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Firefighters Salary in San Jose, CA

In the 2025 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS dataset, Firefighters in San Jose, CA have a median annual salary of $152,100, with 1,330 recorded jobs in this area. Recorded earnings range from $59,680 at the 10th percentile to $181,270 at the 90th percentile.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · Data year: 2025 · Last updated: 2026-09-22

Salary overview

Median annual salary

$152,100

Data year: 2025

Hourly median

$73.12

Employment

1,330

Source

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS

Salary distribution

$59,680
10th
$93,800
25th
$152,100
Median
$166,770
75th
$181,270
90th

Local compared with national

San Jose, CA

$152,100

Median annual · 2025

United States

$59,280

Median annual · 2025

The San Jose, CA median is 156.6% above the national median in the available dataset (a difference of $92,820).

Top skills

  1. 1.CoordinationImportance 3.9
  2. 2.Active ListeningImportance 3.6
  3. 3.Critical ThinkingImportance 3.6
  4. 4.Active LearningImportance 3.6
  5. 5.SpeakingImportance 3.5
  6. 6.MonitoringImportance 3.5
  7. 7.Service OrientationImportance 3.5
  8. 8.Judgment and Decision MakingImportance 3.5
  9. 9.Social PerceptivenessImportance 3.1
  10. 10.Complex Problem SolvingImportance 3.1
  11. 11.Reading ComprehensionImportance 3.0
  12. 12.Operations MonitoringImportance 3.0

Career information

Education and experience

Experience
None
Job zone
2

Technology used

  • Affiliated Computer Services ACS FIREHOUSE
  • Corel WordPerfect Office Suite
  • Email software
  • Fire incident reporting systems
  • Geographic information system GIS software
  • Incident command system ICS software
  • Microsoft Access
  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Office software
  • Microsoft Outlook
  • Microsoft PowerPoint
  • Microsoft Windows
  • Microsoft Word
  • Plume modeling software
  • Web browser software

Common tasks

  • Rescue survivors from burning buildings, accident sites, and water hazards.
  • Administer first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation to injured persons or provide emergency medical care such as basic or advanced life support.
  • Dress with equipment such as fire-resistant clothing and breathing apparatus.
  • Move toward the source of a fire, using knowledge of types of fires, construction design, building materials, and physical layout of properties.
  • Drive and operate fire fighting vehicles and equipment.
  • Respond to fire alarms and other calls for assistance, such as automobile and industrial accidents.
  • Search to locate fire survivors.
  • Operate pumps connected to high-pressure hoses.
  • Maintain contact with fire dispatchers at all times to notify them of the need for additional firefighters and supplies, or to detail any difficulties encountered.
  • Extinguish flames and embers to suppress fires, using shovels or engine- or hand-driven water or chemical pumps.

Related careers

Occupations recorded as related in the dataset. A relationship does not imply a guaranteed transition.

Firefighters salary in other locations

Other occupations in San Jose, CA