California / Forestry and Fire Protection / Fire Captain

Job-title file

Fire Captain

Respond to fires and emergencies, perform rescue and medical aid, and carry out prevention and inspection.

2,782 employees hold this title in Forestry and Fire Protection. Median total compensation for the role is $174,959, above the department median of $111,787.

Employees: 2,782
Total payroll: $466M
Role median: $174,959
Agency median: $111,787
Comparison: Above

What the records show

Role pay distribution

Pay distribution for this role

-$5,038$284,334+

Hover a bar for its range; click to filter the list below.

How total compensation varies among the 2,782 people in this role. Even for one job title, pay differs with seniority, step, overtime, and tenure. Each bar is a pay range; the far-right bar collects the highest earners.

Compared with the local labor market

Fire Captain pay vs. California

Across all employers in California, the median wage for First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers — about 8,170 people — is $127,630. Forestry and Fire Protection pays a median base salary of $91,863 for this role, 28% below that figure — about the 18th percentile of local pay for the occupation.

Where Forestry and Fire Protection sits in the local pay range

10th

25th

Median

75th

90th

$80,910

$100,450

$127,630

$169,380

$204,160

Forestry and Fire Protection median · $91,863

The bar is the range of annual wages for First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers across every employer in California, from the 10th to the 90th percentile, with the middle 50% highlighted. The marker shows Forestry and Fire Protection’s median base salary for this role. Both figures are base pay only.

And across the country

Nationwide, the median wage for First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers — about 99,140 people — is $93,530. Forestry and Fire Protection’s median base salary is 2% below that national figure, about the 48th percentile of pay for the occupation nationally.

10th

25th

Median

75th

90th

$53,430

$72,140

$93,530

$119,500

$140,010

Forestry and Fire Protection median · $91,863

Local and national wages differ for reasons beyond how well a job pays — cost of living, the mix of employers, and local demand for the occupation all move the California range relative to the national one.

Computed over the 2,558 of 2,876 people in this role paid at least $25,000in base salary. The rest are part-year or part-time records, whose actual pay isn’t comparable to a full-time annual wage.

Median total compensation for this role at Forestry and Fire Protection is $175,601, which includes overtime and employer-paid benefits. The benchmark above excludes both, so total compensation is deliberately not compared against it.

Benchmark: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025). BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) covers all employers in the area — private, non-profit, and government alike — so this is a comparison against the whole local labor market for the occupation, not against private-sector pay. OEWS wages are straight-time pay and exclude overtime, shift differentials, and employer-paid benefits, so the government figure shown here is base pay on the same basis. Total compensation is not comparable to it. Job titles are matched to the closest standard occupation, so the comparison is between similar work rather than an identical job classification.

Compare jurisdictions

Fire Captain beyond California

This role is reported in 19 jurisdictions. In California, the median of $175,601 ranks #6 of 19. See Fire Captain across all of California →

Highest-paying jurisdictions for this role

$402,076 · 748

$352,297 · 181

$329,749 · 575

$246,977 · 330

$235,922 · 46

$163,213 · 257

$149,775 · 31

$144,755 · 50

Median total compensation for comparable Fire Captainroles in other jurisdictions. Titles are matched by normalized name across sources, not identical job classification, and pay is not cost-of-living adjusted. Each bar links to that jurisdiction’s page for the role.

Record list

Employees with this title

Page 1

Steve Torres

Fire Captain/Forestry and Fire Protection

2025 total comp

$124,706

Sub-department: Forestry
Base pay: $82,048
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $42,658
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $124,706
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R08
Work county: Monterey
Middle name: R

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $7,694
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5424191095514
Salary Total: $8,306
Total Pay: $124,706

Steve Torres is a Fire Captain at Forestry and Fire Protection within Forestry. They work full-time. 2025 total compensation came to $124,706. Their bargaining unit is R08.

Pedro Gutierrez Jr

Fire Captain/Forestry and Fire Protection

2025 total comp

$123,967

Sub-department: Forestry
Base pay: $72,309
Overtime: $27,064
Other pay: $24,594
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $123,967
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R08
Work county: Tulare

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $6,360
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5424161095007
Salary Total: $6,351
Total Pay: $123,967

At Forestry and Fire Protection, Pedro Gutierrez Jr serves as a Fire Captain within Forestry. They work full-time. Their 2025 pay totaled $123,967. Union affiliation: R08.

