State comparison · 2025
Firefighters salary: California vs New Mexico
Firefighters in California earn a median of $85,120. In New Mexico, $41,590. After cost-of-living, the gap is 70.5% — not 104.7%.
Nominal pay gap
+104.7%
California vs New Mexico
COL-adjusted gap
+70.5%
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
New Mexico
Firefighters
- Median
- $41,590
- p25
- $36,520
- p75
- $48,290
- p10
- $31,200
- p90
- $57,780
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 92.2
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.