Birmingham ranks 4th best large city in U.S. for firefighters to work, according to survey

Birmingham Fire Department Birmingham ranks 4th best large city in U.S. for firefighters to work, according to survey
Photo from the Birmingham Fire and Rescue  Service Facebook page

According to a national survey conducted by AdvisorSmith, Birmingham metro ranked 4th best in the large city category for firefighters to work.

Released on February 4th, the company conducted a study on 311 cities in the United States to determine the best places for firefighters to pursue their careers in.

best cities for firefighters by city size advisorsmith Birmingham ranks 4th best large city in U.S. for firefighters to work, according to survey
Graph from AdvisorSmith report on best places for firefighters to work.

There were three sub-categories in the study: small, mid-sized and large. The categories were based on metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs). For example, the large category included MSAs with a population over 500,000. Bham metro area is about 1.2 million, which includes a seven county region.

Just ahead of Birmingham in the survey were Cape Coral, Florida, Columbus, Ohio and Toledo, Ohio.

Birmingham, Cahaba Valley Fire, firefighters, Birmingham fire and rescue, Birmingham firefighters, Derrek Oldham
Derrek Oldham and son Jonathan Oldham’s gear on Derreks last day of work.

Overall, Birmingham ranked no. 30 overall in the AdvisorSmith study, beating out Tuscaloosa at no. 37, Anniston at no. 112 and Decatur at no. 120 on the list.

The rankings were based on several key factors including:

  • Average annual salary
  • Cost of living
  • Location quotient

We love our firefighters and rescue paramedics

21457429 1798045746890677 5750597075298995416 o Birmingham ranks 4th best large city in U.S. for firefighters to work, according to survey
September 11 ceremony in downtown Birmingham in 2017. Photo from the Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service Department Facebook page

Bham Now loves our community’s firefighters and rescue paramedics!

Over the past few years we’ve had the pleasure to profile several of our brave local first responders.

For some inspiration – Check out these two features:

Firefighter and rescue paramedic, Derrek Oldham, helps keep Birmingham safe

Are you right for civil service? Latoria Jones, mother of 4 and Birmingham Fire Lieutenant, shares what it’s really like

Pat Byington
Pat Byington

Longtime conservationist. Former Executive Director at the Alabama Environmental Council and Wild South. Publisher of the Bama Environmental News for more than 18 years. Career highlights include playing an active role in the creation of Alabama's Forever Wild program, Little River Canyon National Preserve, Dugger Mountain Wilderness, preservation of special places throughout the East through the Wilderness Society and the strengthening (making more stringent) the state of Alabama's cancer risk and mercury standards.

Articles: 2410