Firefighters Salary in Roanoke, VA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Roanoke, VA

Median annual salary $38,880 -34.7% vs national
Median hourly $18.69
10th percentile $27,980
90th percentile $58,590
Employed locally 480
National median $59,530

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Firefighters
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Roanoke, VA
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $27,980
    25th
    $35,560
    50th (median)
    $38,880
    75th
    $46,260
    90th
    $58,590

    Roanoke economic context

    Unemployment rate 2.90% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $67,447 2023 • Census ACS
    Firefighters salary vs area income 58% Median Firefighters salary is 42% 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 Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $164,940
    Vallejo, CA $104,460
    Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $85,300
    Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA $84,290
    Corvallis, OR $83,680
    Pennsylvania $71,430

    Related occupations in Roanoke, VA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Security Guards $37,220
    Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers $60,100
    Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers $29,550
    Correctional Officers and Jailers $49,920
    First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers $58,990
    Protective Service Workers, All Other $30,090

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Firefighters make per hour in Roanoke?

    The median hourly wage for Firefighters in Roanoke, VA is $18.69, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $28.48 or more per hour.

    Is Roanoke above or below average for Firefighters salaries?

    The median Firefighters salary in Roanoke, VA is 34.7% 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 Roanoke?

    Entry-level Firefighters (10th percentile) earn around $27,980 per year in Roanoke, VA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $35,560.