California / Forestry and Fire Protection

Agency file

Forestry and Fire Protection

Source file: California — State Employee Compensation (SCO Payroll Data Warehouse, CPRA) / ingested Jul 4, 2026

The Forestry and Fire Protection provides fire protection and emergency response, including prevention, inspection, rescue, and medical aid.

In 2025, this agency had 13,250 employees with median total compensation of $111,787; the highest distinct record was $758,255.

Year: 2025
Total payroll: $1.6B
Employees: 13,250
Median total: $111,787
Highest record: $758,255

What the records show

Compensation analytics

These summaries compare pay within the agency before listing individual records.

Salary distribution

-$17,871$275,989+

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

How 2025 total compensation is spread across the 13,250 employees. Each bar is a pay range; taller bars mean more people earn in that range. The amber line marks the median ($111,787) — half earn less, half more. The far-right bar collects the highest earners.

Average pay composition

Base — $67,565 (56%)
Overtime — $29,078 (24%)
Other — $24,792 (20%)
Benefits — $0 (0%)

What an average paycheck here is made of — base salary versus overtime, other pay (bonuses, allowances), and benefits. A large overtime or other-pay share means take-home often exceeds base salary.

Pay percentiles

10th

25th

Median

75th

90th

$44,634

$77,363

$111,787

$162,642

$207,686

The pay ladder for this department. Someone at the 90th percentile earns $207,686 — more than 90% of the department; the 10th percentile earns $44,634. The shaded band is the middle half of employees (25th–75th percentile).

Largest job titles

Fire Fighter I

3,835 · $84,139

Fire Captain

2,312 · $178,347

Fire Apparatus Engineer

1,952 · $129,762

Battalion Chief

549 · $207,553

Fire Fighter II

418 · $114,080

The most common job titles in this department by headcount, with the median total compensation for each. Click a title to see everyone who holds it.

Trend

Year over year

How this department's total payroll, headcount, and median pay changed across the 3 published years.

Year	Total payroll	Employees	Median pay
2023	$1.2B —	12,957 —	$81,412 —
2024	$1.4B ▲ 13.9%	12,674 ▼ 2.2%	$100,761 ▲ 23.8%
2025	$1.6B ▲ 13.6%	13,250 ▲ 4.5%	$111,787 ▲ 10.9%

Compare

Similar departments

Departments elsewhere with the most similar mix of roles — a proxy for the same kind of agency, matched by workforce composition rather than name. Pay is not cost-of-living adjusted.

Fire City of Greensboro80% match
Boston Fire Department City of Boston79% match
Cfd Operations City of Charlotte78% match
Fir Usd Fire Operations Metro Nashville76% match
Fire City of San Jose64% match
Fire Department Los Angeles County62% match

Record list

Employees

Page 23

Joseph Gibson

Deputy State Fire Marshal III (Supervisor)/Forestry and Fire Protection

2025 total comp

$141,602

Sub-department: Forestry
Base pay: $135,083
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $6,519
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $141,602
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: S07
Work county: San Luis Obispo
Middle name: W

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $11,909
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5445339010010
Salary Total: $11,671
Total Pay: $141,602

At Forestry and Fire Protection, Joseph Gibson serves as a Deputy State Fire Marshal III (Supervisor) within Forestry. They work full-time. Their 2025 pay totaled $141,602. They are represented by S07.

Joseph Gooding

Fire Apparatus Engineer/Forestry and Fire Protection

2025 total comp

$141,584

Sub-department: Forestry
Base pay: $79,499
Overtime: $27,474
Other pay: $34,611
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $141,584
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R08
Work county: San Diego
Middle name: M

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $6,856
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5423141077606
Salary Total: $6,835
Total Pay: $141,584

At Forestry and Fire Protection, Joseph Gooding serves as a Fire Apparatus Engineer within Forestry. They work full-time. Their 2025 pay totaled $141,584. Union affiliation: R08.

