Hiring a firefighter: the market today
The short answer ·
184 open postings ask for a firefighter as of Oct 5, 2026, from 83 employers. The median advertised pay is $67,150, taking the midpoint of each posted range. 105 of those postings are new in the last 30 days, so expect competition.
184open postings
83employers hiring
$67,150median advertised pay
105new in 30 days
Who you're competing with
Open postings · Ayla, 2026-10-05
What it pays
Advertised pay (range midpoints), 159 postings with pay · OPM actual pay, Jul 2026
Questions buyers ask
How hard is it to hire a firefighter?
Competitive. 83 employers are hiring the role right now, led by Office of the Secretary of the Interior with 17 open postings.
What should I pay a firefighter?
Advertised pay centers on $67,150. Federal staff in series 0081 average $74,607 in actual pay.