State comparison · 2025
Firefighters salary: California vs South Dakota
Firefighters in California earn a median of $85,120. In South Dakota, $48,160. After cost-of-living, the gap is 41.5% — not 76.7%.
Nominal pay gap
+76.7%
California vs South Dakota
COL-adjusted gap
+41.5%
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 Dakota
Firefighters
- Median
- $48,160
- p25
- $46,730
- p75
- $59,800
- p10
- $39,240
- p90
- $61,420
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 88.6
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.