Firefighters Salary in Riverside, CA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA

Median annual salary $75,230 +26.4% vs national
Median hourly $36.17
10th percentile $51,000
90th percentile $110,870
Employed locally 2,720
National median $59,530

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Firefighters
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Riverside, CA
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $51,000
    25th
    $60,660
    50th (median)
    $75,230
    75th
    $86,100
    90th
    $110,870

    Riverside economic context

    Unemployment rate 5.20% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $86,031 2023 • Census ACS
    Firefighters salary vs area income 87% Median Firefighters salary is 13% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Firefighters

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $164,940
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $121,270
    Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA $108,320
    New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $105,250
    Vallejo, CA $104,460
    Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $102,220

    Nearby metros — Firefighters salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $164,940
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $121,270
    Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA $108,320
    Vallejo, CA $104,460
    Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $99,210
    Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA $88,440

    Related occupations in Riverside, CA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Security Guards$38,070
    Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$106,850
    Correctional Officers and Jailers$93,690
    Protective Service Workers, All Other$39,530
    Detectives and Criminal Investigators$126,380
    First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$159,820

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Firefighters make per hour in Riverside?

    The median hourly wage for Firefighters in Riverside, CA is $36.17, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $52.28 or more per hour.

    Is Riverside above or below average for Firefighters salaries?

    The median Firefighters salary in Riverside, CA is 26.4% above the national median of $59,530. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Firefighters in Riverside?

    Entry-level Firefighters (10th percentile) earn around $51,000 per year in Riverside, CA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $60,660.