State comparison · 2025
Firefighters salary: California vs Louisiana
Firefighters in California earn a median of $85,120. In Louisiana, $33,120. After cost-of-living, the gap is 104.8% — not 157%.
Nominal pay gap
+157%
California vs Louisiana
COL-adjusted gap
+104.8%
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
Louisiana
Firefighters
- Median
- $33,120
- p25
- $27,510
- p75
- $44,770
- p10
- $22,510
- p90
- $56,670
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 88.2
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.