Firefighter salary in California
Firefighters in California earn a median of $85,120 a year ($40.92 an hour), based on BLS data for 31,470 workers.
Pay ranges from $52,390 for the lowest-paid 10% to $136,150 for the top 10%. That is 44% higher than the national median of $59,280. California ranks 3rd of 50 states for firefighters pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 1.7 firefighters per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.78). The average (mean) salary is $95,090, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for firefighters in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $52,390 | $25.19 |
| 25th percentile | $65,170 | $31.33 |
| Median | $85,120 | $40.92 |
| 75th percentile | $109,620 | $52.70 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $136,150 | $65.46 |
| Average (mean) | $95,090 | $45.72 |
Half of firefighters earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $7,093.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,546.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,273.85 |
| Weekly | $1,636.92 |
| Hourly | $40.92 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Firefighter salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $152,100 | 1,330 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $113,700 | 3,450 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $98,050 | 7,200 |
| Vallejo, CA | $95,950 | 330 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $94,080 | 2,590 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $87,400 | 310 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $82,250 | 410 |
| Salinas, CA | $81,070 | 760 |
| Yuba City, CA | $80,360 | 110 |
| Napa, CA | $80,260 | n/a |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $79,540 | 320 |
| Fresno, CA | $79,160 | 770 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $79,160 | 3,390 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $77,400 | 660 |
| Modesto, CA | $77,370 | 230 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $75,910 | 390 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $72,410 | 780 |
| Chico, CA | $71,830 | 350 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $70,900 | 2,880 |
| Redding, CA | $65,170 | 410 |
| Visalia, CA | $65,170 | 480 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $64,980 | 380 |
| Merced, CA | $63,940 | 270 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $55,220 | 110 |
| El Centro, CA | $46,080 | 180 |
Highest-paying states for firefighters
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| New York | $100,960 |
| Washington | $94,520 |
| California | $85,120 |
| New Jersey | $84,130 |
| Illinois | $78,380 |
| Connecticut | $77,630 |
| District of Columbia | $75,870 |
| Colorado | $74,170 |
| Maryland | $73,810 |
| Pennsylvania | $73,460 |
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fire Inspectors and Investigators | $99,230 | $47.71 |
| Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists | $97,370 | $46.81 |
| Security Guard | $43,240 | $20.79 |
| Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $118,880 | $57.15 |
| Correctional Officers and Jailers | $96,370 | $46.33 |
| Protective Service Workers, All Other | $39,330 | $18.91 |
| Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers | $42,720 | $20.54 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | $163,960 | $78.83 |
| Detectives and Criminal Investigators | $124,840 | $60.02 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers | $53,960 | $25.94 |
| Crossing Guards and Flaggers | $50,610 | $24.33 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers | $127,630 | $61.36 |
| Transportation Security Screener | $73,610 | $35.39 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers | $131,210 | $63.08 |
More: Protective Service Occupations · all salaries in California
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 33-2011. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a firefighter make in California?
The median salary for firefighters in California is $85,120 a year, or $40.92 an hour. Pay ranges from $52,390 for the lowest-paid 10% to $136,150 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid firefighters make in California?
The top 10% of firefighters in California earn at least $136,150 a year. The top 25% earn $109,620 or more.
What is the starting pay for firefighters in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $52,390 a year, and a quarter of firefighters earn $65,170 or less.
How many firefighters work in California?
About 31,470 firefighters are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.