Firefighter Salary in New York, NY
Firefighters in the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro area earn a median $106,420 a year — 80% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $78,458 take-home, or $6,538 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median firefighter salary in New York, NY. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$14,582
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,598
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,543
- New York income tax$5,239
- Take-home pay$78,458
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 5.90% state
Living in New York City? City residents also pay New York City’s city income tax — about $3,690 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $74,768 ($6,231 a month). Choose “New York City” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
The New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro spans New York, New Jersey. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Firefighter pay by experience in New York, NY
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $56,390 | $27.11 | $45,041 | $3,753 |
| 25th percentile | $74,880 | $36.00 | $58,062 | $4,838 |
| Median (50th) | $106,420 | $51.16 | $78,458 | $6,538 |
| 75th percentile | $106,430 | $51.17 | $78,464 | $6,539 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $115,380 | $55.47 | $84,233 | $7,019 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, New York resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $106,420 buys in New York, NY
Prices in New York, NY are 12.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.49× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median firefighter's $78,458 take-home pay has the buying power of $69,701 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Firefighter jobs are less concentrated in New York, NY than nationally (location quotient 0.71), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for firefighters, adjusted for cost of living
New York, NY ranks #3 of 34 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $101,090 | $79,947 | $71,938 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $113,700 | $80,995 | $70,057 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $106,420 | $78,458 | $69,701 |
| 4 | Sacramento, CA | $94,080 | $69,272 | $64,941 |
| 5 | Denver, CO | $87,980 | $67,561 | $63,868 |
| 6 | Los Angeles, CA | $98,050 | $71,644 | $63,086 |
| 7 | Chicago, IL | $82,820 | $63,139 | $60,948 |
| 8 | Philadelphia, PA | $78,050 | $61,342 | $59,814 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 34 metros →
About the job: firefighters
Control and extinguish fires or respond to emergency situations where life, property, or the environment is at risk. Duties may include fire prevention, emergency medical service, hazardous material response, search and rescue, and disaster assistance.
- Typical education
- Postsecondary nondegree award
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Long-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +3.7% (about average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a firefighter make in New York, NY?
The median firefighter salary in the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro area is $106,420 a year, or about $51.16 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $74,880 and $106,430.
What is a firefighter’s take-home pay in New York, NY?
On the median $106,420 salary, a single filer living in New York takes home about $78,458 a year ($6,538 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $5,239 in New York taxes in 2026.
Is New York, NY a good place to work as a firefighter?
Pay here is 80% above the national median of $59,280. Local prices are 12.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $69,701 would in a typical U.S. city. New York, NY ranks #3 of 34 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a firefighter afford rent in New York, NY?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in New York, NY is $2,378 a month ($2,697 for two bedrooms) — 36% of a median firefighter’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in New York, NY
- First-Line Supervisor of Police and Detectives — $135,270
- First-Line Supervisor of Firefighting and Prevention Workers — $132,810
- Detective and Criminal Investigator — $106,440
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer — $105,540
- Correctional Officer and Jailer — $93,220
- Bailiff — $83,360
- Transportation Security Screener — $72,340
- First-Line Supervisor of Security Workers — $59,890
- Protective Service Workers, All Other — $57,920
- Security Guard — $43,980
- Crossing Guard and Flagger — $43,440
- School Bus Monitor — $37,340