Firefighters Pay Range in District of Columbia
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$61,050
- 25th Percentile — Junior$65,090
- 50th Percentile — Median$75,870
- 75th Percentile — Senior$92,110
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$99,760
Half of Firefighters in District of Columbia earn more than $75,870. The top 10% make $99,760 or more, while entry-level workers start around $61,050.
Firefighters in District of Columbia: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- District of Columbia ranks 5th of 50 states for Firefighters pay, at $79,550 per year (25.0% above the U.S. average of $63,630).
- 1,480 people work as Firefighters in District of Columbia — 0.4% of all U.S. Firefighters jobs.
- Location quotient 0.95: Firefighters jobs are less concentrated in District of Columbia than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $61,050; the top 10% earn over $99,760.
- Hourly equivalent: $38.25 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is California at $95,090.
- Among public safety jobs in District of Columbia, First-Line Supervisors of Police pays the most ($148,210).
Firefighters Job Market in District of Columbia
Key factors affecting compensation
District of Columbia's key industries are Government, Finance, Technology, and its job market is rated very strong. Firefighters here earn $79,550 on average, placing the state 5th nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 1.52 (U.S. = 1.00), a District of Columbia salary of $79,550 is roughly equivalent to $52,336 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, California ($95,090), Washington ($89,200), New York ($87,150) are the closest alternatives for Firefighters weighing a move.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
Other Public Safety Jobs in District of Columbia
Related career salary benchmarks
- First-Line Supervisors of Police $148,210/yr District of Columbia +86.3% vs this role
- Detectives and Criminal Investigators $148,110/yr District of Columbia +86.2% vs this role
- First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting $126,450/yr District of Columbia +59.0% vs this role
- Police Officers $92,390/yr District of Columbia +16.1% vs this role
- Private Detectives and Investigators $88,260/yr District of Columbia +10.9% vs this role
- Security Guards $60,720/yr District of Columbia 23.7% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Firefighters salary in District of Columbia?
The average Firefighters salary in District of Columbia is $79,550 per year (median $75,870), which is 25.0% above the national average of $63,630.
How does District of Columbia rank for Firefighters pay?
District of Columbia ranks 5th out of 50 states. The highest-paying state is California ($95,090/yr).
How much do entry-level Firefighters make in District of Columbia?
The lowest-paid 10% of Firefighters in District of Columbia earn about $61,050 per year and the 25th percentile is $65,090.
How much do Firefighters make per hour in District of Columbia?
About $38.25 per hour, based on the $79,550 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Firefighters work in District of Columbia?
BLS counts 1,480 Firefighters jobs in District of Columbia (OEWS May 2025).
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