Financial Managers vs Firefighters: Salary Comparison (2024)
Side-by-side salary comparison using 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Which Career Pays More?
Financial Managers professionals earn $102,170 more per year than Firefighters professionals — that's 171.6% higher.
Salary Range Comparison
Financial Managers$86,490 – N/A
Firefighters$34,490 – $101,330
$34,490$101,330
Detailed Salary Comparison
| Percentile | Financial Managers | Firefighters | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile | $86,490 | $34,490 | +$52,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $118,360 | $44,180 | +$74,180 |
| Median (50th) | $161,700 | $59,530 | +$102,170 |
| 75th Percentile | $214,210 | $77,410 | +$136,800 |
| 90th Percentile | N/A | $101,330 | N/A |
| Mean (Average) | $180,470 | $63,890 | +$116,580 |
Employment Numbers
Financial Managers
818,620
employed nationwide
Firefighters
332,240
employed nationwide
Top Paying Cities
Best Cities for Financial Managers
| City | Median |
|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $218,920 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | $216,520 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA | $211,730 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH | $188,490 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $180,770 |
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 Managers or Firefighters?
Financial Managers professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $102,170 (171.6% higher) as of 2024 BLS data.
What is the salary range for Financial Managers?
Financial Managers salaries range from $86,490 (10th percentile) to N/A (90th percentile), with a median of $161,700.
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 Managers and Firefighters jobs are there?
There are approximately 818,620 Financial Managers positions and 332,240 Firefighters positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Firefighters to Financial Managers?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Financial Managers has a median salary of $161,700 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