National salary comparison — BLS OES 2024-2025 data
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Firefighters earn a national median of $58,290/year vs IT Managers at $169,510/year. IT Managers earn 191% more nationally. The gap is $111,220 per year — or $9,268 per month.
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Firefighter
$58,290
national median/year
$4,858/mo • $28/hr
VS
IT Manager
$169,510
national median/year
$14,126/mo • $81/hr
Annual salary gap
$111,220
IT Managers earn 191% more per year nationally. Over 30 years at 7% investment return that gap compounds to approximately $1,260,711.
Best states for IT Managers
vs Firefighters
Virginia+$142,190
New York+$130,190
Washington+$128,190
Maryland+$126,190
California+$124,190
Best states for Firefighters
vs IT Managers
Wyoming+$-72,190
Mississippi+$-74,190
West Virginia+$-74,190
Alaska+$-76,190
North Dakota+$-76,190
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IT Managers earn more nationally. The median annual salary for Firefighters is $58,290 versus $169,510 for IT Managers — a difference of $111,220 per year or $9,268 per month.
The national median salary gap between Firefighters and IT Managers is $111,220 per year. IT Managers earn 191% more. Over a 30-year career this difference, if invested at 7% annual return, compounds to approximately $1,260,711.
Based on BLS OES 2024-2025 data, California pays Firefighters the highest median salary at $88,320 per year.
Based on BLS OES 2024-2025 data, California pays IT Managers the highest median salary at $212,510 per year.
Salary is one factor — IT Managers earn more nationally. But career choice involves job satisfaction, work-life balance, education requirements, and job growth. Firefighters and Computer and Information Systems Managers both have different educational paths, licensing requirements, and long-term growth projections. Use salary as a starting point, not the only factor.
Based on a standard 2,080-hour work year, Firefighters earn approximately $28 per hour nationally and IT Managers earn approximately $81 per hour. Actual hourly rates vary based on overtime, part-time work, and whether the role is salaried or hourly.
Methodology: Salary data from Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) 2024-2025. Figures represent median annual wages for wage and salary workers. Self-employed excluded. Hourly rates calculated at 2,080 hours per year. State salary figures from same BLS OES dataset. Updated annually.
