State comparison · 2025
Firefighters salary: California vs Colorado
Firefighters in California earn a median of $85,120. In Colorado, $74,170. After cost-of-living, the gap is 6.9% — not 14.8%.
Nominal pay gap
+14.8%
California vs Colorado
COL-adjusted gap
+6.9%
After BEA Regional Price Parities
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
Colorado
Firefighters
- Median
- $74,170
- p25
- $60,970
- p75
- $101,260
- p10
- $47,000
- p90
- $114,170
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 103.1
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.