Firefighters Employment & Job Outlook in California (2024)

California employs 27,750 Firefighters professionals, above the national average concentration.

Data: BLS OEWS 2024 • California employment outlook • Updated 2026-04-06

Total Employed
27,750
professionals
Jobs per 1,000
27.75
workers
Location Quotient
4.4
vs national avg
Average Salary
$87K
annual

High Demand in California

The location quotient (LQ) of 4.4 indicates that California has a higher-than-average concentration of Firefighters professionals. This means the job is in high demand relative to other states, suggesting strong local job market opportunities.

Note: Location Quotient (LQ) is the ratio of the percentage of workers in an occupation in a given area to the percentage in that occupation nationwide. An LQ > 1.0 means above-average concentration; < 1.0 means below-average.

California vs National Average

Total Employed
27,750
National: 308,800
9.0% of national
Jobs per 1,000
27.75
National: 6.3
+340.5%
Average Salary
$87K
National: $56K
+55.8%

Top States by Firefighters Employment

#1
28,570
28,570
employed
#2
27,750
27,750
employed
#3
22,130
22,130
employed
#4
17,320
17,320
employed
#5
16,970
16,970
employed
#6
14,950
14,950
employed
#7
11,770
11,770
employed
#8
11,090
11,090
employed
#9
10,770
10,770
employed
#10
10,190
10,190
employed

What Does a Firefighters Earn in California?

The average annual salary for a Firefighters in California is $87,890. For a detailed breakdown by percentile, entry-level, median, and senior salaries, see the comprehensive salary guide below.

View full salary breakdown →

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many Firefighters jobs are there in California?

California employs approximately 27,750 Firefighters professionals (2024 BLS data). This ranks California among the top states nationwide.

Is Firefighters in demand in California?

Yes — California has above-average concentration of Firefighters jobs (LQ: 4.4). A Location Quotient above 1.0 indicates higher-than-average demand.

What is the average salary for Firefighters in California?

The average (mean) salary for Firefighters in California is $87890/year. See our detailed salary page for percentile breakdowns.

What is a Location Quotient (LQ)?

Location Quotient measures how concentrated an occupation is in a state compared to the national average. LQ > 1.0 means the state has more of that job proportionally. LQ > 1.2 indicates strong demand.

Which states employ the most Firefighters professionals?

The top state for Firefighters employment is Texas with 28,570 jobs.

Related Pages

Data Source

Employment and location quotient data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) 2024. This data reflects total employment, jobs per 1,000 workers, location quotient, and average salary for Firefighters (SOC 332011) in California.

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Rankings
Highest Paying Jobs Jobs Over $100K Average Salary All Jobs in California Career Progression Hourly Wages Employment Outlook