California Firefighter Salaries by Department
Starting pay at 98 California fire departments, taken from the pay figures each department published in its own job postings over the last two years. Across 57 current California listings with annual pay, the average starting salary is $90,440.
Highest recent entry-level starting pay in California
- 1. City of Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety - Fire Division $149,443 (Public Safety Officer 1 - Lateral, July 2026)
- 2. Mountain View Fire Department $142,611 (Firefighter EMT/ Firefighter Paramedic (Lateral), August 2026)
- 3. Hayward Fire Department $122,075 (Firefighter Trainee, August 2026)
- 4. San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District $120,465 (Firefighter Paramedic, May 2026)
- 5. Albany Fire Department $120,286 (Firefighter/Paramedic (Entry-Level), March 2026)
California departments with official pay schedules
- City of Fresno Fire Department (Source: CBA, Jun 2026 (FY2027))
- City of San Diego Fire-Rescue Department (Source: Pay plan, Jul 2026 (FY2027))
- Long Beach Fire Department (Source: Pay plan, Aug 2026 (FY2026))
- Los Angeles Fire Department $87,883 entry pay a year (Source: City job posting, Mar 2026 (FY2025-26))
- Oakland Fire Department (Source: Pay plan, Jul 2025 (FY2025-26 (still in effect per July 4, 2026 schedule)))
- San Francisco Fire Department $100,464 entry pay a year (Source: Pay plan, Jul 2026 (FY2026-27))
- San Jose Fire Department $107,994 entry pay a year (Source: Pay plan, Jun 2026 (FY2026-27))
All California departments with posted pay
| Department | Starting pay posted | Top of range | Postings |
|---|---|---|---|
| USDA-Forest Service-Six Rivers NF-LTRD · Willow Creek | $44,112 to $67,617 | $94,687 | 14 |
| USDA Forest Service Summit R.D. · Pinecrest | $44,112 to $67,617 | $94,687 | 11 |
| East Zone Tahoe National Forest Fire Department · Sierraville | $44,112 to $67,617 | $94,687 | 9 |
| Mendocino National Forest Fire Service, USDA- · Willows | $44,112 to $67,617 | $94,687 | 9 |
| Berkeley Fire Department · Berkeley | $68,186 to $129,617 | $133,506 | 5 |
| March Field Fire Department · March Air Reserve Base | $58,827 to $65,148 | $84,689 | 3 |
| Albany Fire Department · Albany | $120,286 | $161,229 | 2 |
| Beverly Hills Fire Department · Beverly Hills | $99,603 to $293,892 | $122,274 | 2 |
| Cathedral City Fire Department · Cathedral City | $65,498 to $92,000 | $120,425 | 2 |
| City of Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety - Fire Division · Sunnyvale | $142,327 to $149,443 | $172,999 | 2 |
| Hayward Fire Department · Hayward | $122,075 to $140,912 | $171,371 | 2 |
| Hollister Fire Department · Hollister | $94,693 | $115,100 | 2 |
| Loma Linda Fire Department · Loma Linda | $93,576 to $103,168 | $145,168 | 2 |
| Modesto Fire Department · Modesto | $66,144 to $91,029 | $116,160 | 2 |
| Montecito Fire Protection District · Santa Barbara | $114,072 to $126,720 | $165,636 | 2 |
| Orange County Fire Authority · Irvine | $74,924 to $99,751 | $126,185 | 2 |
| Solana Beach Fire Department · Solana Beach | $77,314 to $86,719 | $105,385 | 2 |
| Alhambra Fire Department · Alhambra | $104,368 | $133,203 | 1 |
| American Canyon Fire Protection District · American Canyon | $164,297 | $190,194 | 1 |
| Antelope Valley Fire District · Coleville | $61,022 | $81,847 | 1 |
| Atascadero Fire & Emergency Services · Atascadero | $80,745 | $113,850 | 1 |
| Atascadero State Hospital Fire Department · Atascadero | $80,745 | $113,850 | 1 |
| Bakersfield Fire Department · Bakersfield | $46,704 | Not listed | 1 |
| Barstow Fire Protection District · Barstow | $118,147 | $150,788 | 1 |
| Cal Fire - Riverside County Fire Department · Perris | $134,107 | $207,487 | 1 |
| Calimesa Fire Service · Calimesa | $70,105 | $89,474 | 1 |
| Carlsbad Fire Department · Carlsbad | $102,565 | $124,675 | 1 |
| Chino Valley Independent Fire District · Chino Hills | $74,901 | $91,042 | 1 |
| City of Burbank Fire Department · Burbank | $80,028 | Not listed | 1 |
| City of Colton Fire Department · COLTON | $104,162 | $126,610 | 1 |
| City of Dinuba Fire Department · Dinuba | $48,792 | $59,280 | 1 |
| City of Palo Alto Fire Department · Palo Alto | $149,261 | $234,458 | 1 |
| City of Riverside Fire Department · Riverside | $87,252 | $116,916 | 1 |
| City of Rocklin Fire Department · Rocklin | $188,423 | $256,801 | 1 |
| City of San Bernardino Fire Department · San Bernardino | $77,343 | $91,953 | 1 |
| Clovis Fire Department · Clovis | $84,540 | $102,756 | 1 |
| Contra Costa County Fire Protection District · Concord | $139,644 | $187,136 | 1 |