Michael Keyser

Fire Captain/Forestry and Fire Protection

2025 total comp

$141,583

Sub-department: Forestry
Base pay: $98,195
Overtime: $4,974
Other pay: $38,414
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $141,583
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R08
Work county: Mariposa
Middle name: D

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $7,694
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5424141095530
Salary Total: $8,190
Total Pay: $141,583

Michael Keyser is a Fire Captain at Forestry and Fire Protection within Forestry. They work full-time. 2025 total compensation came to $141,583. Union affiliation: R08.

Jesus Suarez

Fire Captain/Forestry and Fire Protection

2025 total comp

$141,575

Sub-department: Forestry
Base pay: $93,226
Overtime: $11,780
Other pay: $36,569
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $141,575
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R08
Work county: Santa Cruz
Middle name: A

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $7,694
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5421171095625
Salary Total: $7,882
Total Pay: $141,575

Jesus Suarez works as a Fire Captain for Forestry and Fire Protection within Forestry. Their status is full-time. Jesus earned $141,575 in 2025. Union affiliation: R08.

Richard Shade

Battalion Chief/Forestry and Fire Protection

2025 total comp

$141,573

Sub-department: Forestry
Base pay: $94,283
Overtime: $10,345
Other pay: $36,946
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $141,573
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R08
Work county: Tuolumne
Middle name: R

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $8,078
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5424189723001
Salary Total: $8,026
Total Pay: $141,573

Richard Shade works as a Battalion Chief for Forestry and Fire Protection within Forestry. Their status is full-time. Richard earned $141,573 in 2025. Their bargaining unit is R08.

Christian Drozen

Fire Captain/Forestry and Fire Protection

2023 total comp

$141,572

Sub-department: Forestry
Base pay: $78,537
Overtime: $14,591
Other pay: $48,444
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $141,572
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R08
Work county: Sacramento
Middle name: D

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $6,416
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5420611095003
Salary Total: $6,566
Total Pay: $141,572

Christian Drozen is a Fire Captain at Forestry and Fire Protection within Forestry. They work full-time. 2023 total compensation came to $141,572. Their bargaining unit is R08.

Hans Niederberger

Fire Apparatus Engineer/Forestry and Fire Protection

2025 total comp

$141,563

Sub-department: Forestry
Base pay: $69,766
Overtime: $43,218
Other pay: $28,580
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $141,563
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R08
Work county: Riverside
Middle name: J

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $6,120
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5423121077729
Salary Total: $6,117
Total Pay: $141,563

At Forestry and Fire Protection, Hans Niederberger serves as a Fire Apparatus Engineer within Forestry. They work full-time. Their 2025 pay totaled $141,563. They are represented by R08.

Nicholas Grypma

Fire Apparatus Engineer/Forestry and Fire Protection

2025 total comp

$141,556

Sub-department: Forestry
Base pay: $72,220
Overtime: $40,534
Other pay: $28,801
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $141,556
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R08
Work county: San Mateo
Middle name: R

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $6,504
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5421171077627
Salary Total: $6,341
Total Pay: $141,556

At Forestry and Fire Protection, Nicholas Grypma serves as a Fire Apparatus Engineer within Forestry. They work full-time. Their 2025 pay totaled $141,556. Union affiliation: R08.

Ronald Gregor

Fire Captain/Forestry and Fire Protection

2025 total comp

$141,544

Sub-department: Forestry
Base pay: $72,706
Overtime: $26,945
Other pay: $41,894
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $141,544
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R08
Work county: San Bernardino
Middle name: M

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $6,230
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5423131095552
Salary Total: $6,224
Total Pay: $141,544

Ronald Gregor holds the role of Fire Captain at Forestry and Fire Protection within Forestry. Their status is full-time. In 2025, their total compensation was $141,544. Their bargaining unit is R08.

Arturo Sanchez

Fire Apparatus Engineer/Forestry and Fire Protection

2025 total comp

$141,538

Sub-department: Forestry
Base pay: $76,970
Overtime: $34,007
Other pay: $30,562
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $141,538
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R08
Work county: Ventura
Middle name: G

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $6,763
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5423431077012
Salary Total: $6,594
Total Pay: $141,538

Arturo Sanchez is a Fire Apparatus Engineer at Forestry and Fire Protection within Forestry. They work full-time. 2025 total compensation came to $141,538. Their bargaining unit is R08.

