Firefighters Salary in Kalamazoo, MI

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Kalamazoo-Portage, MI

Median annual salary $44,780 -24.8% vs national
Median hourly $21.53
10th percentile $34,020
90th percentile $59,840
Employed locally 80
National median $59,530

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Firefighters
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Kalamazoo, MI
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $34,020
    25th
    $37,290
    50th (median)
    $44,780
    75th
    $50,400
    90th
    $59,840

    Kalamazoo economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.20% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $70,525 2023 • Census ACS
    Firefighters salary vs area income 63% Median Firefighters salary is 37% 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
    Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD $78,980
    Missoula, MT $77,390
    Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL $75,590
    Bloomington, IL $68,480
    Elmira, NY $67,690
    Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI $61,900

    Related occupations in Kalamazoo, MI

    OccupationMedian salary
    Security Guards $35,510
    Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers $71,100
    Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers $26,440
    First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives $96,640
    Detectives and Criminal Investigators $85,800
    Crossing Guards and Flaggers $34,310

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Firefighters make per hour in Kalamazoo?

    The median hourly wage for Firefighters in Kalamazoo, MI is $21.53, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $28.01 or more per hour.

    Is Kalamazoo above or below average for Firefighters salaries?

    The median Firefighters salary in Kalamazoo, MI is 24.8% 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 Kalamazoo?

    Entry-level Firefighters (10th percentile) earn around $34,020 per year in Kalamazoo, MI. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $37,290.