SOC 33-2011 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Firefighters — Washington
Washington · 9 metro areas compared
The median wage for Firefighters in Washington is $94,520 per year, well above the national median of $59,280.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Firefighters in Washington is $94,520 per year, well above the national median of $59,280. The gap of 59.4% is among the widest recorded for this occupation. Half of workers earn between $72,300 and $105,540. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $47,640 and the ninetieth at $123,980.
Employment stands at 7,560, or 2.1 jobs per thousand held locally. Washington ranks number 2nd out of 50 states by median pay for this occupation. Within the state, Bellingham records the highest median at $101,130. Of the 757 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 231st.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $47,640 | −19.6% |
| 25th | $72,300 | +22.0% |
| Median (50th) | $94,520 | +59.4% |
| 75th | $105,540 | +78.0% |
| 90th | $123,980 | +109.1% |
| Mean | $89,200 | +50.5% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Washington
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bellingham | $101,130 | 320 | |
| 2 | Seattle | $101,090 | 3,760 | |
| 3 | Bremerton | $95,910 | 290 | |
| 4 | Olympia | $90,050 | 260 | |
| 5 | Spokane | $83,310 | 750 | |
| 6 | Mount Vernon | $81,100 | 180 | |
| 7 | Kennewick | $80,090 | 360 | |
| 8 | Longview | $78,940 | — | |
| 9 | Yakima | $62,120 | 410 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Washington run 7.0% above the national average, so the median of $94,520 buys what $88,336 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 49.0% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$94,520as reported by BLSLocal price level
107.0US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$88,336US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $94,520 a year, 59.4% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $47,640 to $123,980 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 7,560 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 2nd of 50 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Bellingham, at $101,130.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Firefighters in Washington?
The median annual wage is $94,520, or $45.44 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 Washington is 59.4% 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 Washington earns more than $123,980 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $47,640 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 Bellingham, at $101,130 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 7,560 jobs in this occupation in Washington. 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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