How Much Do Firefighters Make in California?
Median wage from BLS May 2025 — and the after-tax number the salary sites skip. Tax year 2026.
Quick answer
According to payandtaxes.com's analysis of BLS May 2025 data and 2026 tax law, the median Firefighters in California earns $85,120 per year and takes home $65,025 ($5,419/month) — a keep-rate of 76.4%, with 31,470 employed in the state.
Free. No signup. Single filer, standard deduction — full model.
| Gross pay | $7,093.33 |
| Federal income tax | $824.69 |
| Social Security | $439.79 |
| Medicare | $102.85 |
| California state income tax | $307.22 |
| You keep | $5,418.79 |
How much do Firefighters make in California?
The median Firefighters in California earns $85,120 per year (BLS May 2025), about $40.92 per hour.
What is that after taxes?
$85,120 gross in California keeps $65,025 after federal income tax ($9,896), FICA ($6,512) and state income tax ($3,687) — $5,419 per month, a 76.4% keep-rate.
How does California compare to the national median for Firefighters?
The California median is $25,840 above the national median of $59,280.
Which state pays Firefighters the most?
New York has the highest median gross for Firefighters at $100,960 — but compare take-home, not gross: state taxes change the order.
Firefighters salary in every state · California paycheck calculator · California minimum wage