Firefighter Salary in Buffalo, NY
Firefighters in the Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY metro area earn a median $74,470 a year — 26% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $57,795 take-home, or $4,816 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median firefighter salary in Buffalo, NY. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$7,553
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,617
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,080
- New York income tax$3,424
- Take-home pay$57,795
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 5.40% state
Firefighter pay by experience in Buffalo, NY
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $48,120 | $23.13 | $38,843 | $3,237 |
| 25th percentile | $59,300 | $28.51 | $47,222 | $3,935 |
| Median (50th) | $74,470 | $35.80 | $57,795 | $4,816 |
| 75th percentile | $80,920 | $38.90 | $61,985 | $5,165 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $80,920 | $38.90 | $61,985 | $5,165 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, New York resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $74,470 buys in Buffalo, NY
Prices in Buffalo, NY are 4.2% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 19% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median firefighter's $57,795 take-home pay has the buying power of $60,301 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 Buffalo, NY than nationally (location quotient 0.69), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for firefighters, adjusted for cost of living
Buffalo, NY ranks #15 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 |
| 15 | Buffalo, NY | $74,470 | $57,795 | $60,301 |
*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 New York
- New York, NY — $106,420
- Rochester, NY — $89,120
- Albany, NY — $70,840
Frequently asked questions
How much does a firefighter make in Buffalo, NY?
The median firefighter salary in the Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY metro area is $74,470 a year, or about $35.80 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $59,300 and $80,920.
What is a firefighter’s take-home pay in Buffalo, NY?
On the median $74,470 salary, a single filer living in New York takes home about $57,795 a year ($4,816 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,424 in New York taxes in 2026.
Is Buffalo, NY a good place to work as a firefighter?
Pay here is 26% above the national median of $59,280. Local prices are 4.2% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $60,301 would in a typical U.S. city. Buffalo, NY ranks #15 of 133 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a firefighter afford rent in Buffalo, NY?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Buffalo, NY is $1,139 a month ($1,343 for two bedrooms) — 24% of a median firefighter’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Buffalo, NY
- First-Line Supervisor of Police and Detectives — $103,330
- Detective and Criminal Investigator — $95,150
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer — $80,950
- Correctional Officer and Jailer — $76,170
- Security Guard — $38,420
- Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers — $35,010
- School Bus Monitor — $34,460