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

Scott Piccini

Fire Captain/Forestry and Fire Protection

2023 total comp

$80,902

Sub-department: Forestry
Base pay: $634
Overtime: $315
Other pay: $79,953
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $80,902
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R08
Work county: Riverside
Middle name: C

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $6,290
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5423121095714
Salary Total: $6,880
Total Pay: $80,902

Scott Piccini holds the role of Fire Captain at Forestry and Fire Protection within Forestry. Their status is full-time. In 2023, their total compensation was $80,902. Their bargaining unit is R08.

Francisco Zarate

Fire Captain/Forestry and Fire Protection

2024 total comp

$80,640

Sub-department: Forestry
Base pay: $21,880
Overtime: $2,765
Other pay: $55,995
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $80,640
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R08
Work county: Butte
Middle name: J

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $6,416
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5422111095602
Salary Total: $7,293
Total Pay: $80,640

Francisco Zarate is a Fire Captain at Forestry and Fire Protection within Forestry. They work full-time. 2024 total compensation came to $80,640. Their bargaining unit is R08.

Manuel Reyes

Fire Captain/Forestry and Fire Protection

2023 total comp

$80,228

Sub-department: Forestry
Base pay: $888
Overtime: $2,740
Other pay: $76,600
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $80,228
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R08
Work county: Riverside

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $6,936
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5423381095130
Salary Total: $7,572
Total Pay: $80,228

Manuel Reyes holds the role of Fire Captain at Forestry and Fire Protection within Forestry. Their status is full-time. In 2023, their total compensation was $80,228. Union affiliation: R08.

David Munch

Fire Captain/Forestry and Fire Protection

2023 total comp

$79,730

Sub-department: Forestry
Base pay: $4,887
Overtime: $1,258
Other pay: $73,585
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $79,730
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R08
Work county: Napa
Middle name: W

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $6,290
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5421141095609
Salary Total: $6,880
Total Pay: $79,730

David Munch is a Fire Captain at Forestry and Fire Protection within Forestry. They work full-time. 2023 total compensation came to $79,730. Their bargaining unit is R08.

Traven Brandon

Fire Captain/Forestry and Fire Protection

2023 total comp

$79,444

Sub-department: Forestry
Base pay: $33,412
Overtime: $2,131
Other pay: $43,900
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $79,444
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R08
Work county: Shasta
Middle name: I

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $6,290
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5422131095536
Salary Total: $6,440
Total Pay: $79,444

Traven Brandon works as a Fire Captain for Forestry and Fire Protection within Forestry. Their status is full-time. Traven earned $79,444 in 2023. They are represented by R08.

Brandi Plaskett

Fire Captain/Forestry and Fire Protection

2025 total comp

$78,716

Sub-department: Forestry
Base pay: $28,962
Overtime: $9,583
Other pay: $40,171
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $78,716
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R08
Work county: San Luis Obispo
Middle name: J

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $7,506
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5423161095008
Salary Total: $8,332
Total Pay: $78,716

Brandi Plaskett is a Fire Captain at Forestry and Fire Protection within Forestry. They work full-time. 2025 total compensation came to $78,716. They are represented by R08.

Gene Parks

Fire Captain/Forestry and Fire Protection

2023 total comp

$77,792

Sub-department: Forestry
Base pay: $16,725
Overtime: $2,431
Other pay: $58,636
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $77,792
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R08
Work county: Santa Clara
Middle name: M

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $6,290
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5421161095514
Salary Total: $6,755
Total Pay: $77,792

Gene Parks holds the role of Fire Captain at Forestry and Fire Protection within Forestry. Their status is full-time. In 2023, their total compensation was $77,792. Their bargaining unit is R08.

Adan Orozco

Fire Captain/Forestry and Fire Protection

2025 total comp

$77,425

Sub-department: Forestry
Base pay: $34,975
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $42,451
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $77,425
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R08
Work county: Fresno
Middle name: A

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $7,694
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5424111095547
Salary Total: $8,190
Total Pay: $77,425

At Forestry and Fire Protection, Adan Orozco serves as a Fire Captain within Forestry. They work full-time. Their 2025 pay totaled $77,425. Their bargaining unit is R08.

Mark Metz

Fire Captain/Forestry and Fire Protection

2023 total comp

$77,013

Sub-department: Forestry
Base pay: $24,338
Overtime: $17,483
Other pay: $35,192
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $77,013
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R08
Work county: Amador
Middle name: R

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $6,290
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5420291095035
Salary Total: $6,440
Total Pay: $77,013

At Forestry and Fire Protection, Mark Metz serves as a Fire Captain within Forestry. They work full-time. Their 2023 pay totaled $77,013. They are represented by R08.

