National salary comparison — BLS OES 2024-2025 data
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Teachers earn a national median of $63,680/year vs Firefighters at $58,290/year. Teachers earn 8% more nationally. The gap is $5,390 per year — or $449 per month.
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Teacher
$63,680
national median/year
$5,307/mo • $31/hr
VS
Firefighter
$58,290
national median/year
$4,858/mo • $28/hr
Annual salary gap
$5,390
Teachers earn 8% more per year nationally. Over 30 years at 7% investment return that gap compounds to approximately $61,097.
Best states for Firefighters
vs Teachers
Hawaii+$10,140
Alaska+$3,420
Colorado+$2,580
California+$2,330
Nevada+$140
Best states for Teachers
vs Firefighters
New York+$16,920
Pennsylvania+$13,800
Rhode Island+$13,000
Vermont+$12,000
Connecticut+$11,800
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Teachers earn more nationally. The median annual salary for Teachers is $63,680 versus $58,290 for Firefighters — a difference of $5,390 per year or $449 per month.
The national median salary gap between Teachers and Firefighters is $5,390 per year. Teachers earn 8% more. Over a 30-year career this difference, if invested at 7% annual return, compounds to approximately $61,097.
Based on BLS OES 2024-2025 data, New York pays Teachers the highest median salary at $89,240 per year.
Based on BLS OES 2024-2025 data, California pays Firefighters the highest median salary at $88,320 per year.
Salary is one factor — Teachers earn more nationally. But career choice involves job satisfaction, work-life balance, education requirements, and job growth. Elementary and Middle School Teachers and Firefighters 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, Teachers earn approximately $31 per hour nationally and Firefighters 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.
