State comparison · 2025
Firefighters salary: California vs Idaho
Firefighters in California earn a median of $85,120. In Idaho, $47,320. After cost-of-living, the gap is 55.2% — not 79.9%.
Nominal pay gap
+79.9%
California vs Idaho
COL-adjusted gap
+55.2%
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
Idaho
Firefighters
- Median
- $47,320
- p25
- $35,380
- p75
- $76,280
- p10
- $30,280
- p90
- $81,190
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 95.5
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.