Firefighter salary in Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA
Firefighters in the Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA metro area earn a median of $87,400 a year ($42.02 an hour), based on BLS data for 310 workers.
Pay ranges from $41,380 for the lowest-paid 10% to $120,820 for the top 10%. That is 47% higher than the national median of $59,280. Pay here is 3% higher than the California statewide median of $85,120. There are 1.5 firefighters per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.68). The average (mean) salary is $86,410, close to the median.
Pay range for firefighters in Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $41,380 | $19.89 |
| 25th percentile | $64,980 | $31.24 |
| Median | $87,400 | $42.02 |
| 75th percentile | $110,620 | $53.19 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $120,820 | $58.09 |
| Average (mean) | $86,410 | $41.54 |
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 | $7,283.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,641.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,361.54 |
| Weekly | $1,680.77 |
| Hourly | $42.02 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
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 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $98,050 | 7,200 |
| Vallejo, CA | $95,950 | 330 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $94,080 | 2,590 |
| 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 Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fire Inspectors and Investigators | $99,660 | $47.92 |
| Security Guard | $45,160 | $21.71 |
| Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $125,910 | $60.53 |
| Protective Service Workers, All Other | $44,980 | $21.62 |
| Crossing Guards and Flaggers | $45,650 | $21.95 |
| Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers | $37,320 | $17.94 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers | $58,490 | $28.12 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers | $140,830 | $67.71 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | $157,650 | $75.79 |
| Detectives and Criminal Investigators | $133,100 | $63.99 |
More: Protective Service Occupations · all salaries in Santa Rosa-Petaluma, 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 Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA?
The median salary for firefighters in the Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA metro area is $87,400 a year, or $42.02 an hour. Pay ranges from $41,380 for the lowest-paid 10% to $120,820 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid firefighters make in Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA?
The top 10% of firefighters in the Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA metro area earn at least $120,820 a year. The top 25% earn $110,620 or more.
What is the starting pay for firefighters in Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $41,380 a year, and a quarter of firefighters earn $64,980 or less.
How many firefighters work in Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA?
About 310 firefighters are employed in the Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.