Quick answer:Firefighters in the San Diego area earn a median $70,900 per year, above the national median of $59,280, and the metro employs about 2,880 of them (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Fire Science Pay in San Diego, CA
Metric
San Diego metro
California
National
Median annual wage
$70,900
$85,120
$59,280
10th percentile
$56,830
$52,390
$34,910
25th percentile
$58,000
$65,170
$44,490
75th percentile
$84,230
$109,620
$77,250
90th percentile
$99,130
$136,150
$101,040
Employment
2,880
31,470
345,990
Location quotient
0.84
-
1.00
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Metro figures cover the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metropolitan statistical area.
What the Numbers Say About This Market
The San Diego median of $70,900 is above the national median of $59,280, and below the California statewide median of $85,120 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
The metro’s location quotient of 0.84 means firefighters are less concentrated here than in the average U.S. labor market (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Higher concentration generally means more employers competing for the same people, and an easier job change later.
Firefighting is hired municipally, so the relevant market is the metro area and its surrounding departments rather than the national picture.
Licensing is a state matter, not a city one. 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.
See the California licensing and pay overview for the statewide picture, and confirm current requirements with your state fire marshal or fire training academy.
Schools Near You
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.
#1
Saddleback College
📍
Mission Viejo, CA
•58.6 miles away•BOC Score
71.2
The median annual wage for firefighters in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $70,900, above the national median of $59,280 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
How many firefighters work in the San Diego area?
The San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area employs about 2,880 firefighters (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Do firefighters in San Diego need a license?
Licensing is handled at state level rather than by city. 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. Confirm current requirements with your state fire marshal or fire training academy.
Can I study fire science online from San Diego?
The academic portion of these programs is widely available online for working adults, while labs, clinical hours or supervised field work are completed in person. Check that the program's accreditation satisfies your state fire marshal or fire training academy.
Is San Diego a better market than the rest of California?
The San Diego metro median is $70,900 against a statewide median of $85,120 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Compare that gap with the difference in living costs before treating it as a raise.
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/.