Frank Stewart

Fire Captain/Forestry and Fire Protection

2023 total comp

$76,870

Sub-department: Forestry
Base pay: $14,681
Overtime: $8,500
Other pay: $53,689
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $76,870
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R08
Work county: Riverside
Middle name: R

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $6,290
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5423121095679
Salary Total: $7,006
Total Pay: $76,870

Frank Stewart holds the role of Fire Captain at Forestry and Fire Protection within Forestry. Their status is full-time. In 2023, their total compensation was $76,870. Union affiliation: R08.

Shawn Yuill

Fire Captain/Forestry and Fire Protection

2023 total comp

$76,868

Sub-department: Forestry
Base pay: $9,192
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $67,676
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $76,868
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R08
Work county: Placer
Middle name: A

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $6,416
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5422161095901
Salary Total: $6,566
Total Pay: $76,868

Shawn Yuill is a Fire Captain at Forestry and Fire Protection within Forestry. They work full-time. 2023 total compensation came to $76,868. Their bargaining unit is R08.

Sherrene Flores

Fire Captain/Forestry and Fire Protection

2025 total comp

$76,680

Sub-department: Forestry
Base pay: $50,489
Overtime: $6,377
Other pay: $19,814
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $76,680
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R08
Work county: San Bernardino
Middle name: M

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $6,839
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5423311095009
Salary Total: $6,818
Total Pay: $76,680

At Forestry and Fire Protection, Sherrene Flores serves as a Fire Captain within Forestry. They work full-time. Their 2025 pay totaled $76,680. Union affiliation: R08.

Genevieve Antognazzi

Fire Captain/Forestry and Fire Protection

2025 total comp

$76,615

Sub-department: Forestry
Base pay: $11,055
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $65,560
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $76,615
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R08
Work county: Lassen
Middle name: G

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $7,506
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5422121095525
Salary Total: $8,332
Total Pay: $76,615

At Forestry and Fire Protection, Genevieve Antognazzi serves as a Fire Captain within Forestry. They work full-time. Their 2025 pay totaled $76,615. They are represented by R08.

Jeremiah Karlonas

Fire Captain/Forestry and Fire Protection

2025 total comp

$76,173

Sub-department: Forestry
Base pay: $38,628
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $37,545
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $76,173
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R08
Work county: Lake
Middle name: J

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $7,694
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5421141095504
Salary Total: $7,844
Total Pay: $76,173

At Forestry and Fire Protection, Jeremiah Karlonas serves as a Fire Captain within Forestry. They work full-time. Their 2025 pay totaled $76,173. Union affiliation: R08.

Erik Rodriguez

Fire Captain/Forestry and Fire Protection

2025 total comp

$75,588

Sub-department: Forestry
Base pay: $31,668
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $43,920
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $75,588
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R08
Work county: San Luis Obispo
Middle name: A

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $7,506
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5423161095537
Salary Total: $7,656
Total Pay: $75,588

At Forestry and Fire Protection, Erik Rodriguez serves as a Fire Captain within Forestry. They work full-time. Their 2025 pay totaled $75,588. Their bargaining unit is R08.

Julie Hutchison

Fire Captain/Forestry and Fire Protection

2023 total comp

$74,039

Sub-department: Forestry
Base pay: $45,724
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $28,315
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $74,039
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R08
Work county: Amador
Middle name: N

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $6,936
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5424521095181
Salary Total: $7,502
Total Pay: $74,039

Julie Hutchison holds the role of Fire Captain at Forestry and Fire Protection within Forestry. Their status is full-time. In 2023, their total compensation was $74,039. They are represented by R08.

Anthony Martinez

Fire Captain/Forestry and Fire Protection

2025 total comp

$73,549

Sub-department: Forestry
Base pay: $0
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $73,549
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $73,549
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R08
Work county: Napa
Middle name: D

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $7,506
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5421141095608
Salary Total: $8,332
Total Pay: $73,549

At Forestry and Fire Protection, Anthony Martinez serves as a Fire Captain within Forestry. They work full-time. Their 2025 pay totaled $73,549. Their bargaining unit is R08.

