Firefighter Salary in Riverside, CA — 2026 Guide
Estimated salaries are adjusted for Riverside's cost of living (index: 122). National data from BLS OEWS 2024; city adjustments reflect local market conditions.
Firefighter Salary in Riverside — Key Numbers
Cost of Living in Riverside
Rent-to-income below 28% is considered affordable; above 35% is cost-burdened. Home price multiple below 3× is affordable; above 5× is expensive by traditional guidelines.
Job Market in Riverside
Riverside has a metro population of 4,650,000, offering a large, diverse job market with many employers across all industries. The 5.3% unemployment rate is near the national average.
Financial Calculators for Riverside
Other Professions in Riverside
Firefighter Salary — Other California Cities
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Firefighter make in Riverside, CA?
The estimated median salary for a Firefighter in Riverside is $74,017 per year (2026). This is derived from the national BLS median of $60,670 adjusted by Riverside's cost of living index (122). The typical salary range runs from $51,594 (25th percentile) to $104,432 (75th percentile), with top earners reaching $137,177.
Is Riverside affordable for a Firefighter?
On a $74,017 annual salary, a Firefighter in Riverside would spend approximately 28.4% of gross monthly income on median rent ($1,750/month). This is approaching the 30–35% cost-burden threshold; careful budgeting is recommended. The median home price of $560,000 is 7.6× the annual salary.
How does a Firefighter's salary compare to Riverside's overall income?
Riverside's median household income is $75,800. A Firefighter earning the city-adjusted median of $74,017 earns 2.4% less than the typical Riverside household income. This may reflect that the profession is entry-level or that Riverside has a particularly high median household income due to high-earning industries.
Explore More Salary Data
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) OEWS, 2024 release. City salary estimates adjusted by cost of living index. City data from Census Bureau, BLS, Zillow, and ApartmentAdvisor (2024–2025). Last updated: March 2026.