Wildfires Are Destroying the West Coast: Here’s How Much First Responders Make in Every State
As wildfires rage from Washington down to California, displacing thousands of residents and destroying billions of dollars in property, first responders have stepped in to provide aid. Being on the front line in an emergency is a scary job, but someone has to do it. It turns out, though, they might not be doing it for all that much.
GOBankingRates looked at the salaries of emergency personnel, including firefighters, emergency medical technicians and paramedics, and police officers in every state using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Their salaries ranged widely across the country. For instance, firefighters in West Virginia make just $30,180 — $24,470 below the average U.S. salary for the profession. In California, on the other hand, firefighters are paid $84,370 but must contend with a higher cost of living and massive infernos every year.
So, are firefighters, police officers and EMTs and paramedics really making enough money to put their lives on the line every day? That’s a matter of opinion. To help you decide, GOBankingRates ranked and ordered the states from worst to best for emergency personnel. Find out whether or not these workers are making bank in your state.
Last updated: Sept. 11, 2020
50. Mississippi
EMT/paramedic annual wage: $32,480
Police annual wage: $36,290
Firefighter annual wage: $30,180
49. West Virginia
EMT/paramedic annual wage: $29,920
Police annual wage: $44,450
Firefighter annual wage: $36,890
48. Kentucky
EMT/paramedic annual wage: $31,250
Police annual wage: $46,720
Firefighter annual wage: $34,030
47. Arkansas
EMT/paramedic annual wage: $34,660
Police annual wage: $40,570
Firefighter annual wage: $36,730
46. Kansas
EMT/paramedic annual wage: $30,890
Police annual wage: $49,910
Firefighter annual wage: $37,250
45. Alabama
EMT/paramedic annual wage: $30,240
Police annual wage: $46,510
Firefighter annual wage: $41,870
44. South Carolina
EMT/paramedic annual wage: $34,670
Police annual wage: $43,520
Firefighter annual wage: $36,360
43. Georgia
EMT/paramedic annual wage: $34,450
Police annual wage: $44,700
Firefighter annual wage: $38,900
42. North Carolina
EMT/paramedic annual wage: $38,270
Police annual wage: $47,340
Firefighter annual wage: $34,110
41. Louisiana
EMT/paramedic annual wage: $42,310
Police annual wage: $42,470
Firefighter annual wage: $31,150
40. South Dakota
EMT/paramedic annual wage: $32,620
Police annual wage: $49,690
Firefighter annual wage: $45,820
39. New Mexico
EMT/paramedic annual wage: $36,410
Police annual wage: $53,750
Firefighter annual wage: $36,620
38. Maine
EMT/paramedic annual wage: $35,690
Police annual wage: $53,170
Firefighter annual wage: $39,430
37. Vermont
EMT/paramedic annual wage: $35,570
Police annual wage: $53,070
Firefighter annual wage: $39,970
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36. Utah
EMT/paramedic annual wage: $35,630
Police annual wage: $56,170
Firefighter annual wage: $38,360
35. Oklahoma
EMT/paramedic annual wage: $36,170
Police annual wage: $48,060
Firefighter annual wage: $44,860
34. Tennessee
EMT/paramedic annual wage: $38,500
Police annual wage: $45,370
Firefighter annual wage: $44,400
33. Michigan
EMT/paramedic annual wage: $33,760
Police annual wage: $58,770
Firefighter annual wage: $46,010
32. Montana
EMT/paramedic annual wage: $32,050
Police annual wage: $56,710
Firefighter annual wage: $51,880
31. Idaho
EMT/paramedic annual wage: $39,330
Police annual wage: $54,120
Firefighter annual wage: $39,260
30. Wyoming
EMT/paramedic annual wage: $35,430
Police annual wage: $56,120
Firefighter annual wage: $46,180
29. Wisconsin
EMT/paramedic annual wage: $35,940
Police annual wage: $63,970
Firefighter annual wage: $40,360
28. North Dakota
EMT/paramedic annual wage: $35,150
Police annual wage: $58,770
Firefighter annual wage: $46,080
