Firefighters Salary in Santa Cruz, CA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA

Median annual salary $74,130 +24.5% vs national
Median hourly $35.64
10th percentile $46,260
90th percentile $129,370
Employed locally 360
National median $59,530

Compare Firefighters salary & buying power

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

Full tool →
Firefighters
in
Santa Cruz, CA
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $46,260
    25th
    $61,240
    50th (median)
    $74,130
    75th
    $110,430
    90th
    $129,370

    Santa Cruz economic context

    Unemployment rate 5.90% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $109,266 2023 • Census ACS
    Firefighters salary vs area income 68% Median Firefighters salary is 32% 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 Santa Cruz, CA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Security Guards $46,030
    Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers $123,140
    Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers $37,520
    Correctional Officers and Jailers $81,910
    Protective Service Workers, All Other $38,910
    First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives $158,430

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Firefighters make per hour in Santa Cruz?

    The median hourly wage for Firefighters in Santa Cruz, CA is $35.64, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $47.86 or more per hour.

    Is Santa Cruz above or below average for Firefighters salaries?

    The median Firefighters salary in Santa Cruz, CA is 24.5% 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 Santa Cruz?

    Entry-level Firefighters (10th percentile) earn around $46,260 per year in Santa Cruz, CA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $61,240.