Joe Butler

Information Technology Specialist I/Forestry and Fire Protection

2025 total comp

$141,518

Sub-department: Forestry
Base pay: $106,057
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $35,461
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $141,518
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R01
Work county: Yolo
Middle name: L

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $9,176
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5410211402025
Salary Total: $8,901
Total Pay: $141,518

Joe Butler works as a Information Technology Specialist I for Forestry and Fire Protection within Forestry. Their status is full-time. Joe earned $141,518 in 2025. Union affiliation: R01.

Justin Gamble

Fire Apparatus Engineer/Forestry and Fire Protection

2025 total comp

$141,487

Sub-department: Forestry
Base pay: $82,059
Overtime: $26,970
Other pay: $32,457
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $141,487
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R08
Work county: San Mateo
Middle name: G

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $6,856
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5421171077645
Salary Total: $6,835
Total Pay: $141,487

At Forestry and Fire Protection, Justin Gamble serves as a Fire Apparatus Engineer within Forestry. They work full-time. Their 2025 pay totaled $141,487. They are represented by R08.

Ashlea Coski

Fire Fighter II (Paramedic)/Forestry and Fire Protection

2025 total comp

$141,479

Sub-department: Forestry
Base pay: $67,231
Overtime: $39,878
Other pay: $34,371
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $141,479
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R08
Work county: Riverside
Middle name: E

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $5,907
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5423121755622
Salary Total: $5,759
Total Pay: $141,479

Ashlea Coski works as a Fire Fighter II (Paramedic) for Forestry and Fire Protection within Forestry. Their status is full-time. Ashlea earned $141,479 in 2025. Their bargaining unit is R08.

Dustin Lawrence

Fire Apparatus Engineer/Forestry and Fire Protection

2025 total comp

$141,474

Sub-department: Forestry
Base pay: $73,738
Overtime: $38,363
Other pay: $29,373
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $141,474
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R08
Work county: Mariposa
Middle name: J

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $6,427
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5424141077605
Salary Total: $6,266
Total Pay: $141,474

Dustin Lawrence is a Fire Apparatus Engineer at Forestry and Fire Protection within Forestry. They work full-time. 2025 total compensation came to $141,474. Union affiliation: R08.

Luis Palacios

Fire Apparatus Engineer/Forestry and Fire Protection

2025 total comp

$141,450

Sub-department: Forestry
Base pay: $71,813
Overtime: $40,969
Other pay: $28,668
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $141,450
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R08
Work county: Riverside
Middle name: V

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $6,442
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5423121077611
Salary Total: $6,281
Total Pay: $141,450

Luis Palacios works as a Fire Apparatus Engineer for Forestry and Fire Protection within Forestry. Their status is full-time. Luis earned $141,450 in 2025. They are represented by R08.

Douglas Brown

Forestry Equipment Manager I/Forestry and Fire Protection

2025 total comp

$141,449

Sub-department: Forestry
Base pay: $129,168
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $12,281
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $141,449
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: S08
Work county: Tehama
Middle name: E

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $10,388
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5422156873001
Salary Total: $10,855
Total Pay: $141,449

Douglas Brown holds the role of Forestry Equipment Manager I at Forestry and Fire Protection within Forestry. Their status is full-time. In 2025, their total compensation was $141,449. Union affiliation: S08.

Colin Noyes

Forester I (Nonsupervisory)/Forestry and Fire Protection

2024 total comp

$141,427

Sub-department: Forestry
Base pay: $99,537
Overtime: $35,819
Other pay: $6,071
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $141,427
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R08
Work county: San Mateo
Middle name: J

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $8,778
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5421631054002
Salary Total: $8,928
Total Pay: $141,427

Colin Noyes works as a Forester I (Nonsupervisory) for Forestry and Fire Protection within Forestry. Their status is full-time. Colin earned $141,427 in 2024. Their bargaining unit is R08.

