State comparison · 2025
Firefighters salary: Alaska vs California
Firefighters in California earn a median of $85,120. In Alaska, $58,830. After cost-of-living, the gap is 25.3% — not 30.9%.
Nominal pay gap
-30.9%
Alaska vs California
COL-adjusted gap
-25.3%
After BEA Regional Price Parities
Alaska
Firefighters
- Median
- $58,830
- p25
- $42,510
- p75
- $74,650
- p10
- $35,520
- p90
- $82,360
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 102.4
California
Firefighters
- Median
- $85,120
- p25
- $65,170
- p75
- $109,620
- p10
- $52,390
- p90
- $136,150
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 110.7
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Cost-of-living adjustment from BEA Regional Price Parities (overall index). Hiring velocity from DOL OFLC public disclosure data, recent 180 days vs prior. See methodology.