SalaryByCity

Firefighters vs Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education: 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

Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education

$64,580

Median annual salary

1,072,540 employed nationally

Which Career Pays More?

Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education professionals earn $5,050 more per year than Firefighters professionals — that's 8.5% higher. At the 90th percentile, Firefighters earns $101,330 compared to $104,670 for Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education.

Salary Range Comparison

Firefighters$34,490 – $101,330
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$47,330 – $104,670
$34,490$104,670

Detailed Salary Comparison

PercentileFirefightersSecondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationDifference
10th Percentile$34,490$47,330$-12,840
25th Percentile$44,180$57,800$-13,620
Median (50th)$59,530$64,580$-5,050
75th Percentile$77,410$83,010$-5,600
90th Percentile$101,330$104,670$-3,340
Mean (Average)$63,890$73,700$-9,810

Employment Numbers

Firefighters

332,240

employed nationwide

Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education

1,072,540

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 Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education

CityMedian
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$103,640
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA$103,640
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA$99,840
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA$99,740
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$99,530

Frequently Asked Questions

Who earns more: Firefighters or Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education?
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $5,050 (8.5% 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 Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education?
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education salaries range from $47,330 (10th percentile) to $104,670 (90th percentile), with a median of $64,580.
How many Firefighters and Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education jobs are there?
There are approximately 332,240 Firefighters positions and 1,072,540 Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education to Firefighters?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Firefighters has a median salary of $59,530 while Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education earns $64,580. 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