Firefighter Salary in Rochester, NY
Firefighters in the Rochester, NY metro area earn a median $89,120 a year — 50% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $67,308 take-home, or $5,609 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median firefighter salary in Rochester, NY. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$10,776
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,525
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,292
- New York income tax$4,218
- Take-home pay$67,308
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 5.90% state
Firefighter pay by experience in Rochester, NY
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $57,280 | $27.54 | $45,708 | $3,809 |
| 25th percentile | $75,040 | $36.08 | $58,165 | $4,847 |
| Median (50th) | $89,120 | $42.85 | $67,308 | $5,609 |
| 75th percentile | $89,120 | $42.85 | $67,308 | $5,609 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $93,810 | $45.10 | $70,331 | $5,861 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, New York resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $89,120 buys in Rochester, NY
Prices in Rochester, NY are 3.0% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 13% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median firefighter's $67,308 take-home pay has the buying power of $69,365 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 Rochester, NY than nationally (location quotient 0.66), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for firefighters, adjusted for cost of living
Rochester, NY ranks #5 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 |
*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
- Buffalo, NY — $74,470
- Albany, NY — $70,840
Frequently asked questions
How much does a firefighter make in Rochester, NY?
The median firefighter salary in the Rochester, NY metro area is $89,120 a year, or about $42.85 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $75,040 and $89,120.
What is a firefighter’s take-home pay in Rochester, NY?
On the median $89,120 salary, a single filer living in New York takes home about $67,308 a year ($5,609 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $4,218 in New York taxes in 2026.
Is Rochester, NY a good place to work as a firefighter?
Pay here is 50% above the national median of $59,280. Local prices are 3.0% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $69,365 would in a typical U.S. city. Rochester, NY ranks #5 of 133 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a firefighter afford rent in Rochester, NY?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Rochester, NY is $1,256 a month ($1,573 for two bedrooms) — 22% of a median firefighter’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Rochester, NY
- First-Line Supervisor of Police and Detectives — $110,490
- Detective and Criminal Investigator — $107,660
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer — $92,920
- Correctional Officer and Jailer — $76,820
- Security Guard — $42,860
- Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers — $35,170
- School Bus Monitor — $34,710