Firefighter vs Police Officer Salary
Police Officers earn approximately 32.7% more than Firefighters nationally — $69,000 vs $52,000.
Police Officers earn approximately $17,000 more per year than Firefighters — about 33% — with comparable entry requirements.
Pay range, not just the median
The medians hide most of what matters. Firefighter pay runs from roughly $34,490 at the low end to $101,330 at the high end; Police Officer runs $48,230 to $120,460. Where you land inside that band depends far more on specialization, employer, and metro than on the job title.
Moving between the two
Both sit in Public Safety, so the surrounding context transfers even where the day-to-day does not: similar employers, similar hiring cycles, overlapping professional networks. Prior EMT or military experience speeds hiring; volunteer firefighting is a common low-cost way to build the resume before applying to paid departments. Military veterans often get credit toward academy requirements and are heavily recruited; career-changers must still pass the full academy and background check.
If you are entering rather than switching: Firefighter — Get EMT-Basic certified, pass the Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT), then complete a municipal fire academy (12-16 weeks) after being hired. Police Officer — Meet age/background requirements, pass physical and psychological exams, complete a 6-month police academy, then serve a field-training probation period.
Pay ranges, education requirements, and employment projections come from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook and Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. See our methodology for how these are compiled and updated.
Other comparisons in Public Safety
Related tools
Firefighter salary by state — Police Officer salary by state — Best cities for Firefighter — Best cities for Police Officer — Paycheck Calculator — Investment Calculator.