Firefighter salary in Watertown-Fort Drum, NY
Firefighters in the Watertown-Fort Drum, NY metro area earn a median of $60,700 a year ($29.18 an hour), based on BLS data for 120 workers.
Pay ranges from $40,310 for the lowest-paid 10% to $73,180 for the top 10%. That is 2% higher than the national median of $59,280. Pay here is 40% lower than the New York statewide median of $100,960. There are 3.1 firefighters per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.4× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $61,400, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for firefighters in Watertown-Fort Drum, NY
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $40,310 | $19.38 |
| 25th percentile | $49,940 | $24.01 |
| Median | $60,700 | $29.18 |
| 75th percentile | $73,180 | $35.18 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $73,180 | $35.18 |
| Average (mean) | $61,400 | $29.52 |
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 | $5,058.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,529.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,334.62 |
| Weekly | $1,167.31 |
| Hourly | $29.18 |
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 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $74,470 | 820 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $70,840 | 480 |
| 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 Watertown-Fort Drum, NY
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $79,540 | $38.24 |
| Security Guard | $42,680 | $20.52 |
| Detectives and Criminal Investigators | $106,110 | $51.01 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | $106,750 | $51.32 |
| Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers | $33,070 | $15.90 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers | $90,340 | $43.44 |
| School Bus Monitor | $33,290 | $16.01 |
More: Protective Service Occupations · all salaries in Watertown-Fort Drum, 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 Watertown-Fort Drum, NY?
The median salary for firefighters in the Watertown-Fort Drum, NY metro area is $60,700 a year, or $29.18 an hour. Pay ranges from $40,310 for the lowest-paid 10% to $73,180 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid firefighters make in Watertown-Fort Drum, NY?
The top 10% of firefighters in the Watertown-Fort Drum, NY metro area earn at least $73,180 a year. The top 25% earn $73,180 or more.
What is the starting pay for firefighters in Watertown-Fort Drum, NY?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $40,310 a year, and a quarter of firefighters earn $49,940 or less.
How many firefighters work in Watertown-Fort Drum, NY?
About 120 firefighters are employed in the Watertown-Fort Drum, NY metro area, not counting the self-employed.