State comparison · 2025
Firefighters salary: California vs Iowa
Firefighters in California earn a median of $85,120. In Iowa, $55,810. After cost-of-living, the gap is 21% — not 52.5%.
Nominal pay gap
+52.5%
California vs Iowa
COL-adjusted gap
+21%
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
Iowa
Firefighters
- Median
- $55,810
- p25
- $46,020
- p75
- $63,280
- p10
- $32,240
- p90
- $87,720
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 87.8
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.