Earnings

The median annual wage for firefighters was $45,250 in May 2012.  The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less.  The lowest 10 percent earned less than $22,030, and the top 10 percent earned more than $79,150.

 

Firefighters typically work long and varied hours.  Most firefighters work 24-hour shifts on duty and are off the following 48 or 72 hours.  Some firefighters work 10/14 shifts which means 10 hours working and 14 hours off.  When combating forest fires, firefighters may work for extended periods without time off.

Source: U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2012-2013 Edition (http://www.bls.gov/oco/)