How much does a firefighter make in California?
$85,120a year
Median yearly pay for firefighters in California. That is $40.92 an hour or $7,093 a month.
- Hourly
- $40.92
- Vs. national median
- +44%
- Rank among states
- 3 of 50
- Jobs in the state
- 31,470
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $52,390Median: $85,120Highest 10%: $136,200
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $52,390 | $25.19 | |
| 25th | $65,170 | $31.33 | |
| Median | $85,120 | $40.92 | |
| 75th | $109,600 | $52.70 | |
| 90th | $136,200 | $65.46 |
Cities in California
Metro areas, median yearly pay.
| San Jose, CA | $152,100 |
| San Francisco, CA | $113,700 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $98,050 |
| Vallejo, CA | $95,950 |
| Sacramento, CA | $94,080 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $87,400 |
| Santa Maria, CA | $82,250 |
| Salinas, CA | $81,070 |
| Yuba City, CA | $80,360 |
| Napa, CA | $80,260 |
| Stockton, CA | $79,540 |
| Fresno, CA | $79,160 |
| Riverside, CA | $79,160 |
| Oxnard, CA | $77,400 |
| Modesto, CA | $77,370 |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | $75,910 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $72,410 |
| Chico, CA | $71,830 |
| San Diego, CA | $70,900 |
| Redding, CA | $65,170 |
| Visalia, CA | $65,170 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | $64,980 |
| Merced, CA | $63,940 |
| Hanford, CA | $55,220 |
| El Centro, CA | $46,080 |
Nearby in the ranking
States with similar pay for firefighters.
| 1. New York | $101,000 |
| 2. Washington | $94,520 |
| 3. California | $85,120 |
| 4. New Jersey | $84,130 |
| 5. Illinois | $78,380 |
| 6. Connecticut | $77,630 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a firefighter make an hour in California?
The median hourly pay in California is $40.92 ($85,120 a year).
Do firefighters make more in California than the national average?
Yes: $85,120 against $59,280 nationally, 44% more.
Where does California rank for firefighter pay?
California ranks 3 of 50 states.
Which city in California pays firefighters the most?
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA, with a median of $152,100 a year.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.