Firefighter salaries in Florida range from $12 to $23 per hour. The average annual salary is $46,044. Entry-level positions often pay between $13 and $17 per hour, while a firefighter who has just completed training will earn around $30,000 per year. Experienced firefighters can earn between $37,000 and $44,000 per year depending on their job title. This article also discusses firefighter starting salary florida, firefighter salary by state.
Average firefighter salary in Florida
Florida firefighters earn more than the average national salary. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the average firefighter salary in Florida is $38,850. This is higher than the national average of $34,870 per year. However, salaries vary widely by region within Florida. The table below shows how salaries for firefighters are distributed throughout the state according to data from May 2013, which is the most recent information available from the BLS:
Salary information from May 2013, the most recent data available from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, indicates that firefighter salaries in Florida are as follows:
The average salary for a firefighter in Florida is $39,010 per year. This is higher than the national average of $37,720 per year, but lower than other states like California ($47,500), New York ($49,930) and Washington D.C., where firefighters make up to $105,000/year (the highest-paid state).
The average annual salary for a firefighter in the United States is $38k/year. The lowest-paid 10% earn less than $24k/year while CEOs make up to around $140k/year (the highest-paid 10%).
The median household income in America was about $53k in 2016 according to census data; firefighters earn nearly twice as much as this amount on average: approximately double what you might expect an average American family would be making if they had only one breadwinner working full time at their job (people with multiple jobs are counted separately by the census).
Miami-Miami Beach-Kendall, $46,810
- The city of Miami is a large metropolitan area that has a higher cost of living than other areas in Florida.
- Firefighters work for the city and are paid by the city, so their salary will be higher than other parts of Florida.
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, $43,880
The average firefighter salary in Tampa is higher than that of the national average. The average firefighter salary in Tampa is higher than that of Florida. And finally, the average firefighter salary in Tampa is higher than that of the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater area (which includes Pinellas County).
Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, $42,670
The data for this section is from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and was last updated in May 2013. The Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford metro area has a population of 1,841,769 and the average firefighter salary in that area is $42,670.
The top paying industries are:
- Federal Executive Branch (OES Designations) ($65,000)
- Federal Government ($57,000)
- State Government ($55,000)
Jacksonville, $41,490
The Jacksonville metropolitan area is the largest in Florida, with a population of about 1.3 million people. As such, it’s no surprise to see that the average firefighter salary in Jacksonville is $41,490.
This makes Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department (JFRD) firefighters some of the highest paid in all of Florida, which has an average firefighter salary well below JFRD’s average at $33,000 per year.
North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton, $39,420
The average firefighter salary in Florida is $39,420. The average firefighter salary in North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton is $39,420. The average firefighter salary in the United States is $34,890.
Cape Coral-Fort Myers, $39,390
The average firefighter salary in Cape Coral-Fort Myers is $39,390. This is the third highest average salary for firefighters in Florida, behind Miami-Miami Beach-Kendall and Fort Lauderdale.
West Palm Beach-Boca Raton-Delray Beach, $39,010
The average firefighter salary in Florida is $39,010. The national average salary for firefighters is $34,030.*
Firefighters work to protect people from fire and other dangers. They also rescue people from burning buildings and help put out fires before they get too big. Firefighters use hoses to spray water at the flames and may carry special equipment such as axes or sledgehammers to break through doors or walls if someone is trapped inside a burning building.
- Source: BLS
Lakeland-Winter Haven Metro Area – Polk County, $38,530
The average firefighter salary in Lakeland-Winter Haven Metro Area is $38,530.
This means that the typical firefighter earns more than the national average of $44,570 and the average for firefighters in Florida ($46,950).
The average salary for a Florida firefighter is higher than the national average (about 34k)
As with any occupation, there are many factors that go into determining your salary. Your employer, experience, and certifications will all play a part in the amount you earn. The most important factor when it comes to firefighter salaries is location. In some states, such as Alaska and Wyoming, average firefighter pay is much higher than average national pay because of the cost of living in those areas. Other states like Mississippi have less expensive living expenses but not as much work available for firefighters who are seeking employment opportunities.
