Does the highest-paying state also leave you best off?

Not necessarily. New Jersey has the highest headline BLS median for a first-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers at $133,210, but after state tax and cost of living it ranks #3 of 50 on real pay (index 134.9). That gap is exactly what the Gera US Real Pay Index reveals.

GeraJobs / US Real Pay Index / First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers

Best States to Be a First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers

After 2025 state income tax and 2024 cost of living, a first-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers salary goes furthest in Washington — a $129,350 BLS median worth $120,873 in real terms (Gera US Real Pay Index 139.8).

Which US states are best for a first-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers after cost of living and tax?

For a first-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers, the Gera US Real Pay Index ranks Washington #1: a $129,350 BLS median becomes $120,873 in cost-of-living-and-tax-adjusted terms (index 139.8). Mississippi ranks last ($53,974, index 62.4). Real BLS OEWS May 2025 across 50 states; re-dated annually.

Source:U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)·As of May 2025 state estimates · updated annually · last refreshed 19 June 2026

Gera US Real Pay Index

Washington ranks #1 of 50 states for a first-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers. Index 100 = the average state; 139.8 means pay goes 39.8% further after tax and cost of living.

How this is calculated

139.8

First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers — real pay by state (best first)

#	State	BLS median	State tax	Cost (RPP)	Real pay	Index
1	Washington	$129,350	—	107.0	$120,873	139.8
2	Illinois	$123,500	$5,972	100.0	$117,577	136.0
3	New Jersey	$133,210	$6,296	108.8	$116,644	134.9
4	New York	$132,520	$6,903	107.9	$116,397	134.6
5	Maryland	$120,530	$5,429	105.0	$109,663	126.8
6	California	$127,630	$7,748	110.7	$108,275	125.2
7	District of Columbia	$126,560	$7,883	109.9	$107,986	124.9
8	Pennsylvania	$101,050	$3,102	97.6	$100,385	116.1
9	Utah	$100,380	$4,567	98.9	$96,914	112.1
10	Colorado	$102,580	$3,854	103.1	$95,803	110.8
11	Florida	$98,560	—	103.4	$95,306	110.2
12	Nevada	$93,920	—	100.0	$93,940	108.7
13	Arizona	$96,470	$1,937	100.7	$93,898	108.6
14	Oklahoma	$85,310	$3,515	87.8	$93,115	107.7
15	North Dakota	$82,880	$378	89.0	$92,741	107.3
16	Idaho	$92,630	$4,155	95.5	$92,650	107.2
17	Virginia	$97,780	$4,823	101.1	$91,942	106.3
18	Indiana	$88,310	$2,619	93.3	$91,816	106.2
19	Connecticut	$98,500	$3,843	103.6	$91,359	105.7
20	Alaska	$92,760	—	102.4	$90,622	104.8
21	New Hampshire	$93,720	—	104.2	$89,973	104.1
22	Ohio	$84,490	$1,541	92.8	$89,410	103.4
23	Oregon	$100,260	$7,969	103.4	$89,290	103.3
24	Massachusetts	$96,600	$4,610	105.8	$86,982	100.6
25	Wyoming	$80,260	—	92.7	$86,589	100.2
26	Nebraska	$80,810	$3,106	90.1	$86,239	99.8
27	Wisconsin	$83,310	$3,263	94.1	$85,070	98.4
28	Tennessee	$77,920	—	91.9	$84,816	98.1
29	Texas	$81,710	—	97.1	$84,188	97.4
30	Kansas	$78,880	$3,602	90.1	$83,579	96.7
31	Montana	$82,820	$3,748	94.6	$83,546	96.6
32	Iowa	$76,010	$2,848	87.8	$83,364	96.4
33	Vermont	$83,250	$3,113	98.0	$81,808	94.6
34	South Dakota	$72,420	—	88.6	$81,751	94.6
35	Rhode Island	$85,170	$2,594	102.3	$80,735	93.4
36	Missouri	$75,970	$2,690	90.8	$80,690	93.3
37	Alabama	$73,320	$3,401	88.8	$78,717	91.1
38	Michigan	$77,550	$3,049	96.2	$77,430	89.6
39	Minnesota	$78,800	$3,870	98.6	$75,978	87.9
40	Maine	$74,790	$3,434	97.0	$73,525	85.0
41	Delaware	$74,670	$3,587	99.8	$71,220	82.4
42	Arkansas	$61,890	$2,205	86.9	$68,653	79.4
43	South Carolina	$65,160	$2,433	93.7	$66,910	77.4
44	Georgia	$67,200	$2,975	96.3	$66,697	77.1
45	Louisiana	$59,750	$1,418	88.2	$66,131	76.5
46	Kentucky	$60,850	$2,303	90.2	$64,937	75.1
47	New Mexico	$58,430	$1,632	92.2	$61,595	71.2
48	North Carolina	$59,560	$1,989	94.3	$61,034	70.6
49	West Virginia	$55,380	$1,760	89.5	$59,913	69.3
50	Mississippi	$48,250	$1,318	87.0	$53,974	62.4

