Career comparison
Police officer vs. Firefighter
Police officers earn more: a median of $76,210, $16,930 (29%) above firefighters at $59,280.
Both are projected to grow at a similar pace through 2035 (+4% and +4%).
Getting in is faster for police officers: about 14 months vs. 15 months for someone with a bachelor's in another field.
At a glance
| Police officer | Firefighter | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $76,210 | $59,280 |
| Top 10% earn over | $115,120 | $101,040 |
| Growth to 2035 | +4% | +4% |
| Openings per year | 51,500 | 26,800 |
| Jobs today | 693,200 | 355,300 |
| Typical entry education | High school diploma or equivalent | Postsecondary nondegree award |
| Time to qualify* | 14 months | 15 months |
| Training cost* | $0–$500 | $1.2K–$4K |
* Starting from a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field. Pay: BLS OEWS May 2025. Outlook: BLS Employment Projections 2025–35.
Pay
Police officer
Firefighter
Switching from one to the other
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Getting in
Police officer
- Entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Prior experience
- None
Required: Physical fitness test · Background check and polygraph · State POST certification
Firefighter
- Entry education
- Postsecondary nondegree award
- On-the-job training
- Long-term on-the-job training
- Prior experience
- None
Required: EMT certification · CPAT physical test · Firefighter I/II certification
What the work is like
Dealing with the public
Unpleasant or angry people
Time pressure
Cost of a mistake
Freedom to make decisions
Repeating the same tasks
Time sitting
Time standing
Outdoors in all weather
Hazardous conditions
Exposure to disease
Police officer: 68% usually work over 40 hours a weekFirefighter: 31% usually work over 40 hours a week
Police officer: core tasks
- Provide for public safety by maintaining order, responding to emergencies, protecting people and property, enforcing motor vehicle and criminal laws, and promoting good community relations.
- Identify, pursue, and arrest suspects and perpetrators of criminal acts.
- Verify that the proper legal charges have been made against law offenders.
- Render aid to accident survivors and other persons requiring first aid for physical injuries.
- Record facts to prepare reports that document incidents and activities.
Firefighter: core tasks
- Rescue survivors from burning buildings, accident sites, and water hazards.
- Administer first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation to injured persons or provide emergency medical care such as basic or advanced life support.
- Dress with equipment such as fire-resistant clothing and breathing apparatus.
- Move toward the source of a fire, using knowledge of types of fires, construction design, building materials, and physical layout of properties.
- Drive and operate fire fighting vehicles and equipment.
Skills: what carries over
Both rely on: Active Listening, Social Perceptiveness, Speaking, Critical Thinking, Active Learning, Judgment and Decision Making.
New for a police officer moving to firefighter: Monitoring, Complex Problem Solving.
New for a firefighter moving to police officer: Reading Comprehension, Persuasion.
Interests (Holland codes): Police officer: Realistic, Conventional, Enterprising. Firefighter: Realistic, Conventional, Social.
Outlook to 2035, and AI
Police officer
+4%
about as fast as average · 51,500 openings a year
BLS lists no specific factors, including AI, changing demand for this job.
Firefighter
+4%
about as fast as average · 26,800 openings a year
BLS lists no specific factors, including AI, changing demand for this job.
Quoted notes: BLS Employment Projections, factors affecting occupational utilization (Table 1.12). Average growth across all jobs: +3.5%.
Questions people ask
Who makes more, a police officer or a firefighter?
Police officers earn more: a median of $76,210, $16,930 (29%) above firefighters at $59,280.
Which has the better job outlook?
Both are projected to grow at a similar pace through 2035 (+4% and +4%).
How long does it take to become a firefighter?
For someone with a bachelor's degree in another field, about 15 months, with tuition of roughly $1,200 to $4,000. Required: EMT certification, CPAT physical test, Firefighter I/II certification.
How long does it take to become a police officer?
For someone with a bachelor's degree in another field, about 14 months, with tuition of roughly $0 to $500. Required: Physical fitness test, Background check and polygraph, State POST certification.