State comparison · 2025
Firefighters salary: California vs Minnesota
Firefighters in California earn a median of $85,120. In Minnesota, $38,110. After cost-of-living, the gap is 98.9% — not 123.4%.
Nominal pay gap
+123.4%
California vs Minnesota
COL-adjusted gap
+98.9%
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
Minnesota
Firefighters
- Median
- $38,110
- p25
- $31,110
- p75
- $59,350
- p10
- $27,510
- p90
- $70,380
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 98.6
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.