State comparison · 2025
Firefighters salary: California vs Kansas
Firefighters in California earn a median of $85,120. In Kansas, $45,900. After cost-of-living, the gap is 50.9% — not 85.4%.
Nominal pay gap
+85.4%
California vs Kansas
COL-adjusted gap
+50.9%
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
Kansas
Firefighters
- Median
- $45,900
- p25
- $37,440
- p75
- $57,950
- p10
- $32,810
- p90
- $76,110
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 90.1
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.