Know your market value with insights across roles — from individual contributors to executive pay and overall company compensation trends.
Access a suite of powerful calculators to make data-driven career decisions.
Automate pay cycles, manage job architectures, and ensure pay equity with AI-powered compensation platforms.
Access validated salary benchmarks, labor market trends, and minimum wage data to stay competitive.
Participate in and purchase industry-specific salary surveys to obtain the most accurate, peer-reported pay data.
As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Firefighter in California is $68,758 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $33.
However, a Firefighter's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
Compensation Planning
Develop a Job Description
Pay Equity
2026 Compensation Trend
AI-Powered Talent
AI-Powered HR
Firefighter Salaries by Percentile
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
| 75th Percentile | $76,383 | $6,365 | $1,469 | $37 |
| Average | $68,758 | $5,730 | $1,322 | $33 |
| 25th Percentile | $62,332 | $5,194 | $1,199 | $30 |
Morongo Band of Mission Indians - Banning, CA
City of Culver City California - Culver City, CA
Pechanga Tribal Government - Temecula, CA
The Truckee Fire Protection District - Truckee, CA
A Firefighter's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location and company size can directly affect your earning potential.
Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Firefighters. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:
For Firefighter roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 70% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Energy & Utilities and Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 40% above the average. In contrast, Firefighter positions in Software & Networking or Business Services typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Firefighter as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
| Industry Sector | Average Annual Salary | Average Hourly Rate | Pay vs.Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Energy & Utilities | $96,261 | $46.0 | 40% |
| Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit | $75,634 | $36.0 | 10% |
Understanding how a Firefighter's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.
| Annual Salary | Monthly Pay | Weekly Pay | Hourly Wage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75th Percentile | $76,383 | $6,365 | $1,469 | $37 |
| Average | $68,758 | $5,730 | $1,322 | $33 |
| 25th Percentile | $62,332 | $5,194 | $1,199 | $30 |
Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Firefighter job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.
GovernmentJobs.com
Calimesa, CA
GovernmentJobs.com | Calimesa, CA
Firefighter-EMTUnder general supervision, performs a full range of firefighting duties to include the suppression of various types of fires, emergency medi... more
6 Days Ago
Pala Band of Mission Indians
Pala, CA
Pala Band of Mission Indians | Pala, CA
Job Description. Job Description. PALA BAND OF MISSION INDIANS. HUMAN RESOURCES 35008 Pala Temecula Rd. P.M.B. 50 Pala, CA 92059. . . JOB DESCRIPTION. . Ti... more
6 Days Ago
GovernmentJobs.com
Sun City, CA
GovernmentJobs.com | Sun City, CA
Firefighter/ParamedicThe City of Canyon Lake is seeking qualified men and women for the position of Firefighter/Paramedic. This recruitment is to fill one ... more
6 Days Ago
GovernmentJobs.com
Downey, CA
GovernmentJobs.com | Downey, CA
AUXILIARY FIREFIGHTERThe City of Downey Fire Department Auxiliary Firefighter Program began in 1987 with the goal of allowing fire academy graduates an opp... more
6 Days Ago
City of Downey California
Downey, CA
City of Downey California | Downey, CA
The City of Downey Fire Department Auxiliary Firefighter Program began in 1987 with the goal of allowing fire academy graduates an opportunity to acquire o... more
6 Days Ago
City of Piedmont
Oakland, CA
City of Piedmont | Oakland, CA
Job Description. Job Description. Firefighter/Paramedic. LateralPiedmont Fire is seeking qualified candidates for. Firefighter/Paramedic. to join a departm... more
2 Days Ago
Get a Salary Increase
Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.
Search Job Openings
Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.
Adjust Employee Salary
Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.
Price My Industry Jobs
Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.
Use Salary.com's Cost of Living Calculator to find out what income you need to maintain your standard of living in a different city and how much more or less money you need to budget for basic expenses.
Explore Cost of Living CalculatorSalary.com experts will help you thrive your workplaces.
Salary.com provides salary survey data for thousands of industry Jobs.
Salary.com salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third-party data sources. We also provide multiple percentiles of salary information for your reference, click here to know Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial to Getting Pay Equity Right. With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target.
Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:
