State comparison · 2025
Firefighters salary: California vs Delaware
Firefighters in California earn a median of $85,120. In Delaware, $46,710. After cost-of-living, the gap is 64.3% — not 82.2%.
Nominal pay gap
+82.2%
California vs Delaware
COL-adjusted gap
+64.3%
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
Delaware
Firefighters
- Median
- $46,710
- p25
- $45,300
- p75
- $60,670
- p10
- $41,960
- p90
- $72,160
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 99.8
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.