State comparison · 2025
Firefighters salary: California vs New York
Firefighters in New York earn a median of $100,960. In California, $85,120. After cost-of-living, the gap is 17.8% — not 15.7%.
Nominal pay gap
-15.7%
California vs New York
COL-adjusted gap
-17.8%
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 York
Firefighters
- Median
- $100,960
- p25
- $65,420
- p75
- $106,430
- p10
- $56,390
- p90
- $106,440
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 107.9
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.