Firefighters Salary
Firefighters in New York make a median of $100,960 a year, or about $48.54 an hour. The range runs from $56K at the entry level to $106K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 98.21), that's roughly $102,800 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,917/month, about 30.9% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across New York. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $101K get you in New York?
About firefighters
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What this looks like in New York
New York sits well above the national pay line for firefighters, local pay runs about 70% higher than the U.S. median of $59K. Rent runs $1,917/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 30.9% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 98.21) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, New York
Entry-level firefighters (10th percentile) start around $56K. Mid-career wages sit at $101K. Top earners bring in $106K or more, a $50K spread from bottom to top.
Firefighters salary by metro in New York
9 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City | $106K | +5% | 14,960 |
| Rochester | $89K | -12% | 730 |
| Binghamton | $82K | -19% | 120 |
| Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh | $76K | -25% | 230 |
| Utica-Rome | $75K | -26% | 150 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga | $74K | -26% | 820 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy | $71K | -30% | 480 |
| Watertown-Fort Drum | $61K | -40% | 120 |
| Syracuse | $58K | -42% | 210 |
Compare to other states
Track firefighters salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when New York numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a firefighter afford a 2BR apartment alone in New York?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $101K, rent takes 30.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,917/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,900/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for firefighters in New York?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new firefighters typically earn — is $56K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,383/month. At HUD’s $1,917/month FMR, rent would take 57% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is firefighter a high-paying job in New York?
Local pay is 70% above the national median — $101K here vs. $59K nationally.
How does New York compare to the national average for firefighters?
New York pays $101K median vs. the U.S. average of $59K — that’s +70%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 98.21), the purchasing-power equivalent is $103K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do firefighters make in New York?
The median is $100,960 a year, that works out to about $49 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $56,390, and experienced firefighters can clear $106,440. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $101K enough to live in New York?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,200/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,917/month, which eats 30.9% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a firefighters salary go in New York?
New York has a Regional Price Parity of 98.21 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median firefighters salary is worth about $102,800 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do firefighters get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.