State comparison · 2025
Firefighters salary: California vs Massachusetts
Firefighters in California earn a median of $85,120. In Massachusetts, $72,800. After cost-of-living, the gap is 11.7% — not 16.9%.
Nominal pay gap
+16.9%
California vs Massachusetts
COL-adjusted gap
+11.7%
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
Massachusetts
Firefighters
- Median
- $72,800
- p25
- $61,800
- p75
- $80,070
- p10
- $49,730
- p90
- $98,130
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 105.8
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.