Firefighter salary in New Jersey
Firefighters in New Jersey earn a median of $84,130 a year ($40.45 an hour), based on BLS data for 7,500 workers.
Pay ranges from $47,920 for the lowest-paid 10% to $123,940 for the top 10%. That is 42% higher than the national median of $59,280. New Jersey ranks 4th of 50 states for firefighters pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 1.8 firefighters per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.79). The average (mean) salary is $85,810, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for firefighters in New Jersey
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $47,920 | $23.04 |
| 25th percentile | $61,340 | $29.49 |
| Median | $84,130 | $40.45 |
| 75th percentile | $106,330 | $51.12 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $123,940 | $59.59 |
| Average (mean) | $85,810 | $41.26 |
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 | $7,010.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,505.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,235.77 |
| Weekly | $1,617.88 |
| Hourly | $40.45 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Firefighter salary in cities in New Jersey
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $106,420 | 14,960 |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $88,090 | 340 |
| Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | $80,560 | 400 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $78,050 | 3,970 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $73,020 | 300 |
| Vineland, NJ | $55,780 | 60 |
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 |
Related jobs in New Jersey
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fire Inspectors and Investigators | $60,100 | $28.90 |
| Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists | $57,380 | $27.59 |
| Security Guard | $38,880 | $18.69 |
| Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $92,610 | $44.53 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | $142,990 | $68.75 |
| Correctional Officers and Jailers | $94,770 | $45.56 |
| Crossing Guards and Flaggers | $41,600 | $20.00 |
| School Bus Monitor | $36,100 | $17.35 |
| Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers | $34,760 | $16.71 |
| Protective Service Workers, All Other | $54,950 | $26.42 |
| Detectives and Criminal Investigators | $116,300 | $55.92 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers | $133,210 | $64.04 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers | $61,590 | $29.61 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers | $117,450 | $56.47 |
More: Protective Service Occupations · all salaries in New Jersey
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 New Jersey?
The median salary for firefighters in New Jersey is $84,130 a year, or $40.45 an hour. Pay ranges from $47,920 for the lowest-paid 10% to $123,940 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid firefighters make in New Jersey?
The top 10% of firefighters in New Jersey earn at least $123,940 a year. The top 25% earn $106,330 or more.
What is the starting pay for firefighters in New Jersey?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $47,920 a year, and a quarter of firefighters earn $61,340 or less.
How many firefighters work in New Jersey?
About 7,500 firefighters are employed in New Jersey, not counting the self-employed.