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
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 #62 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 |
| 62 | 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 133 metros →
Firefighter salaries elsewhere in California
- San Jose, CA — $152,100
- San Francisco, CA — $113,700
- Sacramento, CA — $94,080
- Los Angeles, CA — $98,050
- Fresno, CA — $79,160
- Riverside, CA — $79,160
- Salinas, CA — $81,070
- Bakersfield, CA — $72,410
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 #62 of 133 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
- First-Line Supervisor of Police and Detectives — $148,310
- Detective and Criminal Investigator — $124,840
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer — $110,400
- First-Line Supervisor of Firefighting and Prevention Workers — $99,540
- Transportation Security Screener — $72,130
- Crossing Guard and Flagger — $55,360
- First-Line Supervisor of Security Workers — $46,330
- Protective Service Workers, All Other — $44,270
- Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers — $43,050
- Security Guard — $38,500