Firefighter salary in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
Firefighters in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area earn a median of $64,980 a year ($31.24 an hour), based on BLS data for 380 workers.
Pay ranges from $40,590 for the lowest-paid 10% to $99,550 for the top 10%. That is 10% higher than the national median of $59,280. Pay here is 24% lower than the California statewide median of $85,120. There are 3.8 firefighters per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.7× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $71,110, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for firefighters in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $40,590 | $19.52 |
| 25th percentile | $54,120 | $26.02 |
| Median | $64,980 | $31.24 |
| 75th percentile | $90,290 | $43.41 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $99,550 | $47.86 |
| Average (mean) | $71,110 | $34.19 |
Half of firefighters earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $5,415 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,707.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,499.23 |
| Weekly | $1,249.62 |
| Hourly | $31.24 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $64,980 salary, see how much house you can afford in California at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Firefighter salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $152,100 | 1,330 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $113,700 | 3,450 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $98,050 | 7,200 |
| Vallejo, CA | $95,950 | 330 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $94,080 | 2,590 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $87,400 | 310 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $82,250 | 410 |
| Salinas, CA | $81,070 | 760 |
| Yuba City, CA | $80,360 | 110 |
| Napa, CA | $80,260 | n/a |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $79,540 | 320 |
| Fresno, CA | $79,160 | 770 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $79,160 | 3,390 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $77,400 | 660 |
| Modesto, CA | $77,370 | 230 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $75,910 | 390 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $72,410 | 780 |
| Chico, CA | $71,830 | 350 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $70,900 | 2,880 |
| Redding, CA | $65,170 | 410 |
| Visalia, CA | $65,170 | 480 |
| Merced, CA | $63,940 | 270 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $55,220 | 110 |
| El Centro, CA | $46,080 | 180 |
Highest-paying states for firefighters
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| New York | $100,960 |
| Washington | $94,520 |
| California | $85,120 |
| New Jersey | $84,130 |
| Illinois | $78,380 |
| Connecticut | $77,630 |
| District of Columbia | $75,870 |
| Colorado | $74,170 |
| Maryland | $73,810 |
| Pennsylvania | $73,460 |
See Firefighter pay in every state or the California statewide figures.
Related jobs in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Security Guard | $43,610 | $20.96 |
| Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $122,970 | $59.12 |
| Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers | $39,970 | $19.22 |
| Correctional Officers and Jailers | $80,950 | $38.92 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | $172,590 | $82.98 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers | $111,560 | $53.64 |
| Detectives and Criminal Investigators | $102,710 | $49.38 |
More: Protective Service Occupations · all salaries in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 33-2011. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a firefighter make in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
The median salary for firefighters in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area is $64,980 a year, or $31.24 an hour. Pay ranges from $40,590 for the lowest-paid 10% to $99,550 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid firefighters make in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
The top 10% of firefighters in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area earn at least $99,550 a year. The top 25% earn $90,290 or more.
What is the starting pay for firefighters in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $40,590 a year, and a quarter of firefighters earn $54,120 or less.
How many firefighters work in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
About 380 firefighters are employed in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.