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Firefighter Salary in San Jose, CA

Updated

The median firefighter in the San Jose area earns $152,100 a year ($73.13 an hour), 157% above the U.S. median ($59,280) and 79% above the California median ($85,120). Half of the 1,330 firefighters there earn between $93,800 and $166,770.

Percentiles. Dark: the middle half of earners. Red line: median.
Firefighters, May 2025 (latest official data). Metro area: San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA.
Annual paySan Jose areaCaliforniaU.S.
10th percentile$59,680$52,390$34,910
25th percentile$93,800$65,170$44,490
Median$152,100$85,120$59,280
75th percentile$166,770$109,620$77,250
90th percentile$181,270$136,150$101,040
Average$134,270$95,090$63,630
Jobs1,33031,470345,990

San Jose, CA ranks 1st of the 50 largest U.S. metro areas for firefighter pay.

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Sources

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, www.bls.gov/oes. BLS.gov cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from BLS.gov.