What does a Firefighters salary really buy you in Connecticut?
Connecticut is 6.4% pricier than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2024 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-04-02
Connecticut's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 106.4, meaning prices are 6.4% higher the national average. A Firefighters earning $76,480 in Connecticut has the equivalent purchasing power of $71,879 in an average-cost US state.
Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Connecticut's cost of living.
| Percentile | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $47,000 | $44,172 | $-2,827 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $61,210 | $57,528 | $-3,681 |
| Median (P50) | $76,480 | $71,879 | $-4,600 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $83,650 | $78,618 | $-5,031 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $89,620 | $84,229 | $-5,390 |
While $76,480 sounds high, Connecticut's elevated cost of living erases 6% of that salary's purchasing power. Your real buying power is $71,879. Consider whether the higher pay offsets the higher costs.
Where does Firefighters salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Connecticut ranks #7 out of 49 states for Firefighters after cost-of-living adjustment.
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How much do you actually take home? See Firefighters take-home pay in Connecticut after taxes →
A Firefighters in Connecticut earns a median salary of $76,480 per year. After adjusting for Connecticut's cost of living (RPP=106.4), the real purchasing power is $71,879 — a -6.0% difference.
Connecticut's cost of living is 6.4% higher than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Connecticut is 106.4 (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 Firefighters in Connecticut: $76,480 x (100 / 106.4) = $71,879. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
Partially — a Firefighters's nominal salary of $76,480 in Connecticut has 6.0% less purchasing power due to higher living costs. The real value is $71,879. However, Connecticut may offer better career opportunities, networking, and industry access.