State comparison · 2025
Firefighters salary: California vs Washington
Firefighters in Washington earn a median of $94,520. In California, $85,120. After cost-of-living, the gap is 13% — not 9.9%.
Nominal pay gap
-9.9%
California vs Washington
COL-adjusted gap
-13%
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
Washington
Firefighters
- Median
- $94,520
- p25
- $72,300
- p75
- $105,540
- p10
- $47,640
- p90
- $123,980
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 107.0
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.