What does a Firefighter salary really buy you in Washington?
Washington is 9.8% pricier than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2024 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-03-31
Washington's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 109.8, meaning prices are 9.8% higher the national average. A Firefighter earning $93,490 in Washington has the equivalent purchasing power of $85,145 in an average-cost US state.
Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Washington's cost of living.
| Percentile | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $41,650 | $37,932 | $-3,717 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $72,680 | $66,193 | $-6,486 |
| Median (P50) | $93,490 | $85,145 | $-8,344 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $103,640 | $94,389 | $-9,250 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $118,460 | $107,887 | $-10,572 |
While $93,490 sounds high, Washington's elevated cost of living erases 9% of that salary's purchasing power. Your real buying power is $85,145. Consider whether the higher pay offsets the higher costs.
Where does Firefighter salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Washington ranks #1 out of 49 states for Firefighter after cost-of-living adjustment.
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A Firefighter in Washington earns a median salary of $93,490 per year. After adjusting for Washington's cost of living (RPP=109.8), the real purchasing power is $85,145 — a -8.9% difference.
Washington's cost of living is 9.8% higher than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Washington is 109.8 (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 Washington: $93,490 x (100 / 109.8) = $85,145. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
Partially — a Firefighter's nominal salary of $93,490 in Washington has 8.9% less purchasing power due to higher living costs. The real value is $85,145. However, Washington may offer better career opportunities, networking, and industry access.