National salary comparison — BLS OES 2024-2025 data
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Firefighters earn a national median of $58,290/year vs Real Estate Agents at $61,480/year. Real Estate Agents earn 5% more nationally. The gap is $3,190 per year — or $266 per month.
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Firefighter
$58,290
national median/year
$4,858/mo • $28/hr
VS
Real Estate Agent
$61,480
national median/year
$5,123/mo • $30/hr
Annual salary gap
$3,190
Real Estate Agents earn 5% more per year nationally. Over 30 years at 7% investment return that gap compounds to approximately $36,160.
Best states for Real Estate Agents
vs Firefighters
Virginia+$14,160
North Carolina+$12,160
New York+$10,160
South Carolina+$10,160
Florida+$8,160
Best states for Firefighters
vs Real Estate Agents
Alaska+$9,840
Wyoming+$7,840
California+$5,840
Illinois+$3,840
North Dakota+$3,840
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Real Estate Agents earn more nationally. The median annual salary for Firefighters is $58,290 versus $61,480 for Real Estate Agents — a difference of $3,190 per year or $266 per month.
The national median salary gap between Firefighters and Real Estate Agents is $3,190 per year. Real Estate Agents earn 5% more. Over a 30-year career this difference, if invested at 7% annual return, compounds to approximately $36,160.
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 Real Estate Agents the highest median salary at $82,480 per year.
Salary is one factor — Real Estate Agents earn more nationally. But career choice involves job satisfaction, work-life balance, education requirements, and job growth. Firefighters and Real Estate Sales Agents 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 Real Estate Agents earn approximately $30 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.
