Firefighters pay range in New Orleans
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $23,070 a year or less, while the top 10% make $61,350 or more. The middle half of firefighters in New Orleans earn between $29,190 and $48,730.
- $23K10th
- $29K25th
- $37KMedian
- $49K75th
- $61K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $41,920 | $3,493 | $20.15 |
| Median | $37,250 | $3,104 | $17.91 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $29,190 | $2,432 | $14.03 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $48,730 | $4,061 | $23.43 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Firefighters pay in New Orleans vs. Louisiana and the U.S.
Firefighters in New Orleans earn 15% more than the Louisiana average ($36,610) and 34% less than the U.S. average ($63,630). At the median the gap is -37% against the U.S. median of $59,280.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans | $41,920 | $37,250 | $23,070 | $61,350 | 1,110 |
| Louisiana | $36,610 | $33,120 | $22,510 | $56,670 | 5,230 |
| United States | $63,630 | $59,280 | $34,910 | $101,040 | 345,990 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Firefighters salary after taxes in New Orleans
On the average salary of $41,920, a single filer in New Orleans takes home about $34,991 a year, or $2,916 a month and $1,346 every two weeks. Taxes take 17% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is New Orleans a good place for firefighters? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the New Orleans area are 7% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.6), so the average $41,920 buys what about $45,271 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in New Orleans ($47,290). A typical home costs $261,414, or 6.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Firefighters salary in other Louisiana cities
New Orleans ranks 2nd of 10 Louisiana metro areas for this job; Alexandria pays the most ($44,860).
- Alexandria$44,860
- New Orleans$41,920
- Lake Charles$39,000
- Shreveport$37,290
- Slidell$36,320
- Baton Rouge$35,410
- Lafayette$32,850
- Hammond$30,180
- Houma$29,840
- Monroe$27,260
Highest-paying cities for firefighters
Bakersfield, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($199,490).
- Bakersfield, CA$199,490
- San Jose, CA$134,270
- San Francisco, CA$110,590
- Los Angeles, CA$108,860
- Seattle, WA$100,450
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Firefighters salary in New Orleans: questions
How much do firefighters make an hour in New Orleans?
$20.16 an hour on average, and $17.91 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level firefighters salary in New Orleans?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $23,070 a year and the 25th percentile is $29,190, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the firefighters take-home pay in New Orleans?
About $34,991 a year ($2,916 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $41,920.
Do firefighters earn more in New Orleans than elsewhere?
The average here is 34% less than the U.S. average for this job ($63,630).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 33-2011; area New Orleans-Metairie, LA (35380). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.5%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.12, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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