The salary of a Fire Fighter I in the United States varies depending on several factors, including experience, location, education level, marketing trend and company sizes.
As of April 01, 2025, the average hourly pay of Fire Fighter I in the United States is $22. While Salary.com is seeing that Fire Fighter I salary in the US can go up to $26 or down to $19, but most earn between $20 and $24. Salary.com shows the average base salary (core compensation), as well as the average total cash compensation for the job of Fire Fighter I in the United States.
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
| 75th Percentile | $24 | $2 | $0 | $0 |
| Average | $22 | $2 | $0 | $0 |
| 25th Percentile | $20 | $2 | $0 | $0 |
As of April 01, 2025, Salary.com is seeing that an entry-level Fire Fighter I with under 1 year experience makes about $44,154. With less than 2 years of experience, a mid-level Fire Fighter I makes around $44,777. After 2-4 years, the Fire Fighter I pay rises to about $46,447. Those senior Fire Fighter I with 5-8 years of experience earn roughly $47,531, and those Fire Fighter I having 8 years or more experience is expected to earn about $47,667 on average.
| Levels | Salary |
|---|---|
| Entry Level Fire Fighter I | $44,154 |
| Intermediate Level Fire Fighter I | $44,777 |
| Senior Level Fire Fighter I | $46,447 |
| Specialist Level Fire Fighter I | $47,531 |
| Expert Level Fire Fighter I | $47,667 |
| Entry Level | 3% |
| Mid Level | 1% |
| Senior Level | 3% |
| Top Level | 5% |
| Experienced | 5% |
Salaries in the United States can vary significantly from state to state due to a multitude of factors, including cost of living, local economic conditions, and industry presence.
For example, as of April 01, 2025, the average yearly salary of Fire Fighter I is $49,961 in California and in Massachusetts, the average annual salary goes to $49,296. While in New Jersey, a Fire Fighter I earns $49,096 per year.
What Am I Worth?
Salaries in the United States can vary significantly from city to city due to a multitude of factors, including cost of living, local economic conditions, and industry presence.
For example, as of April 01, 2025, the average yearly salary of Fire Fighter I in San Francisco, CA is $56,570 and in New York, NY, the average annual salary goes to $52,494. While a Fire Fighter I earns $50,519 per year in Boston, MA.
For those exploring the changing dynamics of Fire Fighter I salaries, Salary.com offers detailed insights through our Job Trending in CA Labor Market analysis. As of April 01, 2025, our research highlights a notable shift in Fire Fighter I compensation over the past six years. For instance, the median salary has moved from $43,151 in 2023 to about $42,939 in 2024 (for a comprehensive analysis of Fire Fighter I salary trends, click here). It's crucial to consider several elements, including geographical location, experience level, industry demand, and economic development, as they play a significant role in influencing salary variations.
Salary.com job board provides millions of Fire Fighter I information for you to search for. Click on search button below to see Fire Fighter I job openings or enter a new job title here.
Here are companies hiring for Fire Fighter I and their salaries, click below for more details.
| Core Compensation | ||||
| Core Compensation | Median | % of Total | ||
| Base Salary | $45,296 | 69.3% | ||
| Bonus | $0 | 0.0% | ||
| Value of Benefits | ||||
| Core Compensation | Median | % of Total | ||
| Social Security | $3,465 | 5.3% | ||
| 401K/403B | $2,129 | 3.3% | ||
| Disability | $362 | 0.6% | ||
| Healthcare | $6,056 | 9.3% | ||
| Pension | $2,491 | 3.8% | ||
| Time Off | $5,575 | 8.5% | ||
| Total Compensation | $65,374 | 100% | ||
Responsible for rapid response to fires, accidents, and other emergencies to protect people, property, and the environment. Works with firefighting teams to control and extinguish fires and safely manage hazardous materials. Performs search and rescue, responds to auto accidents, and provides emergency medical services. Uses and operates fire tools, equipment and apparatus as effectively and safely as possible. Performs routine maintenance and inspection of firefighting equipment and gear to ensure proper condition and preparedness for emergencies. Prepares post-incident reports as required. May participate in fire safety education and inspection activities. Typically is required to pass periodic physical ability tests. May require registry in NREMT. May require an associate degree in fire science. Requires Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) - Basic. Typically reports to a supervisor. Works under moderate supervision. Gaining or has attained full proficiency in a specific area of discipline. Typically requires 1-3 years of related experience.
