If you’re in California and you’re looking for a new career, consider becoming a firefighter.

In 2018, the average annual salary for firefighters in California was $79,630. That’s over $40,000 more than the national average salary for all firefighters in the U.S., which is $44,990. It’s also more than twice as much as the average annual income in California—$42,838.

If you’re thinking about becoming a firefighter in California, here’s what you need to know:

The first thing that comes to mind when most people think of firefighters is probably the iconic red fire hat and coat. Firefighters wear these uniforms at all times while on duty, which means that they need to be durable enough for both heat and cold weather conditions.

In addition to their uniforms, firefighters also use many different types of equipment to do their jobs effectively. Some examples include:

Firefighter Salary In California 2018

Firefighter salary in California
How much does a Firefighter make in California?
Average base salary
$57,529

Per year
11%
above national average
Most common benefits
Others
Dental insurance
The average salary for a firefighter is $57,529 per year in California. 701 salaries reported, updated at June 22, 2022.

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Top companies for Firefighters in California
FDNY
4.2
90 reviews
5 salaries reported
$100,445
per year

NORA, Nationwide Organ Recovery Transport Alliance
4.5
88 reviews
23 salaries reported
$83,830
per year

Reno-Tahoe Airport Authority
3.4
14 reviews
11 salaries reported
$80,746
per year
City of Wyoming
3.8
17 reviews
7 salaries reported
$77,214
per year

Securitas
3.2
23477 reviews
14 salaries reported
$76,521
per year
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Highest paying cities for Firefighters in California
Vacaville, CA
$82,836 per year
6 salaries reported
Sacramento, CA
$73,257 per year
14 salaries reported
Palmdale, CA
$61,924 per year
10 salaries reported
Twentynine Palms, CA
$60,805 per year
6 salaries reported
San Diego, CA
$59,977 per year
7 salaries reported
Monterey, CA
$59,274 per year
6 salaries reported
Norwalk, CA
$58,590 per year
7 salaries reported
Los Angeles, CA
$56,534 per year
109 salaries reported
Oakland, CA
$54,096 per year
6 salaries reported