State comparison · 2025
Firefighters salary: California vs North Dakota
Firefighters in California earn a median of $85,120. In North Dakota, $55,080. After cost-of-living, the gap is 24.2% — not 54.5%.
Nominal pay gap
+54.5%
California vs North Dakota
COL-adjusted gap
+24.2%
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
North Dakota
Firefighters
- Median
- $55,080
- p25
- $47,590
- p75
- $71,930
- p10
- $39,700
- p90
- $77,530
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 89.0
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.