Central County Fire Department firefighter salary, 2025
Central County Fire Department is a joint powers authority in San Mateo County: a public agency that two or more public agencies set up by agreement to run a shared service.1 56 people worked as firefighters for Central County Fire Department in 2025. Those who worked the full year earned an average of $216,758, overtime included.
What is the average firefighter salary at Central County Fire Department?
Official pay range2
$119,726 to $151,348
from the lowest entry salary to the top of the highest firefighter title
Based on the 38 of 56 firefighters who worked the full year.
Most of Central County Fire Department's firefighters (56 of 56) hold the title Firefighter, with an official range of $119,726 to $151,348. Those who worked the full year earned an average of $216,758, $65,410 above the top of the range.
- Median total pay
- $217,239
- the middle firefighter: half earned more, half less
- Overtime
- $44,153
- average per full-year firefighter
- Starting salary
- $119,726
- bottom of the Firefighter range
- Average pay rank
- 19th
- of 202 California employers
What does each firefighter title at Central County Fire Department pay?
Each bar is the official range for one title, lowest first. The dot marks the average total pay of full-year staff in that title, where at least 5 people stand behind it.2
- Firefighter$216,758
official range average total pay, full year. "Fewer than 5" means too few full-year people in that title to show.
Fire captain pay at Central County Fire Department
Ranks above firefighter, kept out of the firefighter figures on this page. Each rank's name leads to its statewide overview. Range: the middle reported bottom and top of each rank's official range. Pay: average total pay of full-year staff, overtime included.2
| Rank | People | Official range | Average total pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Firefighters | 56 | $119,726 to $151,348 | $216,758 |
| Captains | 27 | $143,815 to $181,801 | $272,299 |
Full-year captains averaged $272,299, $55,541 more than firefighters.
Does Central County Fire Department pay firefighters more than other employers in San Mateo County?
Average total pay of full-year firefighters: Central County Fire Department next to every employer in the county together, and the whole state.2
- Central County Fire Department$216,758
- All employers in San Mateo County$219,236
- All employers in California$186,123
Full-year firefighters at Central County Fire Department earned $2,478 less than the San Mateo County average and $30,635 more than the California average.
Average firefighter pay in San Mateo County compared to nearby counties
Average total pay of full-year firefighters across all employers in each county that borders San Mateo County, and how much more or less it pays.2
- Santa Clara County$214,586 average, 7 employers$4,650 less than San Mateo County
- Alameda County$211,608 average, 10 employers$7,628 less than San Mateo County
- San Francisco County$188,729 average, 1 employer$30,507 less than San Mateo County
- Santa Cruz County$184,502 average, 3 employers$34,734 less than San Mateo County
Where does Central County Fire Department rank among California employers?
Every employer with at least 5 full-year firefighters, by average total pay.2
All 202 California employers
Central County Fire Department ranks 19th of 202, above the middle employer.
Middle employer: $169,232
The 7 employers in San Mateo County
Central County Fire Department ranks 3rd of 7, above the middle employer.
Middle employer: $215,990
Each bar counts the employers whose average total pay falls in a $5,000 band. The dashed line marks the middle employer.
Pension and health cover at Central County Fire Department
As reported by the agency. Contributions are what the employer paid per full-year firefighter, on top of wages.2
- Pension formula
- 2.7% at 57
- the most common formula among Central County Fire Department's firefighters
- Employer pension contribution
- $30,203
- average per year
- Health, dental and vision
- $24,271
- average paid by the employer per year
Questions about firefighter pay at Central County Fire Department
What is the average firefighter salary at Central County Fire Department?
Firefighters at Central County Fire Department who worked the full year earned an average of $216,758 in 2025, overtime included. The middle firefighter earned $217,239: half earned more, half less. The official pay range across its firefighter titles runs from $119,726 to $151,348.
How much overtime do firefighters at Central County Fire Department earn?
Full-year firefighters were paid an average of $44,153 in overtime in 2025. The middle one was paid $43,426: a few people with a lot of overtime pull the average up.
What is the starting salary for a firefighter at Central County Fire Department?
$119,726 a year: the bottom of the official range for Central County Fire Department's Firefighter title in 2025, as reported. Pay rises with steps and overtime; full-year firefighters averaged $216,758 in total pay.
How much does a fire captain make at Central County Fire Department?
Full-year captains at Central County Fire Department averaged $272,299 in total pay in 2025, overtime included, on an official range of $143,815 to $181,801.
What pension do firefighters at Central County Fire Department get?
The most common pension formula among Central County Fire Department's firefighters is 2.7% at 57, as reported by the agency. The employer paid an average of $30,203 a year into the pension plan.
More salaries in San Mateo County
- South San Francisco$240,483 average total pay
- San Mateo Consolidated Fire Department$220,998 average total pay
- San Bruno$215,990 average total pay
- Daly City$213,140 average total pay
- Brisbane$190,686 average total pay
- Menlo Park Fire Protection District$170,701 average total pay
- Colma Fire Protection Districtfirefighter pay
- Woodside Fire Protection Districtfirefighter pay
- Highest firefighter salaries in CaliforniaThe best-paying employers, ranked
- Teacher salaries in San Mateo CountyEvery school district's salary schedule
Sources for the Central County Fire Department figures
Every person who held a firefighter position at Central County Fire Department at any point in 2025 counts toward the headcount. Pay figures use only people who worked roughly the full year: those whose regular pay reached at least 90% of the bottom of their official range. Total pay is gross wages before tax, including overtime, lump sums and other pay. Averages lead; the median total pay is the middle person's, with half above and half below, and is less pulled by a few people with very high pay. Every figure covers at least 5 people.
- California Government Code, section 6502: public agencies may jointly exercise their common powers by agreement.
- State Controller's Office, Government Compensation in California, 2025: positions, official pay ranges, wages, pension formula and employer contributions as reported by Central County Fire Department.