State comparison · 2025
Firefighters salary: California vs Florida
Firefighters in California earn a median of $85,120. In Florida, $58,550. After cost-of-living, the gap is 35.8% — not 45.4%.
Nominal pay gap
+45.4%
California vs Florida
COL-adjusted gap
+35.8%
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
Florida
Firefighters
- Median
- $58,550
- p25
- $45,900
- p75
- $75,840
- p10
- $37,260
- p90
- $93,310
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 103.4
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.