Firefighter salary in Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY
Firefighters in the Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY metro area earn a median of $74,470 a year ($35.80 an hour), based on BLS data for 820 workers.
Pay ranges from $48,120 for the lowest-paid 10% to $80,920 for the top 10%. That is 26% higher than the national median of $59,280. Pay here is 26% lower than the New York statewide median of $100,960. There are 1.5 firefighters per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.69). The average (mean) salary is $68,280, close to the median.
Pay range for firefighters in Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $48,120 | $23.14 |
| 25th percentile | $59,300 | $28.51 |
| Median | $74,470 | $35.80 |
| 75th percentile | $80,920 | $38.91 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $80,920 | $38.91 |
| Average (mean) | $68,280 | $32.83 |
Half of firefighters earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $6,205.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,102.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,864.23 |
| Weekly | $1,432.12 |
| Hourly | $35.80 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Firefighter salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $106,420 | 14,960 |
| Rochester, NY | $89,120 | 730 |
| Binghamton, NY | $81,810 | 120 |
| Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | $76,120 | 230 |
| Utica-Rome, NY | $75,060 | 150 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $70,840 | 480 |
| Watertown-Fort Drum, NY | $60,700 | 120 |
| Syracuse, NY | $58,470 | 210 |
Highest-paying states for firefighters
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| New York | $100,960 |
| Washington | $94,520 |
| California | $85,120 |
| New Jersey | $84,130 |
| Illinois | $78,380 |
| Connecticut | $77,630 |
| District of Columbia | $75,870 |
| Colorado | $74,170 |
| Maryland | $73,810 |
| Pennsylvania | $73,460 |
See Firefighter pay in every state or the New York statewide figures.
Related jobs in Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fire Inspectors and Investigators | $78,150 | $37.57 |
| Security Guard | $38,420 | $18.47 |
| Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $80,950 | $38.92 |
| Correctional Officers and Jailers | $76,170 | $36.62 |
| School Bus Monitor | $34,460 | $16.57 |
| Detectives and Criminal Investigators | $95,150 | $45.75 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | $103,330 | $49.68 |
| Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers | $35,010 | $16.83 |
| Crossing Guards and Flaggers | $37,600 | $18.08 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers | $99,260 | $47.72 |
| Transportation Security Screener | $63,900 | $30.72 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers | $60,910 | $29.28 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers | $93,600 | $45.00 |
| Bailiff | $73,660 | $35.41 |
More: Protective Service Occupations · all salaries in Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 33-2011. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a firefighter make in Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY?
The median salary for firefighters in the Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY metro area is $74,470 a year, or $35.80 an hour. Pay ranges from $48,120 for the lowest-paid 10% to $80,920 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid firefighters make in Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY?
The top 10% of firefighters in the Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY metro area earn at least $80,920 a year. The top 25% earn $80,920 or more.
What is the starting pay for firefighters in Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $48,120 a year, and a quarter of firefighters earn $59,300 or less.
How many firefighters work in Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY?
About 820 firefighters are employed in the Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY metro area, not counting the self-employed.