Firefighter Salary in North Carolina
Median annual pay in North Carolina
$37,940
$18.24/hour
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Adjusted for cost of living in North Carolina
$40,222
Regional Price Parity: 94.326 (U.S. = 100)
Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Cost of living: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Difference from the U.S. median ($59,280): −$21,340 (−36.0%)
North Carolina ranks 46th of 50 states by median pay, and 48th of 50 after adjusting for cost of living.
Pay
| Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $29,360 | $14.12 |
| 25th percentile | $34,010 | $16.35 |
| Median | $37,940 | $18.24 |
| 75th percentile | $47,690 | $22.93 |
| 90th percentile | $61,940 | $29.78 |
Employment
- Employment in North Carolina
- 19,410
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Comparison
Compared with the U.S.
- Median annual pay in North Carolina
- $37,940
- Median annual pay in the U.S.
- $59,280
- Difference
- −$21,340 (−36.0%)
Cost of living
$37,940 ÷ 94.326 × 100 = $40,222
Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Cost of living: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Ranking
| Rank | Median annual pay | Adjusted for cost of living (annual) |
|---|---|---|
| Arkansas | ||
| 44th | $39,690 | $45,654 42nd |
| Minnesota | ||
| 45th | $38,110 | $38,643 49th |
| North Carolina This page | ||
| 46th | $37,940 | $40,222 48th |
| West Virginia | ||
| 47th | $37,350 | $41,733 45th |
| Kentucky | ||
| 48th | $37,150 | $41,205 47th |
Similar occupations
Related occupations from O*NET, in O*NET's order, with their BLS median pay. Each figure shows the place it is for.
- Forest Fire Inspector and Prevention Specialist salary in the U.S.
$56,870/year U.S.
- Fire Inspector and Investigator salary in the U.S.
$75,920/year U.S.
- Lifeguard, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Worker salary in North Carolina
$27,310/year North Carolina
- Emergency Medical Technician salary in North Carolina
$44,250/year North Carolina
- Paramedic salary in North Carolina
$57,320/year North Carolina
- Ship Engineer salary in the U.S.
$109,530/year U.S.
Outlook
- Projected employment change, 2025–35 (U.S.)
- +3.7%
- Typical education needed for entry (U.S.)
- Postsecondary nondegree award
BLS publishes employment projections only for the U.S. as a whole. BLS Employment Projections, 2025–35
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Firefighter salary in nearby places
- Firefighter salary in Georgia
$46,550/year Georgia
- Firefighter salary in South Carolina
$42,570/year South Carolina
- Firefighter salary in Tennessee
$49,300/year Tennessee
- Firefighter salary in Virginia
$58,670/year Virginia
- Firefighter salary in the U.S.
$59,280/year U.S.
Sources and update
- Wages and employment: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025.
- Cost of living: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
- Related occupations: O*NET® 31.0 Database, CC BY 4.0. Attributions
- Employment projections and typical education: BLS Employment Projections, 2025–35.
- Neighboring states: U.S. Census Bureau, County Adjacency File, 2024.
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