William Weldon

Fire Captain/Forestry and Fire Protection

2023 total comp

$123,260

Sub-department: Forestry
Base pay: $57,521
Overtime: $3,970
Other pay: $61,769
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $123,260
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R08
Work county: Lassen
Middle name: J

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $7,075
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5422341095061
Salary Total: $7,225
Total Pay: $123,260

William Weldon is a Fire Captain at Forestry and Fire Protection within Forestry. They work full-time. 2023 total compensation came to $123,260. They are represented by R08.

Stuart Mark

Fire Captain/Forestry and Fire Protection

2023 total comp

$122,645

Sub-department: Forestry
Base pay: $25,045
Overtime: $3,414
Other pay: $94,187
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $122,645
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R08
Work county: Santa Cruz
Middle name: S

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $6,290
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5421171095501
Salary Total: $6,880
Total Pay: $122,645

Stuart Mark holds the role of Fire Captain at Forestry and Fire Protection within Forestry. Their status is full-time. In 2023, their total compensation was $122,645. They are represented by R08.

Pietro Balestracci

Fire Captain/Forestry and Fire Protection

2025 total comp

$122,163

Sub-department: Forestry
Base pay: $90,030
Overtime: $1,201
Other pay: $30,932
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $122,163
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R08
Work county: Riverside
Middle name: D

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $7,694
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5423121095200
Salary Total: $7,844
Total Pay: $122,163

Pietro Balestracci works as a Fire Captain for Forestry and Fire Protection within Forestry. Their status is full-time. Pietro earned $122,163 in 2025. Union affiliation: R08.

Ian Van Weerden-Poelman

Fire Captain/Forestry and Fire Protection

2025 total comp

$120,794

Sub-department: Forestry
Base pay: $84,890
Overtime: $2,415
Other pay: $33,488
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $120,794
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R08
Work county: Santa Cruz
Middle name: M

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $7,271
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5421171095520
Salary Total: $7,239
Total Pay: $120,794

At Forestry and Fire Protection, Ian Van Weerden-Poelman serves as a Fire Captain within Forestry. They work full-time. Their 2025 pay totaled $120,794. Union affiliation: R08.

Brannan Campbell

Fire Captain/Forestry and Fire Protection

2025 total comp

$120,755

Sub-department: Forestry
Base pay: $82,755
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $38,000
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $120,755
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R08
Work county: Napa
Middle name: A

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $7,694
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5421141095907
Salary Total: $8,075
Total Pay: $120,755

Brannan Campbell works as a Fire Captain for Forestry and Fire Protection within Forestry. Their status is full-time. Brannan earned $120,755 in 2025. They are represented by R08.

Allan Williamson

Fire Captain/Forestry and Fire Protection

2025 total comp

$120,743

Sub-department: Forestry
Base pay: $77,113
Overtime: $10,703
Other pay: $32,928
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $120,743
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R08
Work county: Monterey
Middle name: L

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $6,749
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5424191095563
Salary Total: $6,730
Total Pay: $120,743

Allan Williamson holds the role of Fire Captain at Forestry and Fire Protection within Forestry. Their status is full-time. In 2025, their total compensation was $120,743. They are represented by R08.

Mark Smith

Fire Captain/Forestry and Fire Protection

2025 total comp

$119,053

Sub-department: Forestry
Base pay: $79,996
Overtime: $5,230
Other pay: $33,827
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $119,053
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R08
Work county: San Diego
Middle name: A

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $6,869
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5423321095167
Salary Total: $7,019
Total Pay: $119,053

Mark Smith works as a Fire Captain for Forestry and Fire Protection within Forestry. Their status is full-time. Mark earned $119,053 in 2025. Their bargaining unit is R08.

Derek Sharp

Fire Captain/Forestry and Fire Protection

2024 total comp

$118,712

Sub-department: Forestry
Base pay: $72,270
Overtime: $3,503
Other pay: $42,939
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $118,712
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R08
Work county: Amador
Middle name: B

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $7,024
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5420291095055
Salary Total: $7,174
Total Pay: $118,712

Derek Sharp holds the role of Fire Captain at Forestry and Fire Protection within Forestry. Their status is full-time. In 2024, their total compensation was $118,712. Their bargaining unit is R08.

John Lo

Fire Captain/Forestry and Fire Protection

2025 total comp

$118,491

Sub-department: Forestry
Base pay: $83,738
Overtime: $1,695
Other pay: $33,058
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $118,491
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R08
Work county: Santa Cruz

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $7,199
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5421171095516
Salary Total: $7,169
Total Pay: $118,491

At Forestry and Fire Protection, John Lo serves as a Fire Captain within Forestry. They work full-time. Their 2025 pay totaled $118,491. Their bargaining unit is R08.

