State comparison · 2025
Firefighters salary: California vs Indiana
Firefighters in California earn a median of $85,120. In Indiana, $62,780. After cost-of-living, the gap is 14.3% — not 35.6%.
Nominal pay gap
+35.6%
California vs Indiana
COL-adjusted gap
+14.3%
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
Indiana
Firefighters
- Median
- $62,780
- p25
- $50,300
- p75
- $75,860
- p10
- $38,460
- p90
- $81,890
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 93.3
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.