How much does a fire fighter make in California?

Typical pay at each employer, 2026 (everyone paid).

• Department of Forestry & Fire Protection3,814 people$82,898
• Los Angeles County1,341 people$183,714
• City of San Diego491 people$110,436
• San Jose231 people$187,074
• City of Oakland169 people$188,540
• City of Anaheim107 people$196,675
• City of Torrance77 people$194,304
• City of Burbank63 people$191,685
• Fortuna Fire Protection District45 people$153
• City of Costa Mesa44 people$185,913
• City of Merced43 people$105,435
• City of Compton37 people$136,656
• Rio Dell Fire Protection District32 people$1,629
• City of Monterey Park30 people$162,179
• Richmond28 people$153,232
• City of Santa Maria24 people$121,475
• Liberty Fire Protection District24 people$28,286
• City of Ione23 people$2,450
• Department of State Hospitals22 people$91,845
• City of Chico19 people$123,068
• Valley Center Fire Protection District19 people$54,888
• City of Grass Valley18 people$78,324
• City of Corona17 people$110,461
• French Camp-McKinley Fire Protection District16 people$17,474
• City of Lodi13 people$120,237
• Tulelake Multi-County Fire Protection District12 people$75
• Millville Fire Protection District12 people$335
• City of Westmorland11 people$4,545
• City of Tulare10 people$59,676
• City of Mt. Shasta10 people$7,625
• Military Department (California National Guard)9 people$82,314
• City of Albany9 people$195,335
• City of Placentia9 people$116,301
• Beckwourth Peak Fire Protection District8 people$13,625
• Northshore Fire Protection District8 people$74,902
• City of Montague7 people$3,463
• Petrolia Fire Protection District7 people$588
• City of Marina6 people$114,032
• City of Alhambra6 people$147,239
• Five Cities Fire Authority6 people$123,634
• City of Red Bluff6 people$74,724
• City of Los Banos5 people$90,418
• City of Arcadia5 people$127,652
• City of Susanville4 people$54,154
• Schell-Vista Fire Protection District3 people$106,191
• City of Patterson3 people$77,301
• City of Calistoga3 people$155,512
• Department of Developmental Services3 people$57,052
• Smartville Fire Protection District3 people$1,259
• Smith River Fire Protection District3 people$843
• City of Atascadero2 people$134,367
• Janesville Fire Protection District2 people$2,876
• California Pines Community Services District2 people$36,073
• City of Jackson1 person$72,809
• City of Colusa1 person$76,948
• City of Palo Alto1 person$219,863
• Downieville Fire Protection District1 person$58,573

No employers match.

Pay by level

Levels with 5 or more people.

• Fire Fighter I3,907 people$82,431
• Fire Fighter II - 5612 people$103,534
• Fire Fighter I - 5631 people$107,038
• Fire Fighter II385 people$115,614
• Fire Fighter1,111 people$143,227
• Fire Fighter III102 people$170,594
• Fire Fighter (56 Hours)1,341 people$183,714
• Fire Fighter IV33 people$210,745

Related jobs and the next step up

Same line of work at a different rank, by typical pay (full-year employees where we can tell*).

1. Fire Fighter Trainee$10,475 (everyone)
2. Fire Fighter (this page)$159,603

Highest-paid fire fighters, 2026

1. 1Michael Daniel GonzalezFire Fighter (56 Hours) · Los Angeles County$838,772
2. 2David A ChavezFire Fighter (56 Hours) · Los Angeles County$790,877
3. 3Carlos A LopezFire Fighter (56 Hours) · Los Angeles County$784,296
4. 4Raul RodriguezFire Fighter (56 Hours) · Los Angeles County$719,017
5. 5Raul A PerezFire Fighter (56 Hours) · Los Angeles County$705,314

Common questions