Salaries › Firefighter › California
Firefighter Salary in California (2026)
$40.92 per hour · take-home ≈ $64,872/year ($5,406/month) for a single filer
Firefighter pay range in California
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $52,390 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $65,170 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $85,120 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $109,620 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $136,150 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 31,470 Firefighter jobs in California (occupation code 33-2011, “Firefighters”).
Gross vs. take-home in California
A median Firefighter salary of $85,120 doesn’t all reach your bank account. After federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare, plus California state income tax, a single filer keeps about $64,872 — an effective tax rate of 23.8%.
| Gross (median) | $85,120 |
| Federal income tax | −$9,896 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$6,512 |
| California state income tax | −$3,840 |
| Take-home (annual) | $64,872 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $5,406 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free California paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Firefighter make in California?
- The median Firefighter salary in California is $85,120 per year ($40.92 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $65,170 and $109,620.
- What is the take-home pay for a Firefighter in California?
- On the median salary of $85,120, a single filer in California takes home about $64,872 per year ($5,406 per month) after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — an effective tax rate of 23.8%.
- How many Firefighter jobs are there in California?
- BLS counts 31,470 Firefighter jobs in California in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Firefighters
Other salaries in California
Sources and methodology
Wage and employment figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 (state file, released April 2026) — the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, the most authoritative public salary dataset. Take-home estimate: 2026 federal brackets, FICA, and verified California state tax rules (single filer, standard deduction, no credits or local taxes). Estimates only — not financial advice.
- BLS OEWS — official occupational wage data.
- PaycheckTally — interactive 2026 take-home calculator for California.