SalaryByCity

Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education vs Firefighters: Salary Comparison (2024)

Side-by-side salary comparison using 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education

$62,340

Median annual salary

1,393,310 employed nationally

Firefighters

$59,530

Median annual salary

332,240 employed nationally

Which Career Pays More?

Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education professionals earn $2,810 more per year than Firefighters professionals — that's 4.7% higher. At the 90th percentile, Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education earns $102,010 compared to $101,330 for Firefighters.

Salary Range Comparison

Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education$46,440 – $102,010
Firefighters$34,490 – $101,330
$34,490$102,010

Detailed Salary Comparison

PercentileElementary School Teachers, Except Special EducationFirefightersDifference
10th Percentile$46,440$34,490+$11,950
25th Percentile$50,680$44,180+$6,500
Median (50th)$62,340$59,530+$2,810
75th Percentile$79,410$77,410+$2,000
90th Percentile$102,010$101,330+$680
Mean (Average)$69,790$63,890+$5,900

Employment Numbers

Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education

1,393,310

employed nationwide

Firefighters

332,240

employed nationwide

Top Paying Cities

Best Cities for Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education

CityMedian
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA$100,580
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$99,970
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$99,780
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA$98,890
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA$98,270

Best Cities for Firefighters

CityMedian
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$164,940
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA$121,270
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA$108,320
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA$105,250
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$102,220

Frequently Asked Questions

Who earns more: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education or Firefighters?
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $2,810 (4.7% higher) as of 2024 BLS data.
What is the salary range for Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education?
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education salaries range from $46,440 (10th percentile) to $102,010 (90th percentile), with a median of $62,340.
What is the salary range for Firefighters?
Firefighters salaries range from $34,490 (10th percentile) to $101,330 (90th percentile), with a median of $59,530.
How many Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education and Firefighters jobs are there?
There are approximately 1,393,310 Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education positions and 332,240 Firefighters positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Firefighters to Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education has a median salary of $62,340 while Firefighters earns $59,530. Consider job satisfaction, growth prospects, required education, and work-life balance.

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Data verified March 2026 · Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS