Firefighter salary in Rochester, NY
Firefighters in the Rochester, NY metro area earn a median of $89,120 a year ($42.84 an hour), based on BLS data for 730 workers.
Pay ranges from $57,280 for the lowest-paid 10% to $93,810 for the top 10%. That is 50% higher than the national median of $59,280. Pay here is 12% 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 0.66). The average (mean) salary is $82,520, close to the median.
Pay range for firefighters in Rochester, NY
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $57,280 | $27.54 |
| 25th percentile | $75,040 | $36.08 |
| Median | $89,120 | $42.84 |
| 75th percentile | $89,120 | $42.84 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $93,810 | $45.10 |
| Average (mean) | $82,520 | $39.68 |
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 | $7,426.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,713.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,427.69 |
| Weekly | $1,713.85 |
| Hourly | $42.84 |
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 |
| Binghamton, NY | $81,810 | 120 |
| Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | $76,120 | 230 |
| Utica-Rome, NY | $75,060 | 150 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $74,470 | 820 |
| 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 Rochester, NY
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fire Inspectors and Investigators | $64,990 | $31.25 |
| Security Guard | $42,860 | $20.61 |
| Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $92,920 | $44.67 |
| Correctional Officers and Jailers | $76,820 | $36.93 |
| School Bus Monitor | $34,710 | $16.69 |
| Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers | $35,170 | $16.91 |
| Detectives and Criminal Investigators | $107,660 | $51.76 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | $110,490 | $53.12 |
| Crossing Guards and Flaggers | $36,960 | $17.77 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers | $107,340 | $51.61 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers | $98,580 | $47.39 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers | $66,140 | $31.80 |
| Bailiff | $72,450 | $34.83 |
| Private Detectives and Investigators | $50,510 | $24.28 |
More: Protective Service Occupations · all salaries in Rochester, 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 Rochester, NY?
The median salary for firefighters in the Rochester, NY metro area is $89,120 a year, or $42.84 an hour. Pay ranges from $57,280 for the lowest-paid 10% to $93,810 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid firefighters make in Rochester, NY?
The top 10% of firefighters in the Rochester, NY metro area earn at least $93,810 a year. The top 25% earn $89,120 or more.
What is the starting pay for firefighters in Rochester, NY?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $57,280 a year, and a quarter of firefighters earn $75,040 or less.
How many firefighters work in Rochester, NY?
About 730 firefighters are employed in the Rochester, NY metro area, not counting the self-employed.