Firefighter Salary in San Diego, CA
Firefighters in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn a median $70,900 a year — 20% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $55,327 take-home, or $4,611 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median firefighter salary in San Diego, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$6,768
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,396
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,028
- California income tax$2,460
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$922
- Take-home pay$55,327
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 8.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Firefighter pay by experience in San Diego, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $56,830 | $27.32 | $45,645 | $3,804 |
| 25th percentile | $58,000 | $27.88 | $46,500 | $3,875 |
| Median (50th) | $70,900 | $34.09 | $55,327 | $4,611 |
| 75th percentile | $84,230 | $40.50 | $63,387 | $5,282 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $99,130 | $47.66 | $72,290 | $6,024 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $70,900 buys in San Diego, CA
Prices in San Diego, CA are 11.9% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.79× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median firefighter's $55,327 take-home pay has the buying power of $49,449 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Firefighter jobs are about as common in San Diego, CA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.84).
Best-paying cities for firefighters, adjusted for cost of living
San Diego, CA ranks #25 of 34 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $101,090 | $79,947 | $71,938 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $113,700 | $80,995 | $70,057 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $106,420 | $78,458 | $69,701 |
| 4 | Sacramento, CA | $94,080 | $69,272 | $64,941 |
| 5 | Denver, CO | $87,980 | $67,561 | $63,868 |
| 6 | Los Angeles, CA | $98,050 | $71,644 | $63,086 |
| 7 | Chicago, IL | $82,820 | $63,139 | $60,948 |
| 8 | Philadelphia, PA | $78,050 | $61,342 | $59,814 |
| 25 | San Diego, CA | $70,900 | $55,327 | $49,449 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 34 metros →
About the job: firefighters
Control and extinguish fires or respond to emergency situations where life, property, or the environment is at risk. Duties may include fire prevention, emergency medical service, hazardous material response, search and rescue, and disaster assistance.
- Typical education
- Postsecondary nondegree award
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Long-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +3.7% (about average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Firefighter salaries elsewhere in California
- San Francisco, CA — $113,700
- Sacramento, CA — $94,080
- Los Angeles, CA — $98,050
- Riverside, CA — $79,160
Frequently asked questions
How much does a firefighter make in San Diego, CA?
The median firefighter salary in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $70,900 a year, or about $34.09 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $58,000 and $84,230.
What is a firefighter’s take-home pay in San Diego, CA?
On the median $70,900 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $55,327 a year ($4,611 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,382 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Diego, CA a good place to work as a firefighter?
Pay here is 20% above the national median of $59,280. Local prices are 11.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $49,449 would in a typical U.S. city. San Diego, CA ranks #25 of 34 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a firefighter afford rent in San Diego, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in San Diego, CA is $2,459 a month ($3,001 for two bedrooms) — 53% of a median firefighter’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in San Diego, CA
- Detective and Criminal Investigator — $124,840
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer — $110,400
- Protective Service Workers, All Other — $44,270
- Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers — $43,050
- Security Guard — $38,500