State comparison · 2025
Firefighters salary: California vs West Virginia
Firefighters in California earn a median of $85,120. In West Virginia, $37,350. After cost-of-living, the gap is 84.3% — not 127.9%.
Nominal pay gap
+127.9%
California vs West Virginia
COL-adjusted gap
+84.3%
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
West Virginia
Firefighters
- Median
- $37,350
- p25
- $32,950
- p75
- $44,100
- p10
- $29,020
- p90
- $51,390
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 89.5
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.