Firefighters pay in California
$95,090avg. a year
$45.72 an hour · 31,470 employed
Firefighters in California earn an average of $95,090 a year. That is $31,460 (49%) more than the U.S. average of $63,630. The best-paying metro area is Bakersfield-Delano, CA at $199,490.
$85,120Median pay
$45.72Average hourly
+9%Avg. pay since 2020
#1Of 49 states + D.C.
Top-paying California metro areas
Average pay for firefighters by metro area. Swipe to see all 25.
1780 jobs
Bakersfield-Delano, CA
$199,490
$95.91 an hour
21,330 jobs
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
$134,270
$64.55 an hour
33,450 jobs
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
$110,590
$53.17 an hour
47,200 jobs
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
$108,860
$52.34 an hour
5330 jobs
Vallejo, CA
$99,530
$47.85 an hour
62,590 jobs
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA
$97,420
$46.84 an hour
7320 jobs
Stockton-Lodi, CA
$89,710
$43.13 an hour
8410 jobs
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA
$87,660
$42.14 an hour
9310 jobs
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA
$86,410
$41.54 an hour
10230 jobs
Modesto, CA
$85,430
$41.07 an hour
113,390 jobs
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA
$84,120
$40.44 an hour
12760 jobs
Salinas, CA
$82,830
$39.82 an hour
13770 jobs
Fresno, CA
$82,520
$39.67 an hour
14
Napa, CA
$78,450
$37.72 an hour
15390 jobs
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA
$77,790
$37.40 an hour
162,880 jobs
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
$74,540
$35.84 an hour
17110 jobs
Yuba City, CA
$73,390
$35.28 an hour
18350 jobs
Chico, CA
$73,300
$35.24 an hour
19660 jobs
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA
$72,440
$34.83 an hour
20410 jobs
Redding, CA
$71,690
$34.47 an hour
21380 jobs
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
$71,110
$34.19 an hour
22270 jobs
Merced, CA
$68,120
$32.75 an hour
23480 jobs
Visalia, CA
$63,870
$30.71 an hour
24110 jobs
Hanford-Corcoran, CA
$60,990
$29.32 an hour
25180 jobs
El Centro, CA
$58,430
$28.09 an hour
Why people trust JobPayFacts
Official government dataEvery number comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage survey of employers, not self-reported salaries.
Every state and city830 jobs across all 50 states, D.C. and 199 large metro areas.
Updated every yearNew figures each spring when BLS releases them. This site uses May 2025 data.
Firefighters pay in California, charted
Pay over time
California, annual wage, May of each year
AverageMedian
Where California firefighters work
Employment by metro area, May 2025
Average pay by state
May 2025 · California highlighted · tap a state
AKMEWIVTNHWAIDMTNDMNILMINYMAORNVWYSDIAINOHPANJCTRICAUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDEAZNMKSARTNNCSCDCOKLAMSALGAHITXFL
Under $50k$50k–$57k$57k–$71k$71k+California
California vs. neighbors
Average pay, May 2025
| Area | Avg. pay | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| United States | $63,630 | $30.59 |
| California | $95,090 | $45.72 |
| Oregon | $71,290 | $34.28 |
| Nevada | $70,510 | $33.90 |
| Arizona | $60,850 | $29.26 |
Related jobs in California
Average pay, California, May 2025
Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS
Questions and answers
How much do firefighters make in California?
The average is $95,090 a year, and the median is $85,120. That is $31,460 (49%) more than the U.S. average of $63,630.
What is the hourly wage in California?
$45.72 an hour on average; the median is $40.92.
Where in California do they earn the most?
Bakersfield-Delano, CA ($199,490), followed by San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($134,270). The lowest average among 25 metro areas with data is El Centro, CA ($58,430).
How does California rank?
California ranks #1 of 50 states (including D.C.) with published data for this job, by average pay.
Sources and notes. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 (trend: May 2020–May 2025), occupation code 33-2011. State rank compares average pay across states with published data. Metro figures cover metropolitan statistical areas; a metro area can cross state lines. See also the national firefighters page. Wages are gross pay before taxes and don't include overtime premiums, tips, bonuses or benefits; self-employed workers aren't included. Year-to-year changes can partly reflect survey method changes, so treat the trend as a guide. How we use the data. JobPayFacts isn't affiliated with BLS.