Firefighters Salary in Charleston, SC

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Charleston-North Charleston, SC

Median annual salary $46,470 -21.9% vs national
Median hourly $22.34
10th percentile $30,860
90th percentile $64,220
Employed locally 1,420
National median $59,530

Compare Firefighters salary & buying power

Type a city below to see how Charleston, SC stacks up on salary and cost of living.

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Firefighters
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Charleston, SC
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $30,860
    25th
    $35,760
    50th (median)
    $46,470
    75th
    $53,470
    90th
    $64,220

    Charleston economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.50% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $82,272 2023 • Census ACS
    Firefighters salary vs area income 56% Median Firefighters salary is 44% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Firefighters

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $164,940
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $121,270
    Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA $108,320
    New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $105,250
    Vallejo, CA $104,460
    Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $102,220

    Nearby metros — Firefighters salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $121,270
    Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY $73,130
    Tuscaloosa, AL $66,890
    Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA $55,780
    Sumter, SC $53,470
    Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL $51,700

    Related occupations in Charleston, SC

    OccupationMedian salary
    Security Guards $36,150
    Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers $60,250
    Correctional Officers and Jailers $49,900
    Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers $34,510
    First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives $82,620
    First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers $74,150

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Firefighters make per hour in Charleston?

    The median hourly wage for Firefighters in Charleston, SC is $22.34, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $30.83 or more per hour.

    Is Charleston above or below average for Firefighters salaries?

    The median Firefighters salary in Charleston, SC is 21.9% below the national median of $59,530. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Firefighters in Charleston?

    Entry-level Firefighters (10th percentile) earn around $30,860 per year in Charleston, SC. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $35,760.