State comparison · 2025
Firefighters salary: California vs Missouri
Firefighters in California earn a median of $85,120. In Missouri, $49,080. After cost-of-living, the gap is 42.3% — not 73.4%.
Nominal pay gap
+73.4%
California vs Missouri
COL-adjusted gap
+42.3%
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
Missouri
Firefighters
- Median
- $49,080
- p25
- $37,340
- p75
- $64,170
- p10
- $31,140
- p90
- $79,360
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 90.8
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.