Firefighter salary in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
Firefighters in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area earn a median of $98,050 a year ($47.14 an hour), based on BLS data for 7,200 workers.
Pay ranges from $58,710 for the lowest-paid 10% to $150,760 for the top 10%. That is 65% higher than the national median of $59,280. Pay here is 15% higher than the California statewide median of $85,120. There are 1.1 firefighters per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.52). The average (mean) salary is $108,860, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for firefighters in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $58,710 | $28.23 |
| 25th percentile | $77,720 | $37.37 |
| Median | $98,050 | $47.14 |
| 75th percentile | $127,660 | $61.37 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $150,760 | $72.48 |
| Average (mean) | $108,860 | $52.34 |
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 | $8,170.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,085.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,771.15 |
| Weekly | $1,885.58 |
| Hourly | $47.14 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $98,050 salary, see how much house you can afford in California at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Firefighter salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $152,100 | 1,330 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $113,700 | 3,450 |
| 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 |
See Firefighter pay in every state or the California statewide figures.
Related jobs in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists | $105,460 | $50.70 |
| Fire Inspectors and Investigators | $94,140 | $45.26 |
| Security Guard | $40,030 | $19.25 |
| Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $121,980 | $58.64 |
| Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers | $43,800 | $21.06 |
| Protective Service Workers, All Other | $37,290 | $17.93 |
| Correctional Officers and Jailers | $78,770 | $37.87 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | $167,600 | $80.58 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers | $49,900 | $23.99 |
| Detectives and Criminal Investigators | $127,890 | $61.49 |
| Transportation Security Screener | $73,610 | $35.39 |
| Crossing Guards and Flaggers | $55,700 | $26.78 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers | $169,350 | $81.42 |
| Private Detectives and Investigators | $61,680 | $29.65 |
More: Protective Service Occupations · all salaries in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
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 Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA?
The median salary for firefighters in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area is $98,050 a year, or $47.14 an hour. Pay ranges from $58,710 for the lowest-paid 10% to $150,760 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid firefighters make in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA?
The top 10% of firefighters in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area earn at least $150,760 a year. The top 25% earn $127,660 or more.
What is the starting pay for firefighters in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $58,710 a year, and a quarter of firefighters earn $77,720 or less.
How many firefighters work in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA?
About 7,200 firefighters are employed in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.