National salary comparison — BLS OES 2024-2025 data
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Firefighters earn a national median of $58,290/year vs Paralegals at $59,200/year. Paralegals earn 2% more nationally. The gap is $910 per year — or $76 per month.
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Firefighter
$58,290
national median/year
$4,858/mo • $28/hr
VS
Paralegal
$59,200
national median/year
$4,933/mo • $28/hr
Annual salary gap
$910
Paralegals earn 2% more per year nationally. Over 30 years at 7% investment return that gap compounds to approximately $10,315.
Best states for Paralegals
vs Firefighters
Virginia+$9,880
North Carolina+$7,880
Georgia+$5,880
South Carolina+$5,880
Maryland+$3,880
Best states for Firefighters
vs Paralegals
Alaska+$16,120
California+$12,120
Hawaii+$10,120
Wyoming+$10,120
Nevada+$6,120
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Paralegals earn more nationally. The median annual salary for Firefighters is $58,290 versus $59,200 for Paralegals — a difference of $910 per year or $76 per month.
The national median salary gap between Firefighters and Paralegals is $910 per year. Paralegals earn 2% more. Over a 30-year career this difference, if invested at 7% annual return, compounds to approximately $10,315.
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 Paralegals the highest median salary at $76,200 per year.
Salary is one factor — Paralegals earn more nationally. But career choice involves job satisfaction, work-life balance, education requirements, and job growth. Firefighters and Paralegals and Legal Assistants 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 Paralegals earn approximately $28 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.
