Quick answer:Firefighters in California earn a median $85,120 per year, above the national median of $59,280 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The state employs about 31,470 of them. Licensing runs through your state fire marshal or fire training academy.
Fire Science Pay and Employment in California at a Glance
Metric
California
National
Source
Median annual wage
$85,120
$59,280
BLS OEWS, May 2025
10th percentile
$52,390
$34,910
BLS OEWS, May 2025
25th percentile
$65,170
$44,490
BLS OEWS, May 2025
75th percentile
$109,620
$77,250
BLS OEWS, May 2025
90th percentile
$136,150
$101,040
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Employment
31,470
345,990
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Location quotient
0.78
1.00
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Projected change (2024-34)
not published by state
3.4%
BLS Employment Projections, 2024-34
How California Pay Compares to the Rest of the Country
The California median of $85,120 sits above the national median of $59,280 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Percentiles matter more than the midpoint when you are deciding whether a degree pays for itself: the 10th percentile is roughly where people start, and the 90th is what the top of the local market looks like after years of experience.
A location quotient of 0.78 puts California below the national average, so the occupation is less concentrated here than in the typical state. Expect a thinner local job market and fewer employers to move between (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The measure compares how concentrated the occupation is here against the national average of 1.00.
Figures: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Firefighting is hired municipally, so the relevant market is the metro area and its surrounding departments rather than the national picture.
Firefighters Wages by Metro Area in California
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), firefighters wages in California vary by metro area.
Metro Area
Employment
Median Annual Wage
Avg. Annual Wage
Entry Level (10th pctile)
Experienced (90th pctile)
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim
7,200
$98,050
$108,860
$58,710
$150,760
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont
3,450
$113,700
$110,590
$77,070
$139,590
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario
3,390
$79,160
$84,120
$56,410
$108,730
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad
2,880
$70,900
$74,540
$56,830
$99,130
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom
2,590
$94,080
$97,420
$54,120
$151,020
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara
1,330
$152,100
$134,270
$59,680
$181,270
Bakersfield-Delano
780
$72,410
$199,490
$49,120
$470,940
Fresno
770
$79,160
$82,520
$51,020
$132,060
Salinas
760
$81,070
$82,830
$51,540
$122,590
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura
660
$77,400
$72,440
$49,760
$97,150
Visalia
480
$65,170
$63,870
$34,320
$92,930
Redding
410
$65,170
$71,690
$51,540
$101,090
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara
410
$82,250
$87,660
$58,240
$125,620
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles
390
$75,910
$77,790
$51,540
$101,150
Santa Cruz-Watsonville
380
$64,980
$71,110
$40,590
$99,550
Chico
350
$71,830
$73,300
$54,120
$96,360
Vallejo
330
$95,950
$99,530
$46,160
$134,370
Stockton-Lodi
320
$79,540
$89,710
$65,110
$131,710
Santa Rosa-Petaluma
310
$87,400
$86,410
$41,380
$120,820
Merced
270
$63,940
$68,120
$54,120
$91,860
Modesto
230
$77,370
$85,430
$62,320
$126,420
El Centro
180
$46,080
$58,430
$34,320
$93,530
Hanford-Corcoran
110
$55,220
$60,990
$45,180
$80,170
Yuba City
110
$80,360
$73,390
$38,050
$95,810
Napa
N/A
$80,260
$78,450
$54,120
$102,580
Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May .
Firefighter certification is issued at the state level, commonly against the NFPA standards, with certificates accredited through IFSAC or the Pro Board so they carry between agencies. The academic degree is separate: fire science programs generally follow the federal FESHE model curriculum and matter mainly for promotion rather than for initial hire.
Requirements are set at state level and are amended periodically. Before you enroll in any program, confirm with your state fire marshal or fire training academy that the specific program you are considering satisfies the education requirement, and ask what it accepts from any training you have already completed. Get the answer in writing.
Earning the Degree While You Work
Most people reading this already have a job in the field, and the practical question is whether the credential can be earned without leaving it. Programs designed for working adults deliver the academic portion online or in the evening, while any labs, clinical hours or supervised field experience happen in person and locally. Prior college credit, military training, apprenticeship coursework and industry certifications can all shorten the path, so request a written transfer credit evaluation before you commit to any school.
Schools in our database near this area, ranked by BOC Score. The list favors schools with a related program on record, but program availability and delivery format change, so confirm directly with any school that it currently offers the program you want.
How We Rank Schools
We first gather the schools closest to the city or state page you are viewing, then rank that
local group by BOC Score, with the highest at the top. The BOC Score is computed from federal
IPEDS and College Scorecard data; schools without enough data to score appear last.
LOCAL RANK
Location / proximity to this page
Defines the local group
Graduation rate
30%
Median earnings, 10 years after entry
25%
Average net price (lower is better)
20%
Retention rate
15%
Fully online availability
10%
Schools without enough federal outcome data appear after ranked schools, without a score.
Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.
The median annual wage for firefighters in California is $85,120, above the national median of $59,280 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The middle of the range runs from $65,170 at the 25th percentile to $109,620 at the 75th.
How many firefighters work in California?
California holds about 31,470 firefighter jobs (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Nationally the occupation employs 345,990, and BLS projects about 27,100 openings per year through 2034 (BLS Employment Projections, 2024-34).
Do I need a license to work as a firefighter in California?
Firefighter certification is issued at the state level, commonly against the NFPA standards, with certificates accredited through IFSAC or the Pro Board so they carry between agencies. The academic degree is separate: fire science programs generally follow the federal FESHE model curriculum and matter mainly for promotion rather than for initial hire. Requirements are set at the state level and change periodically, so confirm the current rules with your state fire marshal or fire training academy before you enroll in any program.
Can I earn a fire science degree online while working in California?
Often yes. Programs built for working adults deliver coursework online or in the evenings, though any required labs, clinical hours or supervised field experience are completed in person. Confirm that the program's accreditation satisfies your state fire marshal or fire training academy.
What is the highest-paying area of California for firefighters?
Among California metro areas with published data, San Jose reports the highest median at $152,100 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Is California a good state for firefighters?
On pay, the state median of $85,120 sits above the national $59,280 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). A location quotient of 0.78 means the occupation is less concentrated here than in the average state. Weigh that against cost of living and how concentrated the work is near where you actually want to live.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 - Firefighters (SOC 33-2011), national, state and metropolitan estimates
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2024-34
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook - education and licensing requirements
Wage and employment figures describe the occupation as measured by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, not the graduates of any particular program, and individual outcomes may vary. Licensing rules change; confirm current requirements with the responsible state board before enrolling.
About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.
