State comparison · 2025
Firefighters salary: California vs Pennsylvania
Firefighters in California earn a median of $85,120. In Pennsylvania, $73,460. After cost-of-living, the gap is 2.2% — not 15.9%.
Nominal pay gap
+15.9%
California vs Pennsylvania
COL-adjusted gap
+2.2%
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
Pennsylvania
Firefighters
- Median
- $73,460
- p25
- $56,210
- p75
- $89,190
- p10
- $48,620
- p90
- $89,190
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 97.6
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.