Firefighters Salary in Charleston, WV

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Charleston, WV

Median annual salary $38,340 -35.6% vs national
Median hourly $18.44
10th percentile $30,000
90th percentile $49,650
Employed locally 240
National median $59,530

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Firefighters
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Charleston, WV
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $30,000
    25th
    $37,120
    50th (median)
    $38,340
    75th
    $44,440
    90th
    $49,650

    Charleston economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.00% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $58,089 2023 • Census ACS
    Firefighters salary vs area income 66% Median Firefighters salary is 34% 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
    Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $67,850
    Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV $53,290
    Wheeling, WV-OH $50,750
    Winchester, VA-WV $47,280
    Beckley, WV $41,390
    Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH $41,240

    Related occupations in Charleston, WV

    OccupationMedian salary
    Security Guards$37,220
    Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$58,140
    Crossing Guards and Flaggers$30,170
    First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers$35,710
    First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$73,880
    Detectives and Criminal Investigators$92,410

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Firefighters make per hour in Charleston?

    The median hourly wage for Firefighters in Charleston, WV is $18.44, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $21.45 or more per hour.

    Is Charleston above or below average for Firefighters salaries?

    The median Firefighters salary in Charleston, WV is 35.6% 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 $30,000 per year in Charleston, WV. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $37,120.