Firefighter Salary in Boston, MA
Firefighters in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area earn a median $73,990 a year — 25% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $57,402 take-home, or $4,784 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median firefighter salary in Boston, MA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$7,448
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,587
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,073
- Massachusetts income tax$3,480
- Take-home pay$57,402
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 5.00% state
The Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro spans Massachusetts, New Hampshire. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Firefighter pay by experience in Boston, MA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $49,700 | $23.89 | $39,849 | $3,321 |
| 25th percentile | $62,050 | $29.83 | $49,155 | $4,096 |
| Median (50th) | $73,990 | $35.57 | $57,402 | $4,784 |
| 75th percentile | $81,110 | $39.00 | $62,055 | $5,171 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $118,540 | $56.99 | $86,516 | $7,210 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Massachusetts resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $73,990 buys in Boston, MA
Prices in Boston, MA are 8.3% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.48× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median firefighter's $57,402 take-home pay has the buying power of $53,020 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Boston, MA has 1.4× the national concentration of firefighter jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for firefighters, adjusted for cost of living
Boston, MA ranks #44 of 133 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $152,100 | $103,333 | $93,580 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $101,090 | $79,947 | $71,938 |
| 3 | San Francisco, CA | $113,700 | $80,995 | $70,057 |
| 4 | New York, NY | $106,420 | $78,458 | $69,701 |
| 5 | Rochester, NY | $89,120 | $67,308 | $69,365 |
| 6 | Spokane, WA | $83,310 | $67,439 | $67,206 |
| 7 | Reno, NV | $81,360 | $66,067 | $65,404 |
| 8 | Sacramento, CA | $94,080 | $69,272 | $64,941 |
| 44 | Boston, MA | $73,990 | $57,402 | $53,020 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 133 metros →
Firefighter salaries elsewhere in Massachusetts
- Barnstable Town, MA — $74,870
- Springfield, MA — $66,720
- Worcester, MA — $66,310
Frequently asked questions
How much does a firefighter make in Boston, MA?
The median firefighter salary in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area is $73,990 a year, or about $35.57 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $62,050 and $81,110.
What is a firefighter’s take-home pay in Boston, MA?
On the median $73,990 salary, a single filer living in Massachusetts takes home about $57,402 a year ($4,784 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,480 in Massachusetts taxes in 2026.
Is Boston, MA a good place to work as a firefighter?
Pay here is 25% above the national median of $59,280. Local prices are 8.3% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $53,020 would in a typical U.S. city. Boston, MA ranks #44 of 133 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a firefighter afford rent in Boston, MA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Boston, MA is $2,276 a month ($2,762 for two bedrooms) — 48% of a median firefighter’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Boston, MA
- Detective and Criminal Investigator — $110,150
- First-Line Supervisor of Police and Detectives — $108,190
- First-Line Supervisor of Firefighting and Prevention Workers — $96,740
- Correctional Officer and Jailer — $89,060
- Bailiff — $79,570
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer — $78,180
- Transportation Security Screener — $76,130
- First-Line Supervisor of Security Workers — $57,890
- Security Guard — $44,990
- Crossing Guard and Flagger — $44,840
- School Bus Monitor — $38,470
- Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers — $37,180