In Florida however, this isn’t necessarily true; there are plenty of jobs available throughout Florida that offer high salaries even though they aren’t necessarily located near large cities with high costs of living like Miami or Orlando.
firefighter salary by state
| State | Annual Salary | Monthly Pay | Weekly Pay | Hourly Wage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York | $57,299 | $4,774 | $1,101 | $27.55 |
| New Hampshire | $54,076 | $4,506 | $1,039 | $26.00 |
| Wyoming | $49,997 | $4,166 | $961 | $24.04 |
| Arizona | $49,724 | $4,143 | $956 | $23.91 |
| Montana | $49,252 | $4,104 | $947 | $23.68 |
| Massachusetts | $48,772 | $4,064 | $937 | $23.45 |
| Hawaii | $48,675 | $4,056 | $936 | $23.40 |
| Tennessee | $48,672 | $4,056 | $936 | $23.40 |
| Indiana | $48,302 | $4,025 | $928 | $23.22 |
| Nevada | $48,298 | $4,024 | $928 | $23.22 |
| New Jersey | $48,053 | $4,004 | $924 | $23.10 |
| Washington | $47,448 | $3,954 | $912 | $22.81 |
| Connecticut | $47,245 | $3,937 | $908 | $22.71 |
| Minnesota | $47,112 | $3,926 | $906 | $22.65 |
| Pennsylvania | $47,096 | $3,924 | $905 | $22.64 |
| Rhode Island | $46,476 | $3,873 | $893 | $22.34 |
| West Virginia | $46,226 | $3,852 | $888 | $22.22 |
| Alaska | $46,182 | $3,848 | $888 | $22.20 |
| Oregon | $46,136 | $3,844 | $887 | $22.18 |
| North Dakota | $45,289 | $3,774 | $870 | $21.77 |
| Wisconsin | $44,974 | $3,747 | $864 | $21.62 |
| Maryland | $44,662 | $3,721 | $858 | $21.47 |
| Ohio | $44,482 | $3,706 | $855 | $21.39 |
| Alabama | $43,820 | $3,651 | $842 | $21.07 |
| Virginia | $43,600 | $3,633 | $838 | $20.96 |
| California | $43,573 | $3,631 | $837 | $20.95 |
| Iowa | $43,322 | $3,610 | $833 | $20.83 |
| Vermont | $43,296 | $3,608 | $832 | $20.82 |
| Idaho | $43,191 | $3,599 | $830 | $20.77 |
| South Dakota | $43,087 | $3,590 | $828 | $20.72 |
| New Mexico | $42,812 | $3,567 | $823 | $20.58 |
| Utah | $42,720 | $3,560 | $821 | $20.54 |
| Florida | $42,637 | $3,553 | $819 | $20.50 |
| Nebraska | $42,584 | $3,548 | $818 | $20.47 |
| Colorado | $42,312 | $3,526 | $813 | $20.34 |
| Delaware | $42,295 | $3,524 | $813 | $20.33 |
| South Carolina | $41,537 | $3,461 | $798 | $19.97 |
| Maine | $41,127 | $3,427 | $790 | $19.77 |
| Kansas | $40,913 | $3,409 | $786 | $19.67 |
| Arkansas | $40,729 | $3,394 | $783 | $19.58 |
| Mississippi | $40,383 | $3,365 | $776 | $19.42 |
| Oklahoma | $40,235 | $3,352 | $773 | $19.34 |
| Kentucky | $39,749 | $3,312 | $764 | $19.11 |
| Michigan | $39,593 | $3,299 | $761 | $19.04 |
| Georgia | $39,432 | $3,286 | $758 | $18.96 |
| Missouri | $38,777 | $3,231 | $745 | $18.64 |
| Illinois | $38,574 | $3,214 | $741 | $18.55 |
| Texas | $38,051 | $3,170 | $731 | $18.29 |
| Louisiana | $37,707 | $3,142 | $725 | $18.13 |
| North Carolina | $34,814 | $2,901 | $669 | $16.74 |
Top 50 Highest Paying States for Firefighter Jobs in the U.S.
We’ve identified ten states where the typical salary for a Firefighter job is above the national average. Topping the list is New York, with New Hampshire and Wyoming close behind in second and third. Wyoming beats the national average by 3.6%, and New York furthers that trend with another $9,023 (18.7%) above the $48,276.
