State comparison · 2025
Firefighters salary: North Carolina vs Washington
Firefighters in Washington earn a median of $94,520. In North Carolina, $37,940. After cost-of-living, the gap is 54.5% — not 59.9%.
Nominal pay gap
-59.9%
North Carolina vs Washington
COL-adjusted gap
-54.5%
After BEA Regional Price Parities
North Carolina
Firefighters
- Median
- $37,940
- p25
- $34,010
- p75
- $47,690
- p10
- $29,360
- p90
- $61,940
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 94.3
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.