Firefighters Salary in San Diego, CA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA

Median annual salary $70,120 +17.8% vs national
Median hourly $33.71
10th percentile $46,260
90th percentile $100,680
Employed locally 2,530
National median $59,530

Compare Firefighters salary & buying power

Type a city below to see how San Diego, CA stacks up on salary and cost of living.

Full tool →
Firefighters
in
San Diego, CA
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $46,260
    25th
    $57,360
    50th (median)
    $70,120
    75th
    $82,600
    90th
    $100,680

    San Diego economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.30% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $102,285 2023 • Census ACS
    Firefighters salary vs area income 69% Median Firefighters salary is 31% 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 San Diego, CA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Security Guards$41,380
    Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$109,190
    Detectives and Criminal Investigators$118,830
    Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers$43,190
    Protective Service Workers, All Other$38,700
    First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$147,340

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Firefighters make per hour in San Diego?

    The median hourly wage for Firefighters in San Diego, CA is $33.71, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $47.66 or more per hour.

    Is San Diego above or below average for Firefighters salaries?

    The median Firefighters salary in San Diego, CA is 17.8% 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 San Diego?

    Entry-level Firefighters (10th percentile) earn around $46,260 per year in San Diego, CA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $57,360.