SOC 33-2011 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Firefighters — Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania · 10 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Pennsylvania comes to $73,460 a year, ahead of the national median of $59,280 by 23.9%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Pennsylvania comes to $73,460 a year, ahead of the national median of $59,280 by 23.9%. Pay ranges from under $48,620 at the tenth percentile to more than $89,190 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $56,210 to $89,190.
Employment stands at 5,020, or 0.8 jobs per thousand held locally. Pennsylvania ranks number 10th out of 50 states by median pay for this occupation. Within the state, Erie records the highest median at $80,280. Of the 778 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 261st.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $48,620 | −18.0% |
| 25th | $56,210 | −5.2% |
| Median (50th) | $73,460 | +23.9% |
| 75th | $89,190 | +50.5% |
| 90th | $89,190 | +50.5% |
| Mean | $71,340 | +20.3% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Pennsylvania
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Erie | $80,280 | 140 | |
| 2 | Philadelphia | $78,050 | 3,970 | |
| 3 | Reading | $74,760 | 160 | |
| 4 | Allentown | $73,020 | 300 | |
| 5 | Pittsburgh | $72,230 | 950 | |
| 6 | York | $67,570 | 110 | |
| 7 | Harrisburg | $62,760 | 140 | |
| 8 | Scranton | $60,410 | 190 | |
| 9 | Lebanon | $60,320 | 40 | |
| 10 | Chambersburg | $59,050 | 70 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Pennsylvania run 2.4% below the national average, so the median of $73,460 goes as far as $75,266 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 27.0% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$73,460as reported by BLSLocal price level
97.6US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$75,266US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $73,460 a year, 23.9% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $48,620 to $89,190 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 5,020 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 10th of 50 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Erie, at $80,280.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Firefighters in Pennsylvania?
The median annual wage is $73,460, or $35.32 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 Pennsylvania is 23.9% 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 Pennsylvania earns more than $89,190 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $48,620 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 Erie, at $80,280 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 5,020 jobs in this occupation in Pennsylvania. 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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