State comparison · 2025
Firefighters salary: South Carolina vs Washington
Firefighters in Washington earn a median of $94,520. In South Carolina, $42,570. After cost-of-living, the gap is 48.6% — not 55%.
Nominal pay gap
-55%
South Carolina vs Washington
COL-adjusted gap
-48.6%
After BEA Regional Price Parities
South Carolina
Firefighters
- Median
- $42,570
- p25
- $34,510
- p75
- $49,570
- p10
- $29,130
- p90
- $62,150
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 93.7
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.