Nicole Gillmaster

Associate Governmental Program Analyst/Forestry and Fire Protection

2025 total comp

$141,406

Sub-department: Forestry
Base pay: $87,892
Overtime: $53,390
Other pay: $125
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $141,406
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R01
Work county: Riverside
Middle name: M

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $7,547
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5413125393708
Salary Total: $7,321
Total Pay: $141,406

At Forestry and Fire Protection, Nicole Gillmaster serves as a Associate Governmental Program Analyst within Forestry. They work full-time. Their 2025 pay totaled $141,406. Their bargaining unit is R01.

Malcolm Kennedy

Fire Captain/Forestry and Fire Protection

2023 total comp

$141,364

Sub-department: Forestry
Base pay: $85,413
Overtime: $2,076
Other pay: $53,874
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $141,364
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R08
Work county: Shasta
Middle name: P

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $6,416
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5421011095001
Salary Total: $7,143
Total Pay: $141,364

Malcolm Kennedy holds the role of Fire Captain at Forestry and Fire Protection within Forestry. Their status is full-time. In 2023, their total compensation was $141,364. They are represented by R08.

Amy Mason

Fire Apparatus Engineer/Forestry and Fire Protection

2024 total comp

$141,358

Sub-department: Forestry
Base pay: $69,543
Overtime: $29,532
Other pay: $42,283
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $141,358
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R08
Work county: San Bernardino
Middle name: M

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $6,689
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5423341077002
Salary Total: $6,689
Total Pay: $141,358

Amy Mason holds the role of Fire Apparatus Engineer at Forestry and Fire Protection within Forestry. Their status is full-time. In 2024, their total compensation was $141,358. Union affiliation: R08.

Edgar Alvarez

Fire Fighter I/Forestry and Fire Protection

2025 total comp

$141,349

Sub-department: Forestry
Base pay: $63,690
Overtime: $36,097
Other pay: $41,562
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $141,349
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R08
Work county: San Bernardino
Middle name: A

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $5,566
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5423131083901
Salary Total: $5,427
Total Pay: $141,349

Edgar Alvarez holds the role of Fire Fighter I at Forestry and Fire Protection within Forestry. Their status is full-time. In 2025, their total compensation was $141,349. They are represented by R08.

Meagan Krueger

Staff Services Manager III/Forestry and Fire Protection

2025 total comp

$141,333

Sub-department: Forestry
Base pay: $126,183
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $15,150
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $141,333
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: M01
Work county: Yolo
Middle name: K

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $10,867
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5410364802001
Salary Total: $10,541
Total Pay: $141,333

Meagan Krueger works as a Staff Services Manager III for Forestry and Fire Protection within Forestry. Their status is full-time. Meagan earned $141,333 in 2025. Their bargaining unit is M01.

Jason Wilson

Fire Apparatus Engineer/Forestry and Fire Protection

2024 total comp

$141,311

Sub-department: Forestry
Base pay: $69,332
Overtime: $30,336
Other pay: $41,643
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $141,311
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R08
Work county: Shasta
Middle name: O

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $6,689
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5422131077907
Salary Total: $6,689
Total Pay: $141,311

Jason Wilson works as a Fire Apparatus Engineer for Forestry and Fire Protection within Forestry. Their status is full-time. Jason earned $141,311 in 2024. Union affiliation: R08.

Perry Nunez

Fire Captain/Forestry and Fire Protection

2025 total comp

$141,311

Sub-department: Forestry
Base pay: $83,985
Overtime: $24,177
Other pay: $33,149
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $141,311
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R08
Work county: Butte
Middle name: A

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $7,199
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5422111095907
Salary Total: $7,169
Total Pay: $141,311

At Forestry and Fire Protection, Perry Nunez serves as a Fire Captain within Forestry. They work full-time. Their 2025 pay totaled $141,311. They are represented by R08.