle probably where you live
Paycheck depends on the city but usually bi-weekly.
Hawaii has one of the highest standards of living in the US.
How much in Sacramento?
Damn the salary for a competent firefighter here in the UK is 31k, or 37k if you're in London. If you live in the southeast of england that's barely enough to live on your own in a crappy flat, in london it's impossible unless you're sharing
Looks like I’m relocating to western Washington lol
What would the San Jose salary compare to other salaries like in the Midwest or something
San Jose is way higher
Do they get paid OT every week? I know much do 24 on 48 off
A friend of mine is a firefighter in Illinois, he makes about $120,000 per year.
How he has to be investing his money 💵
How
@@emmanuelawosusi2365 That is his pay.
@@ImForwardlook base pay how
@@emmanuelawosusi2365 why
Are these starting salaries? Someone with 20yrs on the job would make more than someone with 2yrs on the job.
Not sure where Houston firefighters salary is rated. ?
How much did u make when you got out of the academy
Important to understand these numbers are for just the Firefighter position, not Fire Engineer, Fire Captain, Battalion Chief, Division Chief Etc. Salaries obviously go up as you promote. These are also base salaries and don’t include overtime which is a part of most jobs.
I've been on websites and it says the average but my question is does it include Hazard pay, overtime, and extra pay (incentives) some offer for higher education/training?
No, those are just average pay. Depending on the department you get extra pay for certain certifications and definitely have an opportunity to make more with overtime
@@jonathangilliam8548 thank you!
Hello. In my country Russia we make 3000per years. And this if you work in big city
How much y’all think Memphis, TN make a year ?
Huh, this is great. Awesome video. I make $62,000 in Ohio. So above the 50% average. I'm ok with that. It makes sense that Cali is some of the highest. My house in Ohio would be worth $500,000+ in those regions.
I live in Ohio and plan on joining a department near my house. Its a busy township department in the southwest. Any idea on the pay?
@@arturogotti3790 I am in Southwest Ohio. You gonna be in Miami Twp, Green Twp, Colerain Twp? Also, career firefighter medics in this area start anywhere between $40k-$60k (some higher) and a max out in the high 80s and 90s.
@@abingham3747 harrison township, im a firefighter/EMT gonna be part time
@@arturogotti3790 Awesome, well best of luck to ya. I'm familiar with that area.
@@abingham3747 any idea on the pay scale for entry level FF?
Yo where’s the link
Not enough!
Your telling me new jersey is the highest paying?! What!!?
I’m 27, just passed my NREMT and just applied for my city fire entrance exam.. I just wanted to ask if it’ll be impossible for me to get accepted...? due to financial and family obligations, I’ve been in college for the last 9 years on and off, and still going. Along with that, there are a few bad grades on my college transcript, and wasn’t sure if that would ultimately hurt in the background and personal history statement? I’d like to know your take on that... @FirefighterNOW
I’m 17 and just graduated high school I’m thinking of becoming a firefighter myself so tell me did you make it? And if you did how difficult was it?
I haven’t watched this yet, but the title was funny to me. “With actual numbers”. Uh, yea. When someone asks how much someone makes, they usually want to know the actual numbers. 😂
Imagine working a job and thinking. Wow I get paid too much.
Are the numbers for the rank of firefighter or does it include all the way up to captain/chief?
Pretty sure it's just firefighters
Your list doesn't include Vermont
South East Texas 70 starting. But also a paramedic
Can I get an Instagram or a email? I’m in the army and would love how I can better myself now to hopefully get on to a Texas fire department, thank you
Does overtime play into these national averages?
I don’t believe so. I think these are just base salary numbers
@@mike_pertz thanks you
$290,000
We definitely work harder as EMT paramedic and a firefighters and highly called area of any given state . We can triple your calls and all of a sudden y’all wanna make the same amount of money we do for doing less . And the cost of living. 24 1/2 years when I got a family man things look different to me than it does for rookie firefighter in a low income high call area. We run day in all day . The lazy boy gets paid better than you should. If you really about that life.
not enough
But first it’s not salary, first it’s you want halo people
I make 26,500 base. I will probably never make the national average no matter how much overtime I work
Thats it? Our Country is ass backwards. Actors make all that money and are still allowed to keep their jobs if they get out of shape or get high whenever they want.
If you’re worried about money civil service in general is NOT for you.
What this fails to say is living cost. Just because one pays high doesn’t mean you can afford to live there. Take everything in before you leap
Try looking at 7:55 in the video
He did talk about it he literally compared Cleveland to San Francisco cost of living
Did you watch the whole video? He literally talked about that.
You were probably bad in school
Just not enough imo
Am I the only one who thinks this guy looks like Henry Cavill?
Anybody from Az that can give me a number y’all making ??
No doubt Bay Area pays highest. Deal with a lot of shit
I have never understood why firefighters command so much respect. My proof is that the pay is often politically subsidized union work and has nothing to do with supply and demand (you could hire good people for a lot less money). When Oakland, California, was looking to add to their staff a few years ago, over 1000 applied. I realize this is not true in all areas, but many have fat-cat jobs with a lot of free time. Where am I wrong?
In my opinion, if you're curious about how much you're gonna make then you're not really doing it for the passion, You're just doing it for the money and the status that comes with it.
I mean yes and no. You gotta make sure you can make a living out of it.
I’m not risking my life for 40k that’s bullshit