SalaryByCity

Firefighters vs Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners: Salary Comparison (2024)

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

Firefighters

$59,530

Median annual salary

332,240 employed nationally

Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners

$35,930

Median annual salary

2,199,900 employed nationally

Which Career Pays More?

Firefighters professionals earn $23,600 more per year than Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners professionals — that's 65.7% higher. At the 90th percentile, Firefighters earns $101,330 compared to $49,040 for Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners.

Salary Range Comparison

Firefighters$34,490 – $101,330
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$27,570 – $49,040
$27,570$101,330

Detailed Salary Comparison

PercentileFirefightersJanitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping CleanersDifference
10th Percentile$34,490$27,570+$6,920
25th Percentile$44,180$30,830+$13,350
Median (50th)$59,530$35,930+$23,600
75th Percentile$77,410$41,650+$35,760
90th Percentile$101,330$49,040+$52,290
Mean (Average)$63,890$37,460+$26,430

Employment Numbers

Firefighters

332,240

employed nationwide

Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners

2,199,900

employed nationwide

Top Paying Cities

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

Best Cities for Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners

CityMedian
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH$46,230
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$44,820
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA$43,530
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$42,920
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA$40,350

Frequently Asked Questions

Who earns more: Firefighters or Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners?
Firefighters professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $23,600 (65.7% 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 Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners?
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners salaries range from $27,570 (10th percentile) to $49,040 (90th percentile), with a median of $35,930.
How many Firefighters and Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners jobs are there?
There are approximately 332,240 Firefighters positions and 2,199,900 Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners to Firefighters?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Firefighters has a median salary of $59,530 while Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners earns $35,930. 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