From paramedics to firefighters and surgeons, here's what the average American makes in 19 life-saving jobs

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From paramedics to firefighters and surgeons, here's what the average American makes in 19 life-saving jobs

Sequoia national forest controlled fire

Reuters

Forest-fire inspectors and prevention specialists earn an average of $49,610 a year.

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Firefighters, paramedics, and nurses save and protect people's lives every day.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Employment Statistics program offers data on employment and wages across different occupations and industries.

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We took a look at the average annual salaries, as reported by the BLS, for 19 medical and protective-service roles where saving lives is a part of the job.

Lifeguards tend to make a relatively low annual salary, while firefighters and police officers are well compensated on average. Surgeons are very highly paid.

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Here are those occupations, ranked from lowest to highest average salary as of May 2018, the most recent period for which BLS data is available:

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19. Lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers earn an average of $24,420 a year.

19. Lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers earn an average of $24,420 a year.

There are 144,370 employed in the US.

18. Ambulance drivers and attendants (except EMTs) earn an average of $29,010 a year.

18. Ambulance drivers and attendants (except EMTs) earn an average of $29,010 a year.

There are 15,380 employed in the US.

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17. Crossing guards earn an average of $31,970 a year.

17. Crossing guards earn an average of $31,970 a year.

There are 79,880 employed in the US.

16. Security guards earn an average of $32,050 a year.

16. Security guards earn an average of $32,050 a year.

There are 1,114,380 employed in the US.

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15. Emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and paramedics earn an average of $37,760 a year.

15. Emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and paramedics earn an average of $37,760 a year.

There are 257,210 employed in the US.

14. Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental-health counselors earn an average of $47,920 a year.

14. Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental-health counselors earn an average of $47,920 a year.

There are 267,730 employed in the US.

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13. Forest-fire inspectors and prevention specialists earn an average of $49,610 a year.

13. Forest-fire inspectors and prevention specialists earn an average of $49,610 a year.

There are 2,130 employed in the US.

12. Firefighters earn an average of $53,240 a year.

12. Firefighters earn an average of $53,240 a year.

There are 321,570 employed in the US.

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11. Fire inspectors and investigators earn an average of $64,140 a year.

11. Fire inspectors and investigators earn an average of $64,140 a year.

There are 12,530 employed in the US.

10. Police and sheriff's patrol officers earn an average of $65,400 a year.

10. Police and sheriff's patrol officers earn an average of $65,400 a year.

There are 661,330 employed in the US.

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9. Transit and railroad police earn an average of $74,450 a year.

9. Transit and railroad police earn an average of $74,450 a year.

There are 4,470 employed in the US.

8. Registered nurses earn an average of $75,510 a year.

8. Registered nurses earn an average of $75,510 a year.

There are 2,951,960 employed in the US.

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7. Epidemiologists earn an average of $75,690 a year.

7. Epidemiologists earn an average of $75,690 a year.

There are 7,060 employed in the US.

6. First-line supervisors of fire-fighting and prevention workers earn an average of $80,310 a year.

6. First-line supervisors of fire-fighting and prevention workers earn an average of $80,310 a year.

There are 65,920 employed in the US.

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5. Emergency management directors earn an average of $82,570.

5. Emergency management directors earn an average of $82,570.

There are 9,550 employed in the US.

4. Detectives and criminal investigators earn an average of $85,020 a year.

4. Detectives and criminal investigators earn an average of $85,020 a year.

There are 103,450 employed in the US.

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3. First-line supervisors of police and detectives earn an average of $93,100 a year.

3. First-line supervisors of police and detectives earn an average of $93,100 a year.

There are 116,660 employed in the US.

2. Air-traffic controllers earn an average of $120,830 a year.

2. Air-traffic controllers earn an average of $120,830 a year.

There are 22,390 employed in the US.

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1. Surgeons earn an average of $255,110 a year.

1. Surgeons earn an average of $255,110 a year.

There are 34,390 employed in the US.

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