SalaryExplorer

SOC 33-2011 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS

FirefightersNortheast Minnesota

Northeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area · 5 metro areas compared

$38,030 /year
$18.28per hour
120jobs in area
35.8%vs US median

The median wage for Firefighters in Northeast Minnesota, MN is $38,030 per year, substantially below the national median of $59,280 — a gap of 35.8%.

Wage distribution · annual

Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners

US MEDIAN $59,28010TH$23,150MEDIAN$38,03075TH$41,95090TH$52,100

Salary overview

The median wage for Firefighters in Northeast Minnesota, MN is $38,030 per year, substantially below the national median of $59,280 — a gap of 35.8%. Pay ranges from under $23,150 at the tenth percentile to more than $52,100 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $23,150 to $41,950.

Employment stands at 120, or 2.8 jobs per thousand held locally. Minneapolis leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $39,350. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 165th of 199 by median pay.

Percentile breakdown

Annual wages by percentile · Northeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area · May 2025
PercentileAnnualvs US median
10th$23,150−60.9%
25th$23,150−60.9%
Median (50th)$38,030−35.8%
75th$41,950−29.2%
90th$52,100−12.1%
Mean$36,640−38.2%

Other metro areas in Minnesota

Median annual wage for Firefighters, by metro area
#Metro areaMedianJobsRelative
1Minneapolis$39,3503,980
2Duluth$37,410380
3Rochester$35,200230
4Mankato$34,190120
5St. Cloud$33,820210

What the pay is worth locally

Prices in Northeast Minnesota sit close to the national average, so $38,030 is worth roughly its face value against pay elsewhere.

Published median

$38,030as reported by BLS

Local price level

98.6US average = 100 · BEA 2024

Adjusted for local prices

$38,570US average = 100 · BEA 2024

Key takeaways

  • Median pay is $38,030 a year, 35.8% below the national median.
  • Published pay spans $23,150 to $52,100 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
  • The area has 120 jobs in this occupation.
  • The highest-paying metro area covered is Minneapolis, at $39,350.

Frequently asked questions

What is the median wage for Firefighters in Northeast Minnesota, MN?

The median annual wage is $38,030, or $18.28 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.

Is that higher than the national average?

The national median for this occupation is $59,280, so pay in Northeast Minnesota, MN is 35.8% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.

What do the top earners make?

The top tenth of this occupation in Northeast Minnesota, MN earns more than $52,100 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.

What is the starting range?

The tenth percentile wage is $23,150 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.

Which area nearby pays the most?

The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Minneapolis, at $39,350 per year.

How many jobs are there in this occupation here?

The survey estimates 120 jobs in this occupation in Northeast Minnesota, MN. Self-employed workers are not included.

Source and methodology

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.

Firefighters Salary in Northeast Minnesota, MN (2025): $38,030 Median | Salary Explorer