SOC 33-2011 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Firefighters — Ohio
Ohio · 10 metro areas compared
At $59,370, median pay for Firefighters in Ohio tracks the national median of $59,280 closely.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
At $59,370, median pay for Firefighters in Ohio tracks the national median of $59,280 closely. Pay ranges from under $34,420 at the tenth percentile to more than $84,010 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $40,710 to $74,250.
The area has 18,100 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 1.47 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Ohio ranks number 18th out of 50 states by median pay for this occupation. Within the state, Cleveland records the highest median at $62,720. Of the 774 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 378th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $34,420 | −41.9% |
| 25th | $40,710 | −31.3% |
| Median (50th) | $59,370 | +0.2% |
| 75th | $74,250 | +25.3% |
| 90th | $84,010 | +41.7% |
| Mean | $58,130 | −1.9% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Ohio
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cleveland | $62,720 | 3,660 | |
| 2 | Columbus | $61,780 | 4,130 | |
| 3 | Akron | $61,140 | 1,240 | |
| 4 | Toledo | $60,590 | 1,010 | |
| 5 | Lima | $60,020 | 150 | |
| 6 | Cincinnati | $58,570 | 3,380 | |
| 7 | Dayton | $57,400 | 1,260 | |
| 8 | Sandusky | $47,270 | 270 | |
| 9 | Mansfield | $45,930 | 230 | |
| 10 | Youngstown | $43,420 | 630 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Ohio run 7.2% below the national average, so the median of $59,370 goes as far as $63,976 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 7.9% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$59,370as reported by BLSLocal price level
92.8US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$63,976US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $59,370 a year, 0.2% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $34,420 to $84,010 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 18,100 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 18th of 50 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Cleveland, at $62,720.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Firefighters in Ohio?
The median annual wage is $59,370, or $28.54 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 Ohio is 0.2% higher. 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 Ohio earns more than $84,010 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $34,420 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 Cleveland, at $62,720 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 18,100 jobs in this occupation in Ohio. 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.
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