State comparison · 2025
Firefighters salary: South Dakota vs Washington
Firefighters in Washington earn a median of $94,520. In South Dakota, $48,160. After cost-of-living, the gap is 38.5% — not 49%.
Nominal pay gap
-49%
South Dakota vs Washington
COL-adjusted gap
-38.5%
After BEA Regional Price Parities
South Dakota
Firefighters
- Median
- $48,160
- p25
- $46,730
- p75
- $59,800
- p10
- $39,240
- p90
- $61,420
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 88.6
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.