North County Fire Protection District (San Diego) firefighter salary, 2025
North County Fire Protection District (San Diego) is a fire protection district in San Diego County. 19 people worked as firefighters for North County Fire Protection District (San Diego) in 2025. Those who worked the full year earned an average of $152,353, overtime included.
What is the average firefighter salary at North County Fire Protection District (San Diego)?
Official pay range1
$94,003 to $114,329
from the lowest entry salary to the top of the highest firefighter title
Based on the 16 of 19 firefighters who worked the full year.
Most of North County Fire Protection District (San Diego)'s firefighters (19 of 19) hold the title Firefighter/Medic, with an official range of $94,003 to $114,329. Those who worked the full year earned an average of $152,353, $38,024 above the top of the range.
- Median total pay
- $141,717
- the middle firefighter: half earned more, half less
- Overtime
- $41,429
- average per full-year firefighter
- Starting salary
- $94,003
- bottom of the Firefighter/Medic range
- Average pay rank
- 133rd
- of 202 California employers
What does each firefighter title at North County Fire Protection District (San Diego) 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.1
- Firefighter/Medic$152,353
official range average total pay, full year. "Fewer than 5" means too few full-year people in that title to show.
Fire engineer, captain and battalion chief pay at North County Fire Protection District (San Diego)
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.1
| Rank | People | Official range | Average total pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Firefighters | 19 | $94,003 to $114,329 | $152,353 |
| Engineers | 16 | $117,187 to $123,120 | $183,736 |
| Captains | 15 | $128,381 to $141,980 | $213,961 |
| Battalion Chiefs | 5 | $166,585 to $175,352 | $257,300 |
Full-year captains averaged $213,961, $61,608 more than firefighters.
Does North County Fire Protection District (San Diego) pay firefighters more than other employers in San Diego County?
Average total pay of full-year firefighters: North County Fire Protection District (San Diego) next to every employer in the county together, and the whole state.1
- North County Fire Protection District (San Diego)$152,353
- All employers in San Diego County$145,053
- All employers in California$186,123
Full-year firefighters at North County Fire Protection District (San Diego) earned $7,300 more than the San Diego County average and $33,770 less than the California average.
Average firefighter pay in San Diego County compared to nearby counties
Average total pay of full-year firefighters across all employers in each county that borders San Diego County, and how much more or less it pays.1
Where does North County Fire Protection District (San Diego) rank among California employers?
Every employer with at least 5 full-year firefighters, by average total pay.1
All 202 California employers
North County Fire Protection District (San Diego) ranks 133rd of 202, below the middle employer.
Middle employer: $169,232
The 23 employers in San Diego County
North County Fire Protection District (San Diego) ranks 20th of 23, below the middle employer.
Middle employer: $161,998
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 North County Fire Protection District (San Diego)
As reported by the agency. Contributions are what the employer paid per full-year firefighter, on top of wages.1
- Pension formula
- 2.7% at 57
- the most common formula among North County Fire Protection District (San Diego)'s firefighters
- Employer pension contribution
- $19,196
- average per year
- Health, dental and vision
- $13,842
- average paid by the employer per year
Questions about firefighter pay at North County Fire Protection District (San Diego)
What is the average firefighter salary at North County Fire Protection District (San Diego)?
Firefighters at North County Fire Protection District (San Diego) who worked the full year earned an average of $152,353 in 2025, overtime included. The middle firefighter earned $141,717: half earned more, half less. The official pay range across its firefighter titles runs from $94,003 to $114,329.
How much overtime do firefighters at North County Fire Protection District (San Diego) earn?
Full-year firefighters were paid an average of $41,429 in overtime in 2025. The middle one was paid $27,321: a few people with a lot of overtime pull the average up.
What is the starting salary for a firefighter at North County Fire Protection District (San Diego)?
$94,003 a year: the bottom of the official range for North County Fire Protection District (San Diego)'s Firefighter/Medic title in 2025, as reported. Pay rises with steps and overtime; full-year firefighters averaged $152,353 in total pay.
How much does a fire captain make at North County Fire Protection District (San Diego)?
Full-year captains at North County Fire Protection District (San Diego) averaged $213,961 in total pay in 2025, overtime included, on an official range of $128,381 to $141,980.
What pension do firefighters at North County Fire Protection District (San Diego) get?
The most common pension formula among North County Fire Protection District (San Diego)'s firefighters is 2.7% at 57, as reported by the agency. The employer paid an average of $19,196 a year into the pension plan.
More salaries in San Diego County
- Solana Beach$160,810 average total pay
- Alpine Fire Protection District$158,161 average total pay
- San Miguel Consolidated Fire Protection District$156,883 average total pay
- National City$156,871 average total pay
- Escondido$154,642 average total pay
- Chula Vista$153,151 average total pay
- Highest firefighter salaries in CaliforniaThe best-paying employers, ranked
- Paramedic and EMT salaries at North County Fire Protection District (San Diego)$106,282 average total pay
- Teacher salaries in San Diego CountyEvery school district's salary schedule
Sources for the North County Fire Protection District (San Diego) figures
Every person who held a firefighter position at North County Fire Protection District (San Diego) 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.
- State Controller's Office, Government Compensation in California, 2025: positions, official pay ranges, wages, pension formula and employer contributions as reported by North County Fire Protection District (San Diego).