Fire Chief
Overtime 11%- Median base
- $214,500
- Entry step
- $189,200
- 90th percentile
- $239,800
Large charter cities offer executive car allowances and longevity bonuses.
View fire chief salaryCalifornia salary guideUpdated Jan 9, 2025
California Firefighter Salary (2025)
California departments combine premium cost-of-living adjustments, mandatory staffing minimums, and overtime-heavy deployment schedules that push firefighter compensation to the top nationwide.
Median base pay
$89,400
+3.9% YoY
Average overtime
$14,800
From 24 metro & county agencies
Quick facts
- San José–SunnyvaleTop paying metro
- $6,750Median engineer stipend
- 10% of base payParamedic incentive
- $4,200Wildland availability pay
Salary snapshot by rank
Promotions add education incentives, specialty pay, and overtime opportunities. Use these benchmarks when budgeting for recruitment, retention, or union negotiations.
Analyst note
Overtime share rises rapidly for mid-career officers due to constant staffing and deployment rosters. Include projected overtime when evaluating total compensation.
Battalion Chief
Overtime 14%- Median base
- $152,400
- Entry step
- $134,200
- 90th percentile
- $171,000
Three-shift (48/96) schedule keeps overtime steady for relief coverage.
View battalion chief salaryCaptain
Overtime 16%- Median base
- $134,600
- Entry step
- $118,900
- 90th percentile
- $149,800
Company officers gain 12% speciality pay with ALS engine assignments.
View captain salaryEngineer
Overtime 17%- Median base
- $114,800
- Entry step
- $99,500
- 90th percentile
- $129,500
Engineer differentials boosted by 2024 IAFF settlements in Bay Area.
View engineer salaryFirefighter / Paramedic
Overtime 18%- Median base
- $98,700
- Entry step
- $84,900
- 90th percentile
- $115,200
ALS stipends and specialty teams (USAR, hazmat) drive totals upward.
View firefighter / paramedic salaryProbationary Firefighter
Overtime 9%- Median base
- $71,400
- Entry step
- $64,100
- 90th percentile
- $78,800
Academy graduates move to step raises every 6 months for two years.
View probationary firefighter salaryTop cities by firefighter pay
Metro departments with specialty teams and higher cost-of-living deliver the largest base pay. Bars below represent average base wages, with notes on overtime share.
San José · SJFD
815 career
$163,400 total comp
Average base pay$118,900
Overtime share 22% · Specialty pay included in total comp.
Los Angeles · LAFD
3,386 career
$142,600 total comp
Average base pay$104,300
Overtime share 21% · Specialty pay included in total comp.
San Francisco · SFFD
1,723 career
$152,100 total comp
Average base pay$112,800
Overtime share 18% · Specialty pay included in total comp.
Sacramento · SFD
768 career
$131,400 total comp
Average base pay$98,900
Overtime share 20% · Specialty pay included in total comp.
San Diego · SDFD
956 career
$136,900 total comp
Average base pay$101,200
Overtime share 18% · Specialty pay included in total comp.
Detailed compensation table
Compare rank-by-rank compensation, including overtime trends and hiring notes that impact career planning.
| Rank | Department | City | Base pay | Overtime | Total comp | Hiring / promotion note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Battalion Chief | Sacramento Fire Department | Sacramento | $128,200 | $18,200 | $146,400 | Internal promo eligibility opens March 2025 |
| Captain | Los Angeles County Fire | Los Angeles County | $139,500 | $21,400 | $160,900 | Exam list #A412 expected May 2025 |
| Engineer | San José Fire Department | San José | $118,700 | $18,700 | $137,400 | Lateral recruitment closes Feb 28, 2025 |
| Firefighter / Paramedic | San Diego Fire-Rescue | San Diego | $99,100 | $16,200 | $115,300 | Academy 105 begins July 2025 |
| Probationary Firefighter | Oakland Fire Department | Oakland | $74,200 | $6,800 | $81,000 | Hiring bonus $7,500 for EMT-P licensed recruits |
Contract updates & budget highlights
Track adjustments that influence upcoming negotiations and pay plan refreshes.
Effective January 2025
IAFF Local 798 (San Francisco)
4% general wage increase plus 3% specialty pay for members assigned to EMS-6 Mobile Crisis.
Ratified November 2024
LAFD MOU 7
Introduced 12.5% Explorer-to-recruit incentive and expanded pensionable overtime calculations.
Statewide FY 2024-2025
Cal OES Strike Team Stipend
Additional $150/day deployment stipend reimbursed to agencies for SB 104 wildfire mission assignments.
Frequently asked questions
Answers sourced from contracts, HR briefings, and state statutes to help HR partners, union stewards, and candidates understand compensation.
What schedule do California firefighters work?
Most metro departments use a 48/96 schedule, while some coastal agencies retain 24 on / 24 off. Wildland agencies rely on 72-hour deployment rotations during peak season.
How does California calculate overtime?
Mandated staffing and Fair Labor Standards Act provisions guarantee overtime after 212 hours in a 28-day cycle. Union contracts typically pay time-and-a-half beyond the 56-hour workweek.
Do California firefighters receive housing allowances?
Core metro agencies offer housing stipends or down-payment assistance programs, especially in Bay Area jurisdictions, to offset cost-of-living pressures.
Sources & methodology
We compile collective bargaining agreements, municipal pay plans, and state payroll disclosures. Each dataset is timestamped so you can cite the most recent update in labor talks.
- City of Los Angeles – Fire Department MOU 7 · Published Nov 2024
- San José IAFF Local 230 Contract Summary · Updated Jan 2025
- California State Controller Payroll Database · Accessed Jan 2025
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