| Cordelia Fire Protection District · Fairfield | $103,988 | $126,410 | 1 |
| Costa Mesa Fire & Rescue Department · Costa Mesa | $222,324 | $297,924 | 1 |
| East County Fire Prevention District · El Cajon | $83,948 | $135,757 | 1 |
| Edwards Air Force Base Fire & Emergency Services · Edwards AFB | $65,148 | $84,689 | 1 |
| El Segundo Fire Department · El Segundo | $118,272 | $140,100 | 1 |
| Elfin Forest/ Harmony Grove Fire Department · Escondido | $101,145 | $129,089 | 1 |
| Encinitas Fire Department · Encinitas | $113,942 | $176,761 | 1 |
| Fairfield Fire Department · Fairfield | $103,988 | $126,410 | 1 |
| Five Cities Fire Authority · Arroyo Grande | $151,331 | $183,972 | 1 |
| Folsom Fire Department · Folsom | $54,080 | $72,488 | 1 |
| Fremont Fire Department · Fremont | $118,130 | Not listed | 1 |
| Fullerton Fire Department · Fullerton | $75,845 | $75,845 | 1 |
| Healdsburg Fire Department · Healdsburg | $94,791 | $115,672 | 1 |
| Huntington Beach Fire Department · Huntington Beach | $97,011 | $130,000 | 1 |
| Kern County Fire Department · Bakersfield | $70,969 | $84,814 | 1 |
| King City Fire Department · King City | $53,560 | $72,197 | 1 |
| Kingsburg Fire Department · Kingsburg | $55,827 | Not listed | 1 |
| La Mesa Fire Department · La Mesa | $101,308 | $135,757 | 1 |
| Lake Valley Fire Protection District · South Lake Tahoe | $65,146 | $79,186 | 1 |
| Lemon Grove Fire Department · Lemon Grove | $83,948 | $123,992 | 1 |
| Lompoc Fire Department · Lompoc | $131,076 | $158,468 | 1 |
| Manhattan Beach Fire Department · Manhattan Beach | $86,748 | $110,712 | 1 |
| Montebello Fire Department · Montebello | $113,829 | $142,157 | 1 |
| Moraga-Orinda Fire Protection District · Orinda | $72,108 | $79,476 | 1 |
| Mountain View Fire Department · Mountain View | $142,611 | $192,336 | 1 |
| North Central Fire Protection District · Kerman | $76,788 | $99,907 | 1 |
| North Tahoe Fire Protection District · Tahoe City | $113,172 | $123,696 | 1 |
| Pajaro Valley Fire Protection District · Watsonville | $78,496 | $105,193 | 1 |
| Poway Fire Department · Poway | $102,293 | $124,332 | 1 |
| Rancho Cucamonga Fire Protection District · Rancho Cucamonga | $62,033 | $87,282 | 1 |
| Redding Fire Department · Redding | $189,036 | $245,760 | 1 |
| Rialto Fire Department · Rialto | $87,295 | $116,983 | 1 |
| Ripon Fire District · Ripon | $86,773 | $98,163 | 1 |
| Riverside County Fire Department · Perris | $86,802 | $125,708 | 1 |
| Sacramento Fire Department · Sacramento | $65,206 | $68,466 | 1 |
| San Luis Obispo City Fire Department · San Luis Obispo | $186,654 | $233,298 | 1 |
| San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District · San Ramon | $120,465 | $188,201 | 1 |
| Santa Barbara City Fire Department · Santa Barbara | $90,597 | $122,357 | 1 |
| Santa Cruz Fire Department · Santa Cruz | $112,500 | $169,152 | 1 |
| Santa Fe Springs Fire Department · Santa Fe Springs | $99,994 | $130,469 | 1 |
| Sierra Madre Fire Department · Sierra Madre | $67,302 | $112,886 | 1 |
| South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue · South Lake Tahoe | $65,146 | $79,186 | 1 |
| South Placer Fire District · Granite Bay | $106,882 | $170,195 | 1 |
| Stockton Fire Department · Stockton | $73,438 | Not listed | 1 |
| Susanville Fire Department · Susanville | $71,462 | $116,612 | 1 |
| Templeton Fire and Emergency Services · Templeton | $141,004 | $171,391 | 1 |
| Thornton Rural Fire District · Thornton | $87,132 | $101,995 | 1 |
| Vacaville Fire Department · Vacaville | $108,349 | Not listed | 1 |
| Vallejo Fire Department · Vallejo | $111,247 | $135,222 | 1 |
| Vandenberg Fire Department · Vandenberg AFB | $81,312 | $97,293 | 1 |
| Visalia Fire Department · Visalia | $95,800 | $120,207 | 1 |
| Vista Fire Department · Vista | $122,361 | $148,731 | 1 |
| West Covina Fire Department · West Covina | $123,048 | $149,568 | 1 |
| California Institution For Women Fire Department · Corona | $33.71/hr | Not listed | 1 |
| Central Fire District of Santa Cruz County · Santa Cruz | $16.90/hr | Not listed | 2 |
| Inverness Volunteer Fire Department · Inverness | $17.40/hr | Not listed | 1 |
| Jamestown Fire Protection District · Sonora | $22.34/hr | Not listed | 1 |
| La Habra Heights Fire Department · La Habra Heights | $23.16/hr | Not listed | 2 |
| Los Angeles County Fire Department · Los Angeles | $36.03/hr | Not listed | 1 |
| Oxnard Fire Department · Oxnard | $28.32/hr | Not listed | 1 |
| San Marcos Fire Department · San Marcos | $20.95/hr | Not listed | 1 |
Figures are as each department listed them in closed postings. Current openings show their pay to FireJobs members.