FDNY EMT and Paramedic Salary and Take-Home Pay in 2026
A new FDNY EMT earns $39,386 a year, rising to $59,534 after 5 years. Paramedics, promoted from EMT, start at $53,891 and reach $73,586 after 5 years in the title. Paid every two weeks, a new EMT takes home $1,072.56 a paycheck and a top-step paramedic $1,895.35.
Trainees are paid while they train and move to the EMT title once certified. FDNY's EMS recruiting page has the exam details.
| Title and step | Yearly pay | Take-home per paycheck | Take-home a year | Pension per paycheck |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EMT | ||||
| Trainee, during training | $36,330 | $998.91 | $25,971.62 | $129.259.25% |
| Starting | $39,386 | $1,072.56 | $27,886.50 | $140.129.25% |
| After 1 year | $41,616 | $1,126.29 | $29,283.46 | $148.069.25% |
| After 2 years | $42,357 | $1,144.15 | $29,747.83 | $150.699.25% |
| After 3 years | $49,047 | $1,305.38 | $33,939.94 | $174.499.25% |
| After 5 years | $59,534 | $1,558.12 | $40,511.11 | $211.809.25% |
| Paramedic | ||||
| Starting (promotion from EMT) | $53,891 | $1,422.13 | $36,975.38 | $191.739.25% |
| After 5 years in title | $73,586 | $1,895.35 | $49,279.10 | $261.809.25% |
| EMS lieutenant | ||||
| After 5 years in title | $79,548 | $1,994.13 | $51,847.36 | $313.6010.25% |
Take-home is worked out with our NYC paycheck calculator for a single filer living in New York City, paid every two weeks, after federal, state and city income tax, Social Security, Medicare and the NYCERS pension contribution for each salary band.
Trainee pay is from the DCAS Notice of Examination, Emergency Medical Specialist Trainee, Exam No. 6126 (June 15 to August 7, 2026); EMT starting pay from the DCAS Notice of Examination, Emergency Medical Specialist - EMT (Fire), Exam No. 6125 (June 15 to August 7, 2026); paramedic starting pay from the DCAS Notice of Examination, Promotion to Emergency Medical Specialist - Paramedic (Fire), Exam No. 4527 (November 1 to 21, 2023); the other steps from the FDNY EMT recruiting flyer, 2022.
The EMS contract with DC 37 Locals 2507 and 3621 expired on July 28, 2022; its last rates stay in force until a successor is agreed.
NYPD police officers and FDNY firefighters are paid on separate scales that both top out at $109,352.
How the EMS 414(h) pension contribution is taxed
EMTs and paramedics in the NYCERS Tier 6 EMT plan pay 9.25% of pay up to $75,000, 10.25% up to $100,000, 11.5% up to $125,000 and 12% above that into the New York City Employees' Retirement System (NYCERS). It is a 414(h) pension contribution: it comes out before federal income tax, but New York State and New York City tax it, and it still counts as wages for Social Security and Medicare.
At the top step, $261.80 goes to the pension from each paycheck. Because it comes out before federal tax, federal withholding is $57.60 lower each paycheck than if the same amount came out after tax. State and city tax do not change.
Those rates apply from October 1, 2026 and include a 6.25% additional contribution on top of the basic one.
FDNY EMT and paramedic salary calculator
The calculator starts at the top step, $73,586, with the 9.25% pension contribution already set. Change the salary to your own title and step to see your paycheck. If your pay is in a lower pension band, set the 414(h) pension box to that band's rate.
At $73,586, the top step is close to a $75,000 salary, which takes home $55,091.33 a year in NYC with no pension contribution.
Take-home pay per paycheck
$1,895.35
$49,279.10a year
Enter your salary to see your take-home pay.
- Effective tax rate
- 23.8%
- Marginal tax rate
- 37.3%
Based on 2026 IRS and New York State withholding tables.
Paycheck breakdown
| Line | Per paycheck | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $2,830.23 | $73,586.00 |
| 414(h) pension | $261.80 | $6,806.80 |
| Federal income tax | $225.44 | $5,861.44 |
| Social Security | $175.47 | $4,562.23 |
| Medicare | $41.04 | $1,067.04 |
| New York State income tax | $131.11 | $3,408.87 |
| New York City income tax | $100.02 | $2,600.52 |
| Take-home pay | $1,895.35 | $49,279.10 |
Where your paycheck goes
- Take-home pay$1,895.3567%
- Federal income tax$225.448%
- Social Security and Medicare$216.517.6%
- New York State income tax$131.114.6%
- NYC income tax$100.023.5%
- Pre-tax deductions$261.809.3%
Paychecks through 2026
- All 26 paychecks come to $1,895.35.
Rent you can qualify for
$1,839a month
NYC landlords ask for a yearly income of at least 40 times the monthly rent, so this is the most they approve on this pay.
FDNY EMS longevity, differentials and other pay
- Longevity. EMTs, paramedics and EMS officers get $2,500 a year in longevity pay after five years.
- Overtime, shift differentials and meal money. Paid on top of base salary.
- Battalion differential. An EMS officer who works a tour as the only officer in the station gets 15% of base pay for those hours.
- Mental health response. Members trained for low-acuity mental health calls receive an assignment differential.
- Uniform allowance. Paid yearly to every EMS title.