Firefighter salary in Trenton-Princeton, NJ
Firefighters in the Trenton-Princeton, NJ metro area earn a median of $88,090 a year ($42.35 an hour), based on BLS data for 340 workers.
Pay ranges from $48,160 for the lowest-paid 10% to $101,840 for the top 10%. That is 49% higher than the national median of $59,280. Pay here is 5% higher than the New Jersey statewide median of $84,130. There are 1.4 firefighters per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.64). The average (mean) salary is $79,950, close to the median.
Pay range for firefighters in Trenton-Princeton, NJ
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $48,160 | $23.16 |
| 25th percentile | $61,510 | $29.57 |
| Median | $88,090 | $42.35 |
| 75th percentile | $101,840 | $48.96 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $101,840 | $48.96 |
| Average (mean) | $79,950 | $38.44 |
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 | $7,340.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,670.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,388.08 |
| Weekly | $1,694.04 |
| Hourly | $42.35 |
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 |
| 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 |
See Firefighter pay in every state or the New Jersey statewide figures.
Related jobs in Trenton-Princeton, NJ
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fire Inspectors and Investigators | $72,290 | $34.76 |
| Security Guard | $34,980 | $16.82 |
| Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $69,160 | $33.25 |
| Detectives and Criminal Investigators | $110,750 | $53.25 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | $132,610 | $63.76 |
| School Bus Monitor | $32,220 | $15.49 |
| Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers | $33,920 | $16.31 |
| Crossing Guards and Flaggers | $44,150 | $21.23 |
| Protective Service Workers, All Other | $61,630 | $29.63 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers | $59,340 | $28.53 |
| Transportation Security Screener | $74,400 | $35.77 |
More: Protective Service Occupations · all salaries in Trenton-Princeton, NJ
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 Trenton-Princeton, NJ?
The median salary for firefighters in the Trenton-Princeton, NJ metro area is $88,090 a year, or $42.35 an hour. Pay ranges from $48,160 for the lowest-paid 10% to $101,840 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid firefighters make in Trenton-Princeton, NJ?
The top 10% of firefighters in the Trenton-Princeton, NJ metro area earn at least $101,840 a year. The top 25% earn $101,840 or more.
What is the starting pay for firefighters in Trenton-Princeton, NJ?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $48,160 a year, and a quarter of firefighters earn $61,510 or less.
How many firefighters work in Trenton-Princeton, NJ?
About 340 firefighters are employed in the Trenton-Princeton, NJ metro area, not counting the self-employed.