Nathan Champion

Fire Captain/Forestry and Fire Protection

2025 total comp

$117,927

Sub-department: Forestry
Base pay: $77,179
Overtime: $10,201
Other pay: $30,548
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $117,927
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R08
Work county: Mariposa
Middle name: D

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $6,749
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5424141095541
Salary Total: $6,899
Total Pay: $117,927

At Forestry and Fire Protection, Nathan Champion serves as a Fire Captain within Forestry. They work full-time. Their 2025 pay totaled $117,927. They are represented by R08.

Timothy Quickel

Fire Captain/Forestry and Fire Protection

2025 total comp

$117,667

Sub-department: Forestry
Base pay: $62,046
Overtime: $12,310
Other pay: $43,310
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $117,667
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R08
Work county: Ventura
Middle name: P

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $8,483
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5423441095011
Salary Total: $8,421
Total Pay: $117,667

At Forestry and Fire Protection, Timothy Quickel serves as a Fire Captain within Forestry. They work full-time. Their 2025 pay totaled $117,667. Their bargaining unit is R08.

Denver Martinez

Fire Captain/Forestry and Fire Protection

2025 total comp

$117,007

Sub-department: Forestry
Base pay: $73,848
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $43,159
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $117,007
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R08
Work county: Butte
Middle name: H

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $7,694
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5422111095538
Salary Total: $8,536
Total Pay: $117,007

At Forestry and Fire Protection, Denver Martinez serves as a Fire Captain within Forestry. They work full-time. Their 2025 pay totaled $117,007. They are represented by R08.

Jesus Ramirez

Fire Captain/Forestry and Fire Protection

2023 total comp

$116,907

Sub-department: Forestry
Base pay: $0
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $116,907
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $116,907
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R08
Work county: Tulare

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $6,416
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5424161095512
Salary Total: $6,566
Total Pay: $79,350

Jesus Ramirez holds the role of Fire Captain at Forestry and Fire Protection within Forestry. Their status is full-time. In 2023, their total compensation was $116,907. They are represented by R08.

Joshua Wilson

Fire Captain/Forestry and Fire Protection

2025 total comp

$116,768

Sub-department: Forestry
Base pay: $69,912
Overtime: $17,256
Other pay: $29,600
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $116,768
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R08
Work county: Lassen
Middle name: J

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $6,231
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5422121095527
Salary Total: $6,225
Total Pay: $116,768

Joshua Wilson is a Fire Captain at Forestry and Fire Protection within Forestry. They work full-time. 2025 total compensation came to $116,768. Their bargaining unit is R08.

Eric Hogue

Fire Captain/Forestry and Fire Protection

2025 total comp

$116,052

Sub-department: Forestry
Base pay: $78,558
Overtime: $6,441
Other pay: $31,053
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $116,052
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R08
Work county: Merced
Middle name: M

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $6,763
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5424141095547
Salary Total: $6,913
Total Pay: $116,052

Eric Hogue works as a Fire Captain for Forestry and Fire Protection within Forestry. Their status is full-time. Eric earned $116,052 in 2025. Union affiliation: R08.

Zachary Grieve

Fire Captain/Forestry and Fire Protection

2023 total comp

$115,703

Sub-department: Forestry
Base pay: $39,267
Overtime: $71
Other pay: $76,365
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $115,703
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R08
Work county: Mendocino
Middle name: P

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $6,416
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5421131095501
Salary Total: $6,566
Total Pay: $115,703

Zachary Grieve works as a Fire Captain for Forestry and Fire Protection within Forestry. Their status is full-time. Zachary earned $115,703 in 2023. Their bargaining unit is R08.

Chad Britton

Fire Captain/Forestry and Fire Protection

2024 total comp

$115,647

Sub-department: Forestry
Base pay: $10,267
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $105,380
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $115,647
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R08
Work county: San Luis Obispo
Middle name: G

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $7,075
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5423451095001
Salary Total: $7,862
Total Pay: $115,647

Chad Britton works as a Fire Captain for Forestry and Fire Protection within Forestry. Their status is full-time. Chad earned $115,647 in 2024. They are represented by R08.

John Brennan

Fire Captain/Forestry and Fire Protection

2025 total comp

$115,453

Sub-department: Forestry
Base pay: $75,249
Overtime: $12,259
Other pay: $27,946
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $115,453
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R08
Work county: Napa

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $6,828
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5421141095554
Salary Total: $6,807
Total Pay: $115,453

John Brennan works as a Fire Captain for Forestry and Fire Protection within Forestry. Their status is full-time. John earned $115,453 in 2025. They are represented by R08.

