State comparison · 2025
Firefighters salary: California vs Utah
Firefighters in California earn a median of $85,120. In Utah, $48,310. After cost-of-living, the gap is 57.4% — not 76.2%.
Nominal pay gap
+76.2%
California vs Utah
COL-adjusted gap
+57.4%
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
Utah
Firefighters
- Median
- $48,310
- p25
- $37,590
- p75
- $60,880
- p10
- $27,660
- p90
- $80,320
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 98.9
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.