Firefighter Salary in New Orleans, LA
Firefighters in the New Orleans-Metairie, LA metro area earn a median $37,250 a year — 37% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $31,379 take-home, or $2,615 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median firefighter salary in New Orleans, LA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,290
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,310
- Medicare (1.45%)$540
- Louisiana income tax$731
- Take-home pay$31,379
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.00% state
Firefighter pay by experience in New Orleans, LA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $23,070 | $11.09 | $20,302 | $1,692 |
| 25th percentile | $29,190 | $14.03 | $25,145 | $2,095 |
| Median (50th) | $37,250 | $17.91 | $31,379 | $2,615 |
| 75th percentile | $48,730 | $23.43 | $40,259 | $3,355 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $61,350 | $29.50 | $50,020 | $4,168 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Louisiana resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $37,250 buys in New Orleans, LA
Prices in New Orleans, LA are 7.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 14% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median firefighter's $31,379 take-home pay has the buying power of $33,888 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 about as common in New Orleans, LA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.12).
Best-paying cities for firefighters, adjusted for cost of living
New Orleans, LA ranks #120 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 |
| 120 | New Orleans, LA | $37,250 | $31,379 | $33,888 |
*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 Louisiana
- Shreveport, LA — $37,620
- Baton Rouge, LA — $33,260
Frequently asked questions
How much does a firefighter make in New Orleans, LA?
The median firefighter salary in the New Orleans-Metairie, LA metro area is $37,250 a year, or about $17.91 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $29,190 and $48,730.
What is a firefighter’s take-home pay in New Orleans, LA?
On the median $37,250 salary, a single filer living in Louisiana takes home about $31,379 a year ($2,615 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $731 in Louisiana taxes in 2026.
Is New Orleans, LA a good place to work as a firefighter?
Pay here is 37% below the national median of $59,280. Local prices are 7.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $33,888 would in a typical U.S. city. New Orleans, LA ranks #120 of 133 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a firefighter afford rent in New Orleans, LA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in New Orleans, LA is $1,105 a month ($1,323 for two bedrooms) — 42% of a median firefighter’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in New Orleans, LA
- First-Line Supervisor of Police and Detectives — $75,740
- Detective and Criminal Investigator — $62,430
- First-Line Supervisor of Firefighting and Prevention Workers — $61,050
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer — $48,970
- Protective Service Workers, All Other — $43,480
- Correctional Officer and Jailer — $40,490
- Security Guard — $32,240