State comparison · 2025
Firefighters salary: California vs Michigan
Firefighters in California earn a median of $85,120. In Michigan, $54,640. After cost-of-living, the gap is 35.4% — not 55.8%.
Nominal pay gap
+55.8%
California vs Michigan
COL-adjusted gap
+35.4%
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
Michigan
Firefighters
- Median
- $54,640
- p25
- $43,560
- p75
- $67,440
- p10
- $37,190
- p90
- $78,550
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 96.2
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.