Firefighters Pay Range in California
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$52,390
- 25th Percentile — Junior$65,170
- 50th Percentile — Median$85,120
- 75th Percentile — Senior$109,620
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$136,150
Half of Firefighters in California earn more than $85,120. The top 10% make $136,150 or more, while entry-level workers start around $52,390.
Firefighters in California: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- California ranks 1st of 50 states for Firefighters pay, at $95,090 per year (49.4% above the U.S. average of $63,630).
- 31,470 people work as Firefighters in California — 9.1% of all U.S. Firefighters jobs.
- Location quotient 0.78: Firefighters jobs are less concentrated in California than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $52,390; the top 10% earn over $136,150.
- Hourly equivalent: $45.72 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- Among public safety jobs in California, First-Line Supervisors of Police pays the most ($163,210).
Firefighters Job Market in California
Key factors affecting compensation
California's key industries are Technology, Entertainment, Agriculture, and its job market is rated very strong. Firefighters here earn $95,090 on average, placing the state 1st nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 1.42 (U.S. = 1.00), a California salary of $95,090 is roughly equivalent to $66,965 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Washington ($89,200), New York ($87,150), New Jersey ($85,810) are the closest alternatives for Firefighters weighing a move.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
Other Public Safety Jobs in California
Related career salary benchmarks
- First-Line Supervisors of Police $163,210/yr California +71.6% vs this role
- First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting $151,620/yr California +59.4% vs this role
- Detectives and Criminal Investigators $121,530/yr California +27.8% vs this role
- Police Officers $112,980/yr California +18.8% vs this role
- Correctional Officers and Jailers $92,410/yr California 2.8% vs this role
- Private Detectives and Investigators $67,040/yr California 29.5% vs this role
- Security Guards $44,920/yr California 52.8% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Firefighters salary in California?
The average Firefighters salary in California is $95,090 per year (median $85,120), which is 49.4% above the national average of $63,630.
How does California rank for Firefighters pay?
California ranks 1st out of 50 states. The highest-paying state is California ($95,090/yr).
How much do entry-level Firefighters make in California?
The lowest-paid 10% of Firefighters in California earn about $52,390 per year and the 25th percentile is $65,170.
How much do Firefighters make per hour in California?
About $45.72 per hour, based on the $95,090 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Firefighters work in California?
BLS counts 31,470 Firefighters jobs in California (OEWS May 2025).
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