How much does a fire captain make?
Answer: A typical fire captain in the United States makes $93,530 a year (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Line up 100 people; this is the one in the middle (median). about 99,000 people work in this job. Well above the US-wide typical pay ($50,980).
If 100 people had this job
Lowest at bottom-left, highest at top-rightHover over a person to see their yearly pay
Fire captain pay in the United States (May 2025, median and spread)
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $53,430 | $93,530 | $140,010 | about 99,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | $133,210 | about 2,000 |
| New York | $132,520 | about 4,000 |
| Washington | $129,350 | about 3,000 |
| California | $127,630 | about 8,000 |
| Illinois | $123,500 | about 3,000 |
Why does pay differ?
In the United States, more experience and job-related certificates can help a fire captain earn more. Pay also depends on the department and local pay scale; overtime or night and holiday shifts may change total earnings.
What if you lived in a different state?
Pay varies a lot by state in the USTop 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
What does a fire captain do?
Directly supervise and coordinate activities of workers engaged in firefighting and fire prevention and control.
What's a typical day like?
They check hoses, vehicles, and gear, keep the station ready, and drill the crew. When an alarm rings, the captain sizes up the fire or medical call, directs the crew, and helps keep everyone safe.
How to get this job
Earn a high school diploma, complete fire-academy and EMS training, then work as a firefighter; EMT rules vary by place. Captains are promoted under local rules: Los Angeles requires four years of paid service and tests.
Vocational school or a few years' experience (preparation level 3 of 5)
Good for people who like leading and selling and building and doing.
Did you know?
Even as a captain, you may still connect hoses and climb ladders at a fire—not just give orders.
Similar jobs
Jobs using similar skills (O*NET)Earn more in the same field
Protective Service jobs that pay a bit moreSources and data
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.bls.gov/ooh/protective-service/firefighters.htm
- www.onetonline.org/link/summary/33-1021.00
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
- www.bls.gov/oes/2023/may/oes331021.htm
- lafd.org/ti-positions-ranks-captain-i
- www.phoenix.gov/content/dam/phoenix/hrsite/jobdesc/61040.pdf
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY