State comparison · 2025
Firefighters salary: California vs Montana
Firefighters in California earn a median of $85,120. In Montana, $59,310. After cost-of-living, the gap is 22.6% — not 43.5%.
Nominal pay gap
+43.5%
California vs Montana
COL-adjusted gap
+22.6%
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
Montana
Firefighters
- Median
- $59,310
- p25
- $47,770
- p75
- $68,100
- p10
- $32,810
- p90
- $76,620
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 94.6
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.