David Tikkanen

Fire Captain/Forestry and Fire Protection

2024 total comp

$115,187

Sub-department: Forestry
Base pay: $33,689
Overtime: $410
Other pay: $81,087
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $115,187
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R08
Work county: Humboldt
Middle name: W

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $7,075
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5421411095002
Salary Total: $7,579
Total Pay: $115,187

David Tikkanen works as a Fire Captain for Forestry and Fire Protection within Forestry. Their status is full-time. David earned $115,187 in 2024. They are represented by R08.

Justin Gonzales

Fire Captain/Forestry and Fire Protection

2025 total comp

$114,538

Sub-department: Forestry
Base pay: $65,862
Overtime: $24,858
Other pay: $23,818
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $114,538
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R08
Work county: Tulare
Middle name: G

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $6,231
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5424161095535
Salary Total: $6,225
Total Pay: $114,538

At Forestry and Fire Protection, Justin Gonzales serves as a Fire Captain within Forestry. They work full-time. Their 2025 pay totaled $114,538. They are represented by R08.

Tobias Swartzell

Fire Captain/Forestry and Fire Protection

2023 total comp

$114,455

Sub-department: Forestry
Base pay: $66,372
Overtime: $4,747
Other pay: $43,336
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $114,455
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R08
Work county: Humboldt
Middle name: C

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $5,413
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5421111095523
Salary Total: $5,834
Total Pay: $114,455

At Forestry and Fire Protection, Tobias Swartzell serves as a Fire Captain within Forestry. They work full-time. Their 2023 pay totaled $114,455. Union affiliation: R08.

Chris Fox

Fire Captain/Forestry and Fire Protection

2023 total comp

$114,358

Sub-department: Forestry
Base pay: $29,011
Overtime: $4,902
Other pay: $80,445
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $114,358
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R08
Work county: Tulare
Middle name: W

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $6,416
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5424161095519
Salary Total: $7,143
Total Pay: $114,358

Chris Fox holds the role of Fire Captain at Forestry and Fire Protection within Forestry. Their status is full-time. In 2023, their total compensation was $114,358. Union affiliation: R08.

John Serrano

Fire Captain/Forestry and Fire Protection

2025 total comp

$112,889

Sub-department: Forestry
Base pay: $2,728
Overtime: -$9,855
Other pay: $120,017
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $112,889
Employment type: Intermittent
Union / bargaining unit: R08
Work county: Sacramento
Middle name: M

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $7,694
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5420681095904
Salary Total: $44
Total Pay: $112,889

John Serrano is a Fire Captain at Forestry and Fire Protection within Forestry. They work intermittent. 2025 total compensation came to $112,889. Union affiliation: R08.

Christopher Cabrera

Fire Captain/Forestry and Fire Protection

2025 total comp

$111,845

Sub-department: Forestry
Base pay: $60,148
Overtime: $20,695
Other pay: $31,002
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $111,845
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R08
Work county: Napa
Middle name: M

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $6,748
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5421141095901
Salary Total: $6,729
Total Pay: $111,845

Christopher Cabrera is a Fire Captain at Forestry and Fire Protection within Forestry. They work full-time. 2025 total compensation came to $111,845. Their bargaining unit is R08.

Jason Clevenger

Fire Captain/Forestry and Fire Protection

2025 total comp

$111,090

Sub-department: Forestry
Base pay: $72,977
Overtime: $9,020
Other pay: $29,092
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $111,090
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R08
Work county: Madera
Middle name: D

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $6,423
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5424141095546
Salary Total: $6,262
Total Pay: $111,090

Jason Clevenger works as a Fire Captain for Forestry and Fire Protection within Forestry. Their status is full-time. Jason earned $111,090 in 2025. Their bargaining unit is R08.

John Lyu

Fire Captain/Forestry and Fire Protection

2024 total comp

$111,041

Sub-department: Forestry
Base pay: $52,098
Overtime: $584
Other pay: $58,360
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $111,041
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R08
Work county: Tuolumne
Middle name: J

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $7,075
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5424021095194
Salary Total: $7,862
Total Pay: $111,041

John Lyu holds the role of Fire Captain at Forestry and Fire Protection within Forestry. Their status is full-time. In 2024, their total compensation was $111,041. Their bargaining unit is R08.