Firefighters pay range in Rochester
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $57,280 a year or less, while the top 10% make $93,810 or more. The middle half of firefighters in Rochester earn between $75,040 and $89,120.
- $57K10th
- $75K25th
- $89KMedian
- $89K75th
- $94K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $82,520 | $6,877 | $39.67 |
| Median | $89,120 | $7,427 | $42.85 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $75,040 | $6,253 | $36.08 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $89,120 | $7,427 | $42.85 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Firefighters pay in Rochester vs. New York and the U.S.
Firefighters in Rochester earn 5% less than the New York average ($87,150) and 30% more than the U.S. average ($63,630). At the median the gap is +50% against the U.S. median of $59,280.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rochester | $82,520 | $89,120 | $57,280 | $93,810 | 730 |
| New York | $87,150 | $100,960 | $56,390 | $106,440 | 12,950 |
| 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 Rochester
On the average salary of $82,520, a single filer in Rochester takes home about $62,949 a year, or $5,246 a month and $2,421 every two weeks. Taxes take 24% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). New York City (up to 3.876%) and Yonkers income taxes are not included.
Is Rochester a good place for firefighters? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Rochester area are 3% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 97.0), so the average $82,520 buys what about $85,041 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Rochester ($51,210). A typical home costs $285,034, or 3.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Firefighters salary in other New York cities
Rochester ranks 2nd of 9 New York metro areas for this job; New York pays the most ($92,410).
- New York$92,410
- Rochester$82,520
- Kiryas Joel$72,360
- Binghamton$69,960
- Utica$69,180
- Buffalo$68,280
- Albany$65,930
- Syracuse$63,910
- Watertown$61,400
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 Rochester: questions
How much do firefighters make an hour in Rochester?
$39.68 an hour on average, and $42.84 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level firefighters salary in Rochester?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $57,280 a year and the 25th percentile is $75,040, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the firefighters take-home pay in Rochester?
About $62,949 a year ($5,246 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $82,520. New York City (up to 3.876%) and Yonkers income taxes are not included.
Do firefighters earn more in Rochester than elsewhere?
The average here is 30% more 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 Rochester, NY (40380). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.5%.
- 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 (2025 rules). New York City (up to 3.876%) and Yonkers income taxes are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.66, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.66).
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