Firefighters pay range in San Jose
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $59,680 a year or less, while the top 10% make $181,270 or more. The middle half of firefighters in San Jose earn between $93,800 and $166,770.
- $60K10th
- $94K25th
- $152KMedian
- $167K75th
- $181K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $134,270 | $11,189 | $64.55 |
| Median | $152,100 | $12,675 | $73.12 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $93,800 | $7,817 | $45.10 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $166,770 | $13,898 | $80.18 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Firefighters pay in San Jose vs. California and the U.S.
Firefighters in San Jose earn 41% more than the California average ($95,090) and 111% more than the U.S. average ($63,630). At the median the gap is +157% against the U.S. median of $59,280.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose | $134,270 | $152,100 | $59,680 | $181,270 | 1,330 |
| California | $95,090 | $85,120 | $52,390 | $136,150 | 31,470 |
| United States | $63,630 | $59,280 | $34,910 | $101,040 | 345,990 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Firefighters salary after taxes in San Jose
On the average salary of $134,270, a single filer in San Jose takes home about $94,644 a year, or $7,887 a month and $3,640 every two weeks. Taxes take 30% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is San Jose a good place for firefighters? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the San Jose area are 10% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 110.4), so the average $134,270 buys what about $121,596 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.8 times the median wage of all jobs in San Jose ($84,050). A typical home costs $1,610,466, or 12.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Firefighters salary in other California cities
San Jose ranks 2nd of 25 California metro areas for this job; Bakersfield pays the most ($199,490).
- Bakersfield$199,490
- San Jose$134,270
- San Francisco$110,590
- Los Angeles$108,860
- Vallejo$99,530
- Sacramento$97,420
- Stockton$89,710
- Santa Maria$87,660
- Santa Rosa$86,410
- Modesto$85,430
Highest-paying cities for firefighters
Bakersfield, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($199,490).
- Bakersfield, CA$199,490
- San Jose, CA$134,270
- San Francisco, CA$110,590
- Los Angeles, CA$108,860
- Seattle, WA$100,450
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Firefighters salary in San Jose: questions
How much do firefighters make an hour in San Jose?
$64.55 an hour on average, and $73.12 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level firefighters salary in San Jose?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $59,680 a year and the 25th percentile is $93,800, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the firefighters take-home pay in San Jose?
About $94,644 a year ($7,887 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $134,270. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do firefighters earn more in San Jose than elsewhere?
The average here is 111% more than the U.S. average for this job ($63,630).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 33-2011; area San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA (41940). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.7%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.53, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.53).
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