Firefighters Salary in Western North Carolina

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Western North Carolina nonmetropolitan area

Median annual salary $32,380 -45.6% vs national
Median hourly $15.57
10th percentile $26,170
90th percentile $43,230
Employed locally 970
National median $59,530

Compare Firefighters salary & buying power

Type a city below to see how Western North Carolina stacks up on salary and cost of living.

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Firefighters
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Western North Carolina
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $26,170
    25th
    $28,870
    50th (median)
    $32,380
    75th
    $34,480
    90th
    $43,230

    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

    Related occupations in Western North Carolina

    OccupationMedian salary
    Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers $47,970
    Security Guards $36,810
    Correctional Officers and Jailers $47,520
    First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives $66,090
    Detectives and Criminal Investigators $54,770
    Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers $24,890

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Firefighters make per hour in Western North Carolina?

    The median hourly wage for Firefighters in Western North Carolina is $15.57, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $20.01 or more per hour.

    Is Western North Carolina above or below average for Firefighters salaries?

    The median Firefighters salary in Western North Carolina is 45.6% 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 Western North Carolina?

    Entry-level Firefighters (10th percentile) earn around $26,170 per year in Western North Carolina. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $28,870.