"Real pay" = BLS median − 2025 state income tax, divided by the state's 2024 BEA cost of living (US = 100). Only the 50 states for which BLS publishes a median for this occupation are ranked; suppressed cells are excluded, never set to zero.

Where does your salary go furthest?

Enter a salary and a state. We adjust for 2025 state income tax and the 2024 BEA cost of living to show your real, purchasing-power-equivalent pay — then rank every state.

Gross annual salary (USD)Compare against state

In Washington, a $129,350 salary is worth about $120,873 in cost-of-living-and-tax-adjusted terms.

State income tax $0 (no state income tax) · take-home $129,350 · BEA cost of living 107.0 (US = 100).

The same salary goes furthest in South Dakota — worth $146,016, a $25,143 gain over Washington.

#	State	Real value	Cost (RPP)
1	South Dakota	$146,016	88.6
2	Arkansas	$142,983	86.9
3	Louisiana	$142,244	88.2
4	Mississippi	$142,213	87.0
5	Iowa	$141,787	87.8
6	North Dakota	$141,769	89.0
7	Tennessee	$140,797	91.9
8	Oklahoma	$140,257	87.8
9	Wyoming	$139,550	92.7
10	Alabama	$138,345	88.8
11	Kentucky	$137,730	90.2
12	West Virginia	$137,564	89.5

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Estimate only. State income tax is approximated from each state's 2025 flat rate (or top marginal rate as an upper bound for graduated states) and ignores federal tax, deductions and credits. The pre-published occupation and state pages use exact 2025 bracket math. Cost of living is the 2024 BEA Regional Price Parity (All Items).

First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers — real pay FAQ

What is the best state to be a first-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers?: By the Gera US Real Pay Index, Washington is the best state for a first-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers: a BLS median of $129,350 is worth $120,873 after the 2025 state income tax ($0) and the 2024 BEA cost-of-living adjustment (RPP 107.0), an index of 139.8 where the average state is 100.
Does the highest-paying state also leave you best off?: Not necessarily. New Jersey has the highest headline BLS median for a first-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers at $133,210, but after state tax and cost of living it ranks #3 of 50 on real pay (index 134.9). That gap is exactly what the Gera US Real Pay Index reveals.
Where does a first-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers salary go least far?: Mississippi ranks last of 50 states for a first-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers: a $48,250 BLS median is worth only $53,974 after tax and cost of living (index 62.4). Higher local prices and/or income tax less far than the national average erode the headline pay.

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Related on GeraJobs

Gera US Real Pay Index — all states ranked — and how the index is calculated.
Methodology — the exact BLS + BEA + tax computation.
Browse US jobs with salary ranges — roles hiring now.

Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) (May 2025 state estimates, US federal public domain); U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional Price Parities (All Items), by state (2024 (US = 100)); Tax Foundation — 2025 State Individual Income Tax Rates and Brackets. The Gera US Real Pay Index for a first-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers is computed by GeraJobs from these figures; no figure is modelled or interpolated.