National salary comparison — BLS OES 2024-2025 data
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Firefighters earn a national median of $58,290/year vs Pilots at $203,010/year. Pilots earn 248% more nationally. The gap is $144,720 per year — or $12,060 per month.
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Firefighter
$58,290
national median/year
$4,858/mo • $28/hr
VS
Pilot
$203,010
national median/year
$16,918/mo • $98/hr
Annual salary gap
$144,720
Pilots earn 248% more per year nationally. Over 30 years at 7% investment return that gap compounds to approximately $1,640,444.
Best states for Pilots
vs Firefighters
Virginia+$163,690
New York+$155,690
Maryland+$153,690
Washington+$153,690
California+$149,690
Best states for Firefighters
vs Pilots
West Virginia+$-107,690
Arkansas+$-109,690
Mississippi+$-109,690
North Dakota+$-109,690
Wyoming+$-109,690
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Pilots earn more nationally. The median annual salary for Firefighters is $58,290 versus $203,010 for Pilots — a difference of $144,720 per year or $12,060 per month.
The national median salary gap between Firefighters and Pilots is $144,720 per year. Pilots earn 248% more. Over a 30-year career this difference, if invested at 7% annual return, compounds to approximately $1,640,444.
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 Pilots the highest median salary at $238,010 per year.
Salary is one factor — Pilots earn more nationally. But career choice involves job satisfaction, work-life balance, education requirements, and job growth. Firefighters and Airline and Commercial Pilots 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 Pilots earn approximately $98 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.
