State comparison · 2025
Firefighters salary: California vs South Carolina
Firefighters in California earn a median of $85,120. In South Carolina, $42,570. After cost-of-living, the gap is 69.2% — not 100%.
Nominal pay gap
+100%
California vs South Carolina
COL-adjusted gap
+69.2%
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
South Carolina
Firefighters
- Median
- $42,570
- p25
- $34,510
- p75
- $49,570
- p10
- $29,130
- p90
- $62,150
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 93.7
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.