Firefighters vs Home Health and Personal Care Aides: Salary Comparison (2024)
Side-by-side salary comparison using 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Which Career Pays More?
Firefighters professionals earn $24,630 more per year than Home Health and Personal Care Aides professionals — that's 70.6% higher. At the 90th percentile, Firefighters earns $101,330 compared to $44,190 for Home Health and Personal Care Aides.
Salary Range Comparison
Firefighters$34,490 – $101,330
Home Health and Personal Care Aides$25,600 – $44,190
$25,600$101,330
Detailed Salary Comparison
| Percentile | Firefighters | Home Health and Personal Care Aides | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile | $34,490 | $25,600 | +$8,890 |
| 25th Percentile | $44,180 | $30,370 | +$13,810 |
| Median (50th) | $59,530 | $34,900 | +$24,630 |
| 75th Percentile | $77,410 | $37,980 | +$39,430 |
| 90th Percentile | $101,330 | $44,190 | +$57,140 |
| Mean (Average) | $63,890 | $34,990 | +$28,900 |
Employment Numbers
Firefighters
332,240
employed nationwide
Home Health and Personal Care Aides
3,988,140
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 Home Health and Personal Care Aides
| City | Median |
|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $46,690 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $44,320 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH | $39,790 |
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $39,520 |
| Hartford-East Hartford-Middletown, CT | $38,360 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who earns more: Firefighters or Home Health and Personal Care Aides?
Firefighters professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $24,630 (70.6% 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 Home Health and Personal Care Aides?
Home Health and Personal Care Aides salaries range from $25,600 (10th percentile) to $44,190 (90th percentile), with a median of $34,900.
How many Firefighters and Home Health and Personal Care Aides jobs are there?
There are approximately 332,240 Firefighters positions and 3,988,140 Home Health and Personal Care Aides positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Home Health and Personal Care Aides to Firefighters?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Firefighters has a median salary of $59,530 while Home Health and Personal Care Aides earns $34,900. 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