State comparison · 2025
Firefighters salary: California vs Nebraska
Firefighters in California earn a median of $85,120. In Nebraska, $61,040. After cost-of-living, the gap is 13.5% — not 39.4%.
Nominal pay gap
+39.4%
California vs Nebraska
COL-adjusted gap
+13.5%
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
Nebraska
Firefighters
- Median
- $61,040
- p25
- $51,910
- p75
- $61,040
- p10
- $46,660
- p90
- $69,460
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 90.1
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.