What does a Firefighter salary really buy you in Louisiana?
Louisiana is 9.4% cheaper than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2024 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-03-31
Louisiana's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 90.6, meaning prices are 9.4% lower the national average. A Firefighter earning $33,700 in Louisiana has the equivalent purchasing power of $37,196 in an average-cost US state.
Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Louisiana's cost of living.
| Percentile | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $23,320 | $25,739 | +$2,419 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $27,060 | $29,867 | +$2,807 |
| Median (P50) | $33,700 | $37,196 | +$3,496 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $44,830 | $49,481 | +$4,651 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $52,080 | $57,483 | +$5,403 |
A Firefighter in Louisiana earns $33,700 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 10% further — like earning $37,196 in an average-cost state. This makes Louisiana one of the best value states for this occupation.
Where does Firefighter salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Louisiana ranks #49 out of 49 states for Firefighter after cost-of-living adjustment.
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A Firefighter in Louisiana earns a median salary of $33,700 per year. After adjusting for Louisiana's cost of living (RPP=90.6), the real purchasing power is $37,196 — a +10.4% difference.
Louisiana's cost of living is 9.4% lower than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Louisiana is 90.6 (US average = 100).
Regional Price Parities (RPPs) are price indexes published by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) that measure differences in price levels across states. They are expressed as a percentage of the national average (US = 100). Higher RPP means higher cost of living.
The adjusted salary is calculated as: Nominal Salary x (100 / RPP). For a Firefighter in Louisiana: $33,700 x (100 / 90.6) = $37,196. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Firefighter in Louisiana enjoys 10.4% more buying power than the nominal salary suggests, because living costs are below the national average. However, other factors like job availability, career growth, and quality of life also matter.