Firefighters Pay Range in Virginia
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$38,310
- 25th Percentile — Junior$46,200
- 50th Percentile — Median$58,670
- 75th Percentile — Senior$70,530
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$77,310
Half of Firefighters in Virginia earn more than $58,670. The top 10% make $77,310 or more, while entry-level workers start around $38,310.
Firefighters in Virginia: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- Virginia ranks 21st of 50 states for Firefighters pay, at $58,240 per year (8.5% below the U.S. average of $63,630).
- 11,160 people work as Firefighters in Virginia — 3.2% of all U.S. Firefighters jobs.
- Location quotient 1.22: Firefighters jobs are more concentrated in Virginia than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $38,310; the top 10% earn over $77,310.
- Hourly equivalent: $28.0 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is California at $95,090.
- Among public safety jobs in Virginia, Detectives and Criminal Investigators pays the most ($119,620).
Firefighters Job Market in Virginia
Key factors affecting compensation
Virginia's key industries are Government, Technology, Defense, and its job market is rated very strong. Firefighters here earn $58,240 on average, placing the state 21st nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 1.1 (U.S. = 1.00), a Virginia salary of $58,240 is roughly equivalent to $52,945 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Arizona ($60,850), Texas ($60,390), Alaska ($59,190) 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 Virginia
Related career salary benchmarks
- Detectives and Criminal Investigators $119,620/yr Virginia +105.4% vs this role
- First-Line Supervisors of Police $112,200/yr Virginia +92.7% vs this role
- First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting $93,750/yr Virginia +61.0% vs this role
- Police Officers $70,450/yr Virginia +21.0% vs this role
- Private Detectives and Investigators $61,940/yr Virginia +6.4% vs this role
- Correctional Officers and Jailers $54,450/yr Virginia 6.5% vs this role
- Security Guards $47,070/yr Virginia 19.2% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Firefighters salary in Virginia?
The average Firefighters salary in Virginia is $58,240 per year (median $58,670), which is 8.5% below the national average of $63,630.
How does Virginia rank for Firefighters pay?
Virginia ranks 21st out of 50 states. The highest-paying state is California ($95,090/yr).
How much do entry-level Firefighters make in Virginia?
The lowest-paid 10% of Firefighters in Virginia earn about $38,310 per year and the 25th percentile is $46,200.
How much do Firefighters make per hour in Virginia?
About $28.0 per hour, based on the $58,240 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Firefighters work in Virginia?
BLS counts 11,160 Firefighters jobs in Virginia (OEWS May 2025).
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