Firefighter Salary in Sacramento, CA
Firefighters in the Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA metro area earn a median $94,080 a year — 59% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $69,272 take-home, or $5,773 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median firefighter salary in Sacramento, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$11,868
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,833
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,364
- California income tax$4,520
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$1,223
- Take-home pay$69,272
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 9.30% state
Firefighter pay by experience in Sacramento, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $54,120 | $26.02 | $43,665 | $3,639 |
| 25th percentile | $71,950 | $34.59 | $55,968 | $4,664 |
| Median (50th) | $94,080 | $45.23 | $69,272 | $5,773 |
| 75th percentile | $127,150 | $61.13 | $88,925 | $7,410 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $151,020 | $72.61 | $102,710 | $8,559 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $94,080 buys in Sacramento, CA
Prices in Sacramento, CA are 6.7% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.30× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median firefighter's $69,272 take-home pay has the buying power of $64,941 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 Sacramento, CA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.08).
Best-paying cities for firefighters, adjusted for cost of living
Sacramento, CA ranks #8 of 133 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $152,100 | $103,333 | $93,580 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $101,090 | $79,947 | $71,938 |
| 3 | San Francisco, CA | $113,700 | $80,995 | $70,057 |
| 4 | New York, NY | $106,420 | $78,458 | $69,701 |
| 5 | Rochester, NY | $89,120 | $67,308 | $69,365 |
| 6 | Spokane, WA | $83,310 | $67,439 | $67,206 |
| 7 | Reno, NV | $81,360 | $66,067 | $65,404 |
| 8 | Sacramento, CA | $94,080 | $69,272 | $64,941 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 133 metros →
Firefighter salaries elsewhere in California
- San Jose, CA — $152,100
- San Francisco, CA — $113,700
- Los Angeles, CA — $98,050
- Fresno, CA — $79,160
- Riverside, CA — $79,160
- Salinas, CA — $81,070
- Bakersfield, CA — $72,410
- Oxnard, CA — $77,400
Frequently asked questions
How much does a firefighter make in Sacramento, CA?
The median firefighter salary in the Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA metro area is $94,080 a year, or about $45.23 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $71,950 and $127,150.
What is a firefighter’s take-home pay in Sacramento, CA?
On the median $94,080 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $69,272 a year ($5,773 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $5,743 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Sacramento, CA a good place to work as a firefighter?
Pay here is 59% above the national median of $59,280. Local prices are 6.7% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $64,941 would in a typical U.S. city. Sacramento, CA ranks #8 of 133 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a firefighter afford rent in Sacramento, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Sacramento, CA is $1,812 a month ($2,241 for two bedrooms) — 31% of a median firefighter’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Sacramento, CA
- First-Line Supervisor of Police and Detectives — $163,810
- First-Line Supervisor of Firefighting and Prevention Workers — $160,450
- First-Line Supervisor of Correctional Officers — $135,040
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer — $111,460
- Detective and Criminal Investigator — $109,500
- Correctional Officer and Jailer — $89,730
- Crossing Guard and Flagger — $51,930
- First-Line Supervisor of Security Workers — $51,270
- Security Guard — $39,460
- Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers — $38,070