Source: Indeed “Firefighter” jobs in the United States, pulled this morning.
Nationwide:
- ~1,279 firefighter job postings in the U.S. on Indeed (core “Firefighter” listings, not counting every “firefighter EMT/paramedic” variant). Indeed
You can truthfully write something like:
“Major job boards currently list 1,200+ open firefighter positions nationwide, not including additional firefighter/EMT and paramedic roles.”
2. Example openings by state (for a quick table)
These are single-day snapshots from Indeed, so they bounce around but are good enough for “ballpark”/trend language in an article.
Table – Firefighter job postings by selected states (Indeed snapshot)
| Region | State | Firefighter postings (core “Firefighter” search) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northeast | Pennsylvania | ~7 core firefighter jobs (plus ~63 “firefighter EMT” roles) | Mix of municipal and industrial/EMS-heavy roles. Indeed+1 |
| Northeast | New York | ~9 firefighter jobs | Includes lab/industrial fire, municipal lateral transfer roles. Indeed |
| Midwest | Ohio | ~35 firefighter jobs | A lot of firefighter/paramedic postings, lateral and entry. Indeed |
| South | Texas | ~90 firefighter jobs | Many postings across suburbs and special districts, some via TCFP/league boards. Indeed+1 |
| South | Florida | ~96 firefighter jobs | Strong demand; plus many postings via National Testing Network for FL departments. Indeed+1 |
| West | California | ~140 firefighter jobs | Mix of city fire, fire protection districts, firefighter/paramedic roles. Indeed |
You can frame this visually as:
“A scan of one major job board shows dozens of open positions in each large state — roughly 140 in California, ~90 in Texas, and ~100 in Florida — on top of hundreds of openings elsewhere across the country.”
If you want a “total” line, you can say:
“Across the U.S., one leading job site lists more than 1,200 open firefighter positions, and that number rises further when you include firefighter/EMT and firefighter/paramedic roles.”
(backed by the ~1,279 national total + extra EMT/paramedic postings). Indeed+1
3. Local pay snapshot – Lehigh Valley & Bucks County area
Here’s the salary picture you can plug into a local angle for Allentown / Bethlehem / Bensalem (Bucks).
Allentown, PA
- Average firefighter salary (Allentown city area): about $58,800/year (~$28.28/hr), based on recent salary estimates. ZipRecruiter
- Glassdoor estimates a typical range of roughly $59k–$91k, with some reports up to ~$111k for top earners, which likely reflects seniority, overtime and specialty assignments. Glassdoor+1
- Allentown’s 2025 city budget shows over 100 firefighter positions with total firefighter salary spending in the multi-million range, consistent with that mid-$50k to low-$80k per-FTE picture. allentownpa.gov
How to write it:
“In Allentown, recent estimates put the average firefighter salary around $59,000 a year, with experienced firefighters and officers earning significantly more once overtime and longevity pay are factored in.”
Bethlehem, PA
- Indeed data: average firefighter salary ~ $59,783/year in Bethlehem (very close to the national average). Indeed
- City of Bethlehem’s own 2025 application packet lists the 2026 base pay scale:
- Step 1 (Trainee, upon hire): $60,673
- Step 2 (8 months after fire academy): $62,619
- And additional steps up from there under the IAFF Local 735 contract. bethlehem-pa.gov+1
How to write it:
“Bethlehem’s 2026 contract sets a starting firefighter salary just over $60,000, with step raises bringing pay higher after the academy and additional years of service.”
Bensalem / Bucks County suburban snapshot
Bucks is mostly combo and volunteer, but the career side still gives you good pay examples:
- Average firefighter salary in Bensalem (all data sources):
- ZipRecruiter: about $56,800/year (~$27.32/hr). ZipRecruiter
- SalaryExpert: estimates a gross average around $76,400/year, with entry-level around $53,500 and experienced firefighters higher. Salary Expert
- GovSalaries data on Bensalem Township fire fighters shows an average of $60,305, with individual salaries ranging roughly $28,886–$91,724. GovSalaries
- A recent posting for a new Bensalem fire chief pegged that leadership pay around $120,000/year, underscoring how high top-tier roles can go. Patch
How to write it:
“In suburban Bucks County, firefighter pay typically lands in the mid-$50,000 to mid-$70,000 range, with some senior firefighters topping $90,000 and command staff earning into the six figures.”
4. Quick paragraph you can paste into an article
Here’s a ready-to-use block that ties it all together:
Job market snapshot: A scan of a major national job board shows more than 1,200 open firefighter positions across the United States, with individual states like California (~140), Texas (~90), and Florida (~100) each listing dozens of openings on their own. In Pennsylvania, the core “firefighter” listings are smaller in raw number but are boosted by dozens of firefighter/EMT and paramedic roles. Locally, typical base pay for firefighters runs around $59,000 a year in Allentown and Bethlehem, and mid-$50,000s to mid-$70,000s in Bensalem and other Bucks County suburbs, with experienced firefighters and officers often earning substantially more with overtime, specialty pay, and promotion to leadership roles. GovSalaries+6Indeed+6Indeed+6
