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COL-adjusted ranking

Best Cities for First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workerss by Take-Home Pay

The cities that pay First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workerss the most on paper aren't usually the best deals once rent and prices are factored in. Bakersfield-Delano ranks first with a COL-adjusted equivalent of $626,613/year, better purchasing power than Bakersfield-Delano's higher nominal pay of $632,190. The table below uses BLS OEWS May 2025 salary data and BEA Regional Price Parities.

Highest nominal pay

#1 Bakersfield-Delano$632,190
#2 San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara$171,740
#3 Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim$169,350

Best purchasing power

#1 Bakersfield-Delano$626,613
#2 San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara$155,533
#3 Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom$150,417

Top 25 metros by purchasing power

Ranked by COL-adjusted salary. Metros with fewer than 100 employed first-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workerss excluded.

Rank
Metro
Nominal
COL-adj.
#1
Bakersfield-Delano
3% rent burden
$632,190
$626,613
#2
$171,740
$155,533
#3
$160,450
$150,417
#4
$169,350
$149,115
#5
$159,570
$138,024
#6
Bellingham
16% rent burden
$137,720
$133,282
#7
$135,050
$127,876
#8
Vallejo
20% rent burden
$133,280
$122,861
#9
Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater
19% rent burden
$127,110
$122,610
#10
$132,910
$122,160
#11
$126,200
$121,826
#12
$134,830
$121,326
#13
$110,210
$120,185
#14
Port St. Lucie
18% rent burden
$120,360
$120,084
#15
$116,990
$118,339
#16
$132,810
$117,990
#17
Napa
26% rent burden
$126,380
$112,288
#18
Reno
20% rent burden
$113,340
$112,207
#19
Lubbock
12% rent burden
$101,500
$111,148
#20
Oklahoma City
15% rent burden
$100,200
$110,828
#21
Rochester
18% rent burden
$107,340
$110,626
#22
Tyler
16% rent burden
$101,190
$109,798
#23
Spokane-Spokane Valley
12% rent burden
$109,990
$109,606
#24
Topeka
13% rent burden
$96,980
$109,187
#25
$118,570
$108,900

COL-adjusted = nominal salary divided by (BEA RPP divided by 100). Rent burden = annual 2BR FMR as % of nominal salary. Sources: BLS OEWS May 2025, BEA Regional Price Parities, HUD Fair Market Rents.

Common questions

What does "COL-adjusted pay" mean for First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workerss?

COL-adjusted pay divides the BLS median salary by the BEA Regional Price Parity index (100 = national average). A salary of $632,190 in a city with RPP 120 has the same purchasing power as $526,825 at national average prices.

Why doesn't New York or San Francisco top this list?

Both cities pay above-average salaries, but rent and everyday costs eat most of that premium. A first-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers in New York might earn 30% more but pay 60-80% more in rent. The net result is often less purchasing power than mid-cost metros.

How is purchasing power calculated?

Purchasing power equals nominal median salary divided by (BEA RPP divided by 100). BEA's Regional Price Parities measure relative price levels across metro areas, updated annually from the National Income and Product Accounts.

What's the most affordable metro for First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workerss?

Bakersfield-Delano has one of the lowest rent burdens for First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workerss in this dataset. HUD FMR for a 2-bedroom is $1,483/month, with a median salary of $632,190.

Where do First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workerss get paid the most in nominal terms?

Bakersfield-Delano pays the highest nominal median salary at $632,190/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. But check the COL-adjusted column before accepting any relocation offer.

National salary breakdown for First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention WorkerssView →How to become a first-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workersGuide →Compare two cities side by sideCompare →