State comparison · 2025
Firefighters salary: California vs Wisconsin
Firefighters in California earn a median of $85,120. In Wisconsin, $46,850. After cost-of-living, the gap is 54.4% — not 81.7%.
Nominal pay gap
+81.7%
California vs Wisconsin
COL-adjusted gap
+54.4%
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
Wisconsin
Firefighters
- Median
- $46,850
- p25
- $36,490
- p75
- $62,660
- p10
- $29,390
- p90
- $77,050
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 94.1
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.