Firefighters pay range in San Diego
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $56,830 a year or less, while the top 10% make $99,130 or more. The middle half of firefighters in San Diego earn between $58,000 and $84,230.
- $57K10th
- $58K25th
- $71KMedian
- $84K75th
- $99K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $74,540 | $6,212 | $35.84 |
| Median | $70,900 | $5,908 | $34.09 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $58,000 | $4,833 | $27.88 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $84,230 | $7,019 | $40.50 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Firefighters pay in San Diego vs. California and the U.S.
Firefighters in San Diego earn 22% less than the California average ($95,090) and 17% more than the U.S. average ($63,630). At the median the gap is +20% against the U.S. median of $59,280.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego | $74,540 | $70,900 | $56,830 | $99,130 | 2,880 |
| California | $95,090 | $85,120 | $52,390 | $136,150 | 31,470 |
| United States | $63,630 | $59,280 | $34,910 | $101,040 | 345,990 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Firefighters salary after taxes in San Diego
On the average salary of $74,540, a single filer in San Diego takes home about $58,378 a year, or $4,865 a month and $2,245 every two weeks. Taxes take 22% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is San Diego a good place for firefighters? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the San Diego area are 12% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 111.9), so the average $74,540 buys what about $66,621 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.2 times the median wage of all jobs in San Diego ($58,690). A typical home costs $946,365, or 12.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Firefighters salary in other California cities
San Diego ranks 16th of 25 California metro areas for this job; Bakersfield pays the most ($199,490).
- Bakersfield$199,490
- San Jose$134,270
- San Francisco$110,590
- Los Angeles$108,860
- Vallejo$99,530
- Sacramento$97,420
- Stockton$89,710
- Santa Maria$87,660
- Santa Rosa$86,410
- San Diego$74,540
Highest-paying cities for firefighters
Bakersfield, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($199,490).
- Bakersfield, CA$199,490
- San Jose, CA$134,270
- San Francisco, CA$110,590
- Los Angeles, CA$108,860
- Seattle, WA$100,450
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Firefighters salary in San Diego: questions
How much do firefighters make an hour in San Diego?
$35.84 an hour on average, and $34.09 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level firefighters salary in San Diego?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $56,830 a year and the 25th percentile is $58,000, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the firefighters take-home pay in San Diego?
About $58,378 a year ($4,865 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $74,540. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do firefighters earn more in San Diego than elsewhere?
The average here is 17% more than the U.S. average for this job ($63,630).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 33-2011; area San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA (41740). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.3%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.84, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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