State comparison · 2025
Firefighters salary: California vs Maryland
Firefighters in California earn a median of $85,120. In Maryland, $73,810. After cost-of-living, the gap is 9.4% — not 15.3%.
Nominal pay gap
+15.3%
California vs Maryland
COL-adjusted gap
+9.4%
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
Maryland
Firefighters
- Median
- $73,810
- p25
- $57,160
- p75
- $90,760
- p10
- $48,030
- p90
- $98,770
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 105.0
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.