With these ten states paying on average above the national average, the opportunities for economic advancement by changing locations as a Firefighter appears to be exceedingly fruitful.
firefighter starting salary florida
As of Oct 18, 2022, the average annual pay for a Firefighter in Florida is $42,637 a year. Just in case you need a simple salary calculator, that works out to be approximately $20.50 an hour. This is the equivalent of $819/week or $3,553/month.
While ZipRecruiter is seeing salaries as high as $56,324 and as low as $15,323, the majority of Firefighter salaries currently range between $28,161 (25th percentile) to $43,070 (75th percentile) with top earners (90th percentile) making $53,009 annually in Florida.
The average pay range for a Firefighter varies greatly (as much as $14,909), which suggests there may be many opportunities for advancement and increased pay based on skill level, location and years of experience.
Based on recent job posting activity on ZipRecruiter, the Firefighter job market in Florida is not very active as few companies are currently hiring.
Florida ranks number 33 out of 50 states nationwide for Firefighter salaries.
To estimate the most accurate annual salary range for Firefighter jobs, ZipRecruiter continuously scans its database of millions of active jobs published locally throughout America.
What are Top 10 Highest Paying Cities for Firefighter Jobs in Florida
We’ve identified 10 cities where the typical salary for a Firefighter job is above the average in Florida. Topping the list is Jacksonville, with Miramar and Orlando close behind in second and third. Orlando beats the Florida average by 13.6%, and Jacksonville furthers that trend with another $6,394 (15.0%) above the $42,637.
With these 10 cities paying on average above the average for Florida, the opportunities for economic advancement by changing locations as a Firefighter appears to be exceedingly fruitful.
Finally, another factor to consider is the average salary for these top 10 cities varies very little at 8% between Jacksonville and Cape Coral, reinforcing the limited potential for much wage advancement. The possibility of a lower cost of living may be the best factor to use when considering location and salary for a Firefighter role.
| City | Annual Salary | Monthly Pay | Weekly Pay | Hourly Wage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jacksonville | $49,031 | $4,085 | $942 | $23.57 |
| Miramar | $48,582 | $4,048 | $934 | $23.36 |
| Orlando | $48,442 | $4,036 | $931 | $23.29 |
| Pompano Beach | $48,418 | $4,034 | $931 | $23.28 |
| Port St. Lucie | $48,246 | $4,020 | $927 | $23.20 |
| Sanford | $47,841 | $3,986 | $920 | $23.00 |
| Hialeah | $46,751 | $3,895 | $899 | $22.48 |
| Fort Lauderdale | $46,042 | $3,836 | $885 | $22.14 |
| Fort Myers | $45,503 | $3,791 | $875 | $21.88 |
| Cape Coral | $45,069 | $3,755 | $866 | $21.67 |
What are Top 5 Best Paying Related Firefighter Jobs in Florida
We found at least 5 jobs related to the Firefighter job category that pay more per year than a typical Firefighter salary in Florida. Top examples of these roles include: Manager Federal Firefighter, Firefighter Driver Engineer, and Airport Fire Chief.
Importantly, all of these jobs are paid between $19,851 (46.6%) and $31,462 (73.8%) more than the average Firefighter salary of $42,637. If you’re qualified, getting hired for one of these related Firefighter jobs may help you make more money than that of the average Firefighter position.
| Job Title | Annual Salary | Monthly Pay | Weekly Pay | Hourly Wage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manager Federal Firefighter | $74,099 | $6,174 | $1,424 | $35.62 |
| Firefighter Driver Engineer | $73,616 | $6,134 | $1,415 | $35.39 |
| Airport Fire Chief | $72,057 | $6,004 | $1,385 | $34.64 |
| Federal Paramedic | $65,572 | $5,464 | $1,261 | $31.53 |
| Paramedic Chief | $62,488 | $5,207 | $1,201 | $30.04 |
About Our Data
ZipRecruiter salary estimates, histograms, trends and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third party data sources.
Conclusion
If you’re interested in becoming a firefighter, this article should help you decide whether or not it’s a good career choice for you. You should know that the salary for firefighters varies widely from city to city and state to state, so it’s important that you research any positions carefully before applying.
