Firefighters Salary in Columbia, SC

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Columbia, SC

Median annual salary $45,960 -22.8% vs national
Median hourly $22.10
10th percentile $30,030
90th percentile $58,450
Employed locally 930
National median $59,530

Compare Firefighters salary & buying power

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

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Firefighters
in
Columbia, SC
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $30,030
    25th
    $36,470
    50th (median)
    $45,960
    75th
    $49,310
    90th
    $58,450

    Columbia economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.00% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $66,146 2023 • Census ACS
    Firefighters salary vs area income 69% Median Firefighters salary is 31% 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 Columbia, SC

    OccupationMedian salary
    Security Guards$35,830
    Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$60,750
    Correctional Officers and Jailers$45,330
    Detectives and Criminal Investigators$66,440
    Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers$26,550
    First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$79,480

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Firefighters make per hour in Columbia?

    The median hourly wage for Firefighters in Columbia, SC is $22.10, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $23.67 or more per hour.

    Is Columbia above or below average for Firefighters salaries?

    The median Firefighters salary in Columbia, SC is 22.8% 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 Columbia?

    Entry-level Firefighters (10th percentile) earn around $30,030 per year in Columbia, SC. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $36,470.