Financial Examiners vs Firefighters: Salary Comparison (2024)
Side-by-side salary comparison using 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Which Career Pays More?
Financial Examiners professionals earn $30,870 more per year than Firefighters professionals — that's 51.9% higher. At the 90th percentile, Financial Examiners earns $171,540 compared to $101,330 for Firefighters.
Salary Range Comparison
Financial Examiners$53,420 – $171,540
Firefighters$34,490 – $101,330
$34,490$171,540
Detailed Salary Comparison
| Percentile | Financial Examiners | Firefighters | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile | $53,420 | $34,490 | +$18,930 |
| 25th Percentile | $66,800 | $44,180 | +$22,620 |
| Median (50th) | $90,400 | $59,530 | +$30,870 |
| 75th Percentile | $127,210 | $77,410 | +$49,800 |
| 90th Percentile | $171,540 | $101,330 | +$70,210 |
| Mean (Average) | $103,650 | $63,890 | +$39,760 |
Employment Numbers
Financial Examiners
62,830
employed nationwide
Firefighters
332,240
employed nationwide
Top Paying Cities
Best Cities for Financial Examiners
| City | Median |
|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $139,790 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA | $132,190 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | $131,670 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $111,780 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $109,450 |
Best Cities for Firefighters
| City | Median |
|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $164,940 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA | $121,270 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $108,320 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | $105,250 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $102,220 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who earns more: Financial Examiners or Firefighters?
Financial Examiners professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $30,870 (51.9% higher) as of 2024 BLS data.
What is the salary range for Financial Examiners?
Financial Examiners salaries range from $53,420 (10th percentile) to $171,540 (90th percentile), with a median of $90,400.
What is the salary range for Firefighters?
Firefighters salaries range from $34,490 (10th percentile) to $101,330 (90th percentile), with a median of $59,530.
How many Financial Examiners and Firefighters jobs are there?
There are approximately 62,830 Financial Examiners positions and 332,240 Firefighters positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Firefighters to Financial Examiners?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Financial Examiners has a median salary of $90,400 while Firefighters earns $59,530. Consider job satisfaction, growth prospects, required education, and work-life balance.
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Data verified March 2026 · Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS