State comparison · 2025
Firefighters salary: California vs Rhode Island
Firefighters in California earn a median of $85,120. In Rhode Island, $67,380. After cost-of-living, the gap is 16.7% — not 26.3%.
Nominal pay gap
+26.3%
California vs Rhode Island
COL-adjusted gap
+16.7%
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
Rhode Island
Firefighters
- Median
- $67,380
- p25
- $60,650
- p75
- $75,860
- p10
- $56,110
- p90
- $76,620
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 102.3
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.