National salary comparison — BLS OES 2024-2025 data
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Firefighters earn a national median of $58,290/year vs Police Officers at $72,280/year. Police Officers earn 24% more nationally. The gap is $13,990 per year — or $1,166 per month.
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Firefighter
$58,290
national median/year
$4,858/mo • $28/hr
VS
Police Officer
$72,280
national median/year
$6,023/mo • $35/hr
Annual salary gap
$13,990
Police Officers earn 24% more per year nationally. Over 30 years at 7% investment return that gap compounds to approximately $158,581.
Best states for Police Officers
vs Firefighters
California+$20,000
New Jersey+$18,000
Alaska+$16,000
Connecticut+$16,000
Illinois+$14,000
Best states for Firefighters
vs Police Officers
West Virginia+$-6,000
Alabama+$-8,000
Arkansas+$-8,000
Idaho+$-8,000
Kentucky+$-8,000
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Police Officers earn more nationally. The median annual salary for Firefighters is $58,290 versus $72,280 for Police Officers — a difference of $13,990 per year or $1,166 per month.
The national median salary gap between Firefighters and Police Officers is $13,990 per year. Police Officers earn 24% more. Over a 30-year career this difference, if invested at 7% annual return, compounds to approximately $158,581.
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 Police Officers the highest median salary at $108,320 per year.
Salary is one factor — Police Officers earn more nationally. But career choice involves job satisfaction, work-life balance, education requirements, and job growth. Firefighters and Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers 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 Police Officers earn approximately $35 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.
