State comparison · 2025
Firefighters salary: California vs District of Columbia
Firefighters in California earn a median of $85,120. In District of Columbia, $75,870. After cost-of-living, the gap is 11.4% — not 12.2%.
Nominal pay gap
+12.2%
California vs District of Columbia
COL-adjusted gap
+11.4%
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
District of Columbia
Firefighters
- Median
- $75,870
- p25
- $65,090
- p75
- $92,110
- p10
- $61,050
- p90
- $99,760
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 109.9
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.