What is the median salary for Firefighters in Durham?

According to BLS OEWS May 2025, the median annual wage for Firefighters in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC is $38,350.

How does Durham pay compare to the US median for Firefighters?

Local median pay is 35.3% below the national OEWS median of $59,280.

How does cost of living change what that wage buys?

BEA RPP for Durham is 97.6 (US = 100, 2024). The local median of $38,350 has about the same purchasing power as $39,293 at US-average prices.

How current is this data?

Wages are BLS OEWS May 2025. Price levels use BEA Regional Price Parities for 2024. See methodology for source details.

Firefighters, Durham

$38,350

BLS OEWS median annual wage in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC. Middle half of wages roughly $35,480 to $45,880.

BLS OEWS median, May 2025, as of May 15, 2026. BEA Regional Price Parity 2024. Disclaimer

vs US median: −35.3%
US median: $59,280
Metro RPP: 97.6
Middle half: $35,480 to $45,880
OEWS employment: 1,220
SOC: 33-2011

Firefighters in Durham pay a median $38,350 (May 2025), 35.3% below the US median of $59,280. At local prices (RPP 97.6), that median buys about what $39,293 buys at US-average prices.

Purchasing power

$38,350 in Durham buys about what $39,293 buys at US-average prices (BEA RPP 97.6, 2024). Housing (rents) RPP is 98.9 vs all-items 97.6 (US = 100, 2024).

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Firefighters in nearby metros

Metro	Median	Middle half	RPP
Durham	$38,350	$35,480 to $45,880	97.6
Charlotte	$38,700	$34,900 to $57,950	97.3
San Francisco	$113,700	$96,420 to $125,390	115.6

BLS OEWS May 2025 where published for the CBSA.

FAQ

What is the median salary for Firefighters in Durham?: According to BLS OEWS May 2025, the median annual wage for Firefighters in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC is $38,350.
How does Durham pay compare to the US median for Firefighters?: Local median pay is 35.3% below the national OEWS median of $59,280.
How does cost of living change what that wage buys?: BEA RPP for Durham is 97.6 (US = 100, 2024). The local median of $38,350 has about the same purchasing power as $39,293 at US-average prices.
How current is this data?: Wages are BLS OEWS May 2025. Price levels use BEA Regional Price Parities for 2024. See methodology for source details.

What this covers

Includes

BEA Regional Price Parities (all items, goods, housing rents, other services)
BLS OEWS median wages, percentile bands, and employment where published
Purchasing-power math: salary × (destination RPP ÷ origin RPP)

Does not include

Federal, state, or local income taxes
Childcare, healthcare premiums, or leave benefits
Job openings. OEWS employment is a published stock estimate, not hiring demand

Median wages are published BLS OEWS metro estimates; price levels use BEA Regional Price Parities. See methodology and disclaimer.