State comparison · 2025
Firefighters salary: California vs Virginia
Firefighters in California earn a median of $85,120. In Virginia, $58,670. After cost-of-living, the gap is 32.5% — not 45.1%.
Nominal pay gap
+45.1%
California vs Virginia
COL-adjusted gap
+32.5%
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
Virginia
Firefighters
- Median
- $58,670
- p25
- $46,200
- p75
- $70,530
- p10
- $38,310
- p90
- $77,310
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 101.1
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.