What is the median salary for Firefighters in San Jose?

According to BLS OEWS May 2025, the median annual wage for Firefighters in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA is $152,100.

How does San Jose pay compare to the US median for Firefighters?

Local median pay is 156.6% above the national OEWS median of $59,280.

How does cost of living change what that wage buys?

BEA RPP for San Jose is 110.4 (US = 100, 2024). The local median of $152,100 has about the same purchasing power as $137,772 at US-average prices.

How current is this data?

Wages are BLS OEWS May 2025. Price levels use BEA Regional Price Parities for 2024. See methodology for source details.

Firefighters, San Jose

$152,100

BLS OEWS median annual wage in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA. Middle half of wages roughly $93,800 to $166,770.

BLS OEWS median, May 2025, as of May 15, 2026. BEA Regional Price Parity 2024. Disclaimer

vs US median: +156.6%
US median: $59,280
Metro RPP: 110.4
Middle half: $93,800 to $166,770
OEWS employment: 1,330
SOC: 33-2011

Firefighters in San Jose pay a median $152,100 (May 2025), 156.6% above the US median of $59,280. At local prices (RPP 110.4), that median buys about what $137,772 buys at US-average prices.

Purchasing power

$152,100 in San Jose buys about what $137,772 buys at US-average prices (BEA RPP 110.4, 2024). Housing (rents) RPP is 211.9 vs all-items 110.4 (US = 100, 2024).

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Firefighters in nearby metros

Metro	Median	Middle half	RPP
San Jose	$152,100	$93,800 to $166,770	110.4
San Francisco	$113,700	$96,420 to $125,390	115.6

BLS OEWS May 2025 where published for the CBSA.

FAQ

What is the median salary for Firefighters in San Jose?: According to BLS OEWS May 2025, the median annual wage for Firefighters in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA is $152,100.
How does San Jose pay compare to the US median for Firefighters?: Local median pay is 156.6% above the national OEWS median of $59,280.
How does cost of living change what that wage buys?: BEA RPP for San Jose is 110.4 (US = 100, 2024). The local median of $152,100 has about the same purchasing power as $137,772 at US-average prices.
How current is this data?: Wages are BLS OEWS May 2025. Price levels use BEA Regional Price Parities for 2024. See methodology for source details.

What this covers

Includes

BEA Regional Price Parities (all items, goods, housing rents, other services)
BLS OEWS median wages, percentile bands, and employment where published
Purchasing-power math: salary × (destination RPP ÷ origin RPP)

Does not include

Federal, state, or local income taxes
Childcare, healthcare premiums, or leave benefits
Job openings. OEWS employment is a published stock estimate, not hiring demand

Median wages are published BLS OEWS metro estimates; price levels use BEA Regional Price Parities. See methodology and disclaimer.