27. Ohio
EMT/paramedic annual wage: $34,020
Police annual wage: $62,880
Firefighter annual wage: $47,820
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26. Missouri
EMT/paramedic annual wage: $37,120
Police annual wage: $51,860
Firefighter annual wage: $51,110
25. Indiana
EMT/paramedic annual wage: $35,350
Police annual wage: $56,780
Firefighter annual wage: $51,050
24. Iowa
EMT/paramedic annual wage: $36,720
Police annual wage: $59,730
Firefighter annual wage: $46,640
23. Nebraska
EMT/paramedic annual wage: $35,500
Police annual wage: $58,860
Firefighter annual wage: $50,150
22. New Hampshire
EMT/paramedic annual wage: $37,710
Police annual wage: $58,820
Firefighter annual wage: $47,120
21. Virginia
EMT/paramedic annual wage: $36,040
Police annual wage: $58,330
Firefighter annual wage: $53,470
20. Florida
EMT/paramedic annual wage: $36,190
Police annual wage: $60,720
Firefighter annual wage: $51,300
19. Arizona
EMT/paramedic annual wage: $38,350
Police annual wage: $66,970
Firefighter annual wage: $46,870
18. Texas
EMT/paramedic annual wage: $37,000
Police annual wage: $63,740
Firefighter annual wage: $54,760
17. Pennsylvania
EMT/paramedic annual wage: $34,310
Police annual wage: $68,940
Firefighter annual wage: $58,720
16. Minnesota
EMT/paramedic annual wage: $43,620
Police annual wage: $71,840
Firefighter annual wage: $39,390
15. Rhode Island
EMT/paramedic annual wage: $40,820
Police annual wage: $63,690
Firefighter annual wage: $56,150
14. Delaware
EMT/paramedic annual wage: $43,200
Police annual wage: $73,740
Firefighter annual wage: $46,390
13. Nevada
EMT/paramedic annual wage: $37,320
Police annual wage: $73,660
Firefighter annual wage: $69,310
12. Colorado
EMT/paramedic annual wage: $41,880
Police annual wage: $75,720
Firefighter annual wage: $63,050
11. Illinois
EMT/paramedic annual wage: $43,310
Police annual wage: $78,350
Firefighter annual wage: $58,170
10. Massachusetts
EMT/paramedic annual wage: $44,140
Police annual wage: $72,400
Firefighter annual wage: $62,680
9. Oregon
EMT/paramedic annual wage: $42,660
Police annual wage: $73,300
Firefighter annual wage: $68,540
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8. Connecticut
EMT/paramedic annual wage: $46,510
Police annual wage: $73,270
Firefighter annual wage: $65,700
7. Maryland
EMT/paramedic annual wage: $50,750
Police annual wage: $71,170
Firefighter annual wage: $62,750
6. New Jersey
EMT/paramedic annual wage: $37,550
Police annual wage: $86,840
Firefighter annual wage: $80,890
5. Alaska
EMT/paramedic annual wage: $50,640
Police annual wage: $87,870
Firefighter annual wage: $54,380
4. New York
EMT/paramedic annual wage: $44,920
Police annual wage: $77,490
Firefighter annual wage: $75,160
3. Hawaii
EMT/paramedic annual wage: $56,610
Police annual wage: $78,720
Firefighter annual wage: $64,110
2. Washington
EMT/paramedic annual wage: $56,140
Police annual wage: $80,200
Firefighter annual wage: $76,970
1. California
EMT/paramedic annual wage: $43,680
Police annual wage: $105,220
Firefighter annual wage: $84,370
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Photos are for illustrative purposes only. As a result, some of the images may not reflect the states listed in this article.
Methodology: GOBankingRates determined how much first responders earn in every state, using the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Employment Statistics for May 2019 (latest data available) for the mean annual wages of three core first responder jobs in all 50 U.S. states: (1) police and sheriff’s patrol officers, (2) emergency medical technicians and paramedics and (3) firefighters. Each job’s salary was scored, added up and ranked from worst paying states to best. All data compiled on Sept. 9, 2020.
This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Wildfires Are Destroying the West Coast: Here’s How Much First Responders Make in Every State
