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
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.