John Layton

Fire Captain/Forestry and Fire Protection

2023 total comp

$73,281

Sub-department: Forestry
Base pay: $727
Overtime: $2,491
Other pay: $70,063
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $73,281
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R08
Work county: Calaveras
Middle name: J

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $6,936
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5424311095004
Salary Total: $7,710
Total Pay: $73,281

John Layton is a Fire Captain at Forestry and Fire Protection within Forestry. They work full-time. 2023 total compensation came to $73,281. Their bargaining unit is R08.

Kyle Hayes

Fire Captain/Forestry and Fire Protection

2024 total comp

$72,403

Sub-department: Forestry
Base pay: $34,155
Overtime: $1,810
Other pay: $36,438
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $72,403
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R08
Work county: Solano
Middle name: B

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $7,075
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5421381095004
Salary Total: $7,225
Total Pay: $72,403

At Forestry and Fire Protection, Kyle Hayes serves as a Fire Captain within Forestry. They work full-time. Their 2024 pay totaled $72,403. They are represented by R08.

Timothy Swanson

Fire Captain/Forestry and Fire Protection

2025 total comp

$72,288

Sub-department: Forestry
Base pay: $119
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $72,169
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $72,288
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R08
Work county: Tuolumne
Middle name: V

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $8,483
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5424021095188
Salary Total: $9,396
Total Pay: $72,288

Timothy Swanson holds the role of Fire Captain at Forestry and Fire Protection within Forestry. Their status is full-time. In 2025, their total compensation was $72,288. Their bargaining unit is R08.

Anthony Cerquettini

Fire Captain/Forestry and Fire Protection

2023 total comp

$71,433

Sub-department: Forestry
Base pay: $0
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $71,433
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $71,433
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R08
Work county: San Bernardino
Middle name: C

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $6,290
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5423131095901
Salary Total: $6,880
Total Pay: $71,433

At Forestry and Fire Protection, Anthony Cerquettini serves as a Fire Captain within Forestry. They work full-time. Their 2023 pay totaled $71,433. Union affiliation: R08.

Randall Petersen

Fire Captain/Forestry and Fire Protection

2025 total comp

$70,939

Sub-department: Forestry
Base pay: $0
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $70,939
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $70,939
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R08
Work county: Merced
Middle name: R

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $7,694
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5424141095622
Salary Total: $8,225
Total Pay: $70,939

At Forestry and Fire Protection, Randall Petersen serves as a Fire Captain within Forestry. They work full-time. Their 2025 pay totaled $70,939. Their bargaining unit is R08.

Collin Borden

Fire Captain/Forestry and Fire Protection

2025 total comp

$70,322

Sub-department: Forestry
Base pay: $35,627
Overtime: $21,975
Other pay: $12,719
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $70,322
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R08
Work county: Riverside
Middle name: D

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $5,934
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5423121095512
Salary Total: $5,936
Total Pay: $70,322

At Forestry and Fire Protection, Collin Borden serves as a Fire Captain within Forestry. They work full-time. Their 2025 pay totaled $70,322. Union affiliation: R08.

Aubrey Pierce

Fire Captain/Forestry and Fire Protection

2025 total comp

$69,799

Sub-department: Forestry
Base pay: $46,432
Overtime: $4,504
Other pay: $18,863
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $69,799
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R08
Work county: Napa
Middle name: G

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $5,934
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5421141095515
Salary Total: $5,786
Total Pay: $69,799

Aubrey Pierce works as a Fire Captain for Forestry and Fire Protection within Forestry. Their status is full-time. Aubrey earned $69,799 in 2025. Union affiliation: R08.

Trace Barr

Fire Captain/Forestry and Fire Protection

2025 total comp

$67,834

Sub-department: Forestry
Base pay: $21,424
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $46,410
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $67,834
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R08
Work county: Fresno

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $7,694
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5424111095511
Salary Total: $8,536
Total Pay: $67,834

Trace Barr works as a Fire Captain for Forestry and Fire Protection within Forestry. Their status is full-time. Trace earned $67,834 in 2025. Their bargaining unit is R08.

Kevin Fleming

Fire Captain/Forestry and Fire Protection

2023 total comp

$67,579

Sub-department: Forestry
Base pay: $42,603
Overtime: $138
Other pay: $24,838
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $67,579
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R08
Work county: Butte
Middle name: A

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $6,416
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5422111095509
Salary Total: $6,758
Total Pay: $67,579

At Forestry and Fire Protection, Kevin Fleming serves as a Fire Captain within Forestry. They work full-time. Their 2023 pay totaled $67,579. Their bargaining unit is R08.