As reported by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Paramedics earn an average of $49,500 per year, while Firefighters earn an average of $55,290 per year. Therefore, the salary for Firefighters is higher than that of Paramedics.
However, it's worth mentioning that the salary of an employee can be influenced by factors such as location and experience. As an example, Paramedics working in Washington (with a wage of $82,810 on average) may have higher salaries than those in Alabama ($35,460).
Paramedics vs Firefighters overview
Paramedics and Firefighters are two important jobs in the Health Care Services industry. Many people are interested in understanding the distinctions between these job titles, including the average earnings for each of them.
Paramedic job description
Paramedics administer basic or advanced emergency medical care and assess injuries and illnesses. May administer medication intravenously, use equipment such as EKGs, or administer advanced life support to sick or injured individuals.
Paramedic average salary
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics has reported that in 2021, there were 96,510 Paramedics working in the United States, and on average, they earned $49,500 per year. The bottom 10 percent earned $34,420 or less, and the top 10 percent earned $74,200 or more.
Do Paramedics make good money?
Paramedics are not typically well paid, as their average salary is 15% lower than the average wage in the United States ($58,260). Additionally, they earn about a third less than the average wage of the Health Care Services industry ($70,360).
Paramedics are not typically well paid, as their average salary is 15% lower than the average wage in the United States ($58,260).
Firefighter job description
Firefighters control and extinguish fires or respond to emergency situations where life, property, or the environment is at risk. Duties may include fire prevention, emergency medical service, hazardous material response, search and rescue, and disaster assistance.
Firefighter education and experience
Among Firefighters, 36% have obtained a High School Diploma, 25% hold a Post-Secondary Certificate, and 20% have a College Course Certificate. In terms of experience, 44% of Firefighter occupations require no previous experience. A smaller portion of roles (18%) require a previous experience of 2 to 4 years.
Firefighter average salary
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 317,310 Firefighters employed in the United States in 2021, and they earned an average annual income of $55,290. The bottom 10 percent earned $29,030 or less, and the top 10 percent earned $81,640 or more. Compared to the previous year, the mean salary has contracted by 1.9%.
Do Firefighters make good money?
Firefighters are not typically highly paid, since their mean salary is 5% below the average pay in the United States ($58,260). Additionally, they make 18% less than the mean salary of the Federal, State, and Local Government industry ($67,800).
Firefighters are not typically highly paid, since their mean salary is 5% below the average pay in the United States ($58,260).
Firefighters job growth
In 2021, there have been 5,960 more Firefighter job opportunities than the previous year across the nation, and that shows an increase of 1.9%. Job growth has averaged -0.4% over the past 3 years.
FAQ
Do Paramedics or Firefighters make more?
Firefighters make 12% more than Paramedics. The average annual salary for Paramedics is $49,500, while Firefighters earn $55,290 per year.