State comparison · 2025
Firefighters salary: California vs Texas
Firefighters in California earn a median of $85,120. In Texas, $60,180. After cost-of-living, the gap is 24.1% — not 41.4%.
Nominal pay gap
+41.4%
California vs Texas
COL-adjusted gap
+24.1%
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
Texas
Firefighters
- Median
- $60,180
- p25
- $48,680
- p75
- $71,980
- p10
- $40,020
- p90
- $77,170
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 97.1
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.