Firefighters control and put out blazes.
Fire fighters protect people and property by preventing and controlling fires, and dealing with other emergencies. Entry into the field requires at least a high-school diploma, though those with postsecondary education are preferred. Degrees in fire science are also available. However, all applicants train for several weeks at a fire academy before being allowed to work.
Median
Firefighters make a median hourly wage of $21.66, which translates to a yearly salary of $45,050, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) as of May 2009. The lowest 10 ten percent make $11.05 or $22,990 while the highest 10 percent receive $35.76 or $74,390.
Rank
The rank of the firefighter has a big effect of salary, with higher ranks receiving more income. The City-County Management Association divides the average 2008 yearly salaries by rank as follows: $48,307 to $62,365 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.
Industries
Salaries vary by the industry that hires the firefighter. As of May 2009, the BLS states that the highest-paying for this job are computer systems, which pays $30.57 or $63,590; colleges and universities, which pay $28.18 or $58,600; petroleum manufacturing, which pays $26.59 or $55,310; aerospace manufacturing, which pays $25.19 or $52,400; and facilities support, which pays $24.77 or $51,520.
States
Compensation can also vary by state, with the highest-paying firefighter incomes in 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.
Metro Area
The metro area in which the job is performed decides salaries, with four of the top-paying cities located in California: Los Angeles, where median salaries are $44.18 or $91,890; Vallejo, where salaries are $41.82 or $86,990; Oakland, where salaries are $37.21 or $77,390; and San Jose, where salaries are $35.11 or $73,020. Newark, New Jersey, where salaries are $38.62 or 80,330, is ranked number two for pay.
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