Firefighter Salary in San Francisco, CA
Firefighters in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area earn a median $113,700 a year — 92% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $80,995 take-home, or $6,750 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median firefighter salary in San Francisco, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$16,184
- Social Security (6.2%)$7,049
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,649
- California income tax$6,345
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$1,478
- Take-home pay$80,995
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 9.30% state
Firefighter pay by experience in San Francisco, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $77,070 | $37.05 | $59,093 | $4,924 |
| 25th percentile | $96,420 | $46.36 | $70,671 | $5,889 |
| Median (50th) | $113,700 | $54.66 | $80,995 | $6,750 |
| 75th percentile | $125,390 | $60.28 | $87,908 | $7,326 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $139,590 | $67.11 | $96,109 | $8,009 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $113,700 buys in San Francisco, CA
Prices in San Francisco, CA are 15.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.95× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median firefighter's $80,995 take-home pay has the buying power of $70,057 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 less concentrated in San Francisco, CA than nationally (location quotient 0.65), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for firefighters, adjusted for cost of living
San Francisco, CA ranks #3 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
- 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
- Oxnard, CA — $77,400
Frequently asked questions
How much does a firefighter make in San Francisco, CA?
The median firefighter salary in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area is $113,700 a year, or about $54.66 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $96,420 and $125,390.
What is a firefighter’s take-home pay in San Francisco, CA?
On the median $113,700 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $80,995 a year ($6,750 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $7,823 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Francisco, CA a good place to work as a firefighter?
Pay here is 92% above the national median of $59,280. Local prices are 15.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $70,057 would in a typical U.S. city. San Francisco, CA ranks #3 of 133 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a firefighter afford rent in San Francisco, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in San Francisco, CA is $2,620 a month ($3,187 for two bedrooms) — 39% of a median firefighter’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in San Francisco, CA
- First-Line Supervisor of Police and Detectives — $175,840
- First-Line Supervisor of Firefighting and Prevention Workers — $159,570
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer — $132,000
- Detective and Criminal Investigator — $126,700
- Correctional Officer and Jailer — $99,880
- Parking Enforcement Worker — $86,040
- First-Line Supervisor of Security Workers — $60,590
- Crossing Guard and Flagger — $54,580
- Security Guard — $45,730
- Protective Service Workers, All Other — $44,490
- Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers — $39,120