Firefighters vs General and Operations Managers: Salary Comparison (2024)
Side-by-side salary comparison using 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Which Career Pays More?
General and Operations Managers professionals earn $43,420 more per year than Firefighters professionals — that's 72.9% higher.
Salary Range Comparison
Firefighters$34,490 – $101,330
General and Operations Managers$47,420 – N/A
$34,490$101,330
Detailed Salary Comparison
| Percentile | Firefighters | General and Operations Managers | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile | $34,490 | $47,420 | $-12,930 |
| 25th Percentile | $44,180 | $67,160 | $-22,980 |
| Median (50th) | $59,530 | $102,950 | $-43,420 |
| 75th Percentile | $77,410 | $164,130 | $-86,720 |
| 90th Percentile | $101,330 | N/A | N/A |
| Mean (Average) | $63,890 | $133,120 | $-69,230 |
Employment Numbers
Firefighters
332,240
employed nationwide
General and Operations Managers
3,584,420
employed nationwide
Top Paying Cities
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 |
Best Cities for General and Operations Managers
| City | Median |
|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $162,480 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA | $152,090 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $151,420 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | $149,260 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $141,280 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who earns more: Firefighters or General and Operations Managers?
General and Operations Managers professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $43,420 (72.9% higher) as of 2024 BLS data.
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.
What is the salary range for General and Operations Managers?
General and Operations Managers salaries range from $47,420 (10th percentile) to N/A (90th percentile), with a median of $102,950.
How many Firefighters and General and Operations Managers jobs are there?
There are approximately 332,240 Firefighters positions and 3,584,420 General and Operations Managers positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from General and Operations Managers to Firefighters?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Firefighters has a median salary of $59,530 while General and Operations Managers earns $102,950. 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