State comparison · 2025
Firefighters salary: California vs Illinois
Firefighters in California earn a median of $85,120. In Illinois, $78,380. After cost-of-living, the gap is 1.9% — not 8.6%.
Nominal pay gap
+8.6%
California vs Illinois
COL-adjusted gap
-1.9%
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
Illinois
Firefighters
- Median
- $78,380
- p25
- $47,910
- p75
- $103,530
- p10
- $38,900
- p90
- $106,060
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 100.0
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.