Firefighters pay range in Amherst
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $38,340 a year or less, while the top 10% make $70,840 or more. The middle half of firefighters in Amherst earn between $47,380 and $61,680.
- $38K10th
- $47K25th
- $59KMedian
- $62K75th
- $71K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $56,480 | $4,707 | $27.15 |
| Median | $59,270 | $4,939 | $28.50 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $47,380 | $3,948 | $22.78 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $61,680 | $5,140 | $29.65 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Firefighters pay in Amherst vs. Massachusetts and the U.S.
Firefighters in Amherst earn 23% less than the Massachusetts average ($73,220) and 11% less than the U.S. average ($63,630). At the median the gap is -0% against the U.S. median of $59,280.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amherst | $56,480 | $59,270 | $38,340 | $70,840 | 300 |
| Massachusetts | $73,220 | $72,800 | $49,730 | $98,130 | 11,940 |
| 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 Amherst
On the average salary of $56,480, a single filer in Amherst takes home about $45,058 a year, or $3,755 a month and $1,733 every two weeks. Taxes take 20% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
Is Amherst a good place for firefighters? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Amherst area are in line with the U.S. average (BEA price parity 100.2), so the average $56,480 buys what about $56,343 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Amherst ($57,030). A typical home costs $363,400, or 6.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Firefighters salary in other Massachusetts cities
Amherst ranks 5th of 6 Massachusetts metro areas for this job; Boston pays the most ($75,400).
- Boston$75,400
- Barnstable$73,310
- Springfield$66,880
- Worcester$66,380
- Amherst$56,480
- Pittsfield$56,180
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 Amherst: questions
How much do firefighters make an hour in Amherst?
$27.15 an hour on average, and $28.49 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level firefighters salary in Amherst?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $38,340 a year and the 25th percentile is $47,380, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the firefighters take-home pay in Amherst?
About $45,058 a year ($3,755 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $56,480. Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
Do firefighters earn more in Amherst than elsewhere?
The average here is 11% 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 Amherst Town-Northampton, MA (11200). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.4%.
- 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: Census median home value (Zillow does not cover this metro). 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). Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 2.07, this job is 2.1 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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