Firefighters vs Insurance Underwriters: Salary Comparison (2024)
Side-by-side salary comparison using 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Which Career Pays More?
Insurance Underwriters professionals earn $20,350 more per year than Firefighters professionals — that's 34.2% higher. At the 90th percentile, Firefighters earns $101,330 compared to $138,020 for Insurance Underwriters.
Salary Range Comparison
Firefighters$34,490 – $101,330
Insurance Underwriters$51,640 – $138,020
$34,490$138,020
Detailed Salary Comparison
| Percentile | Firefighters | Insurance Underwriters | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile | $34,490 | $51,640 | $-17,150 |
| 25th Percentile | $44,180 | $63,070 | $-18,890 |
| Median (50th) | $59,530 | $79,880 | $-20,350 |
| 75th Percentile | $77,410 | $104,820 | $-27,410 |
| 90th Percentile | $101,330 | $138,020 | $-36,690 |
| Mean (Average) | $63,890 | $90,830 | $-26,940 |
Employment Numbers
Firefighters
332,240
employed nationwide
Insurance Underwriters
107,820
employed nationwide
Top Paying Cities
Best Cities for Firefighters
| City | Median |
|---|---|
| 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 |
Best Cities for Insurance Underwriters
| City | Median |
|---|---|
| Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO | $106,380 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH | $103,270 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI | $98,860 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $98,500 |
| Hartford-East Hartford-Middletown, CT | $98,400 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who earns more: Firefighters or Insurance Underwriters?
Insurance Underwriters professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $20,350 (34.2% higher) as of 2024 BLS data.
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.
What is the salary range for Insurance Underwriters?
Insurance Underwriters salaries range from $51,640 (10th percentile) to $138,020 (90th percentile), with a median of $79,880.
How many Firefighters and Insurance Underwriters jobs are there?
There are approximately 332,240 Firefighters positions and 107,820 Insurance Underwriters positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Insurance Underwriters to Firefighters?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Firefighters has a median salary of $59,530 while Insurance Underwriters earns $79,880. 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