FDNY Firefighter Salary and Take-Home Pay in 2026
A new FDNY firefighter earns $56,287 a year and moves up one grade a year to $109,352 in 1st grade after 5.5 years. Paid every two weeks, that is $1,560.83 take-home a paycheck at the start and $2,764.17 at the top step.
Recruits complete the Fire Academy first. Hiring is through JoinFDNY, the department's recruiting site.
| Grade | Yearly pay | Take-home per paycheck | Take-home a year | Pension per paycheck |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting (6th grade, first 1.5 years) | $56,287 | $1,560.83 | $40,581.67 | $108.24 |
| 5th grade (after 1.5 years) | $59,060 | $1,631.64 | $42,422.63 | $113.58 |
| 4th grade (after 2.5 years) | $64,327 | $1,766.17 | $45,920.33 | $123.71 |
| 3rd grade (after 3.5 years) | $70,761 | $1,927.46 | $50,113.91 | $136.08 |
| 2nd grade (after 4.5 years) | $77,998 | $2,085.54 | $54,224.10 | $150.00 |
| 1st grade (after 5.5 years) | $109,352 | $2,764.17 | $71,868.36 | $210.29 |
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 5% pension contribution.
Rates come from the firefighters' contract with the city, which expired on July 31, 2025; its last rates stay in force until a successor is agreed.
An NYPD police officer reaches the same $109,352 top base salary, while FDNY EMTs and paramedics are paid on a separate scale that tops out at $73,586 for a paramedic.
How the FDNY 414(h) pension contribution is taxed
Firefighters in Tier 3 pay 5% of pay into the New York City Fire Pension Fund. 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, $210.29 goes to the pension from each paycheck. Because it comes out before federal tax, federal withholding is $46.26 lower each paycheck than if the same amount came out after tax. State and city tax do not change.
FDNY salary calculator
The calculator starts at the top step, $109,352, with the 5% pension contribution already set. Change the salary to your own grade to see your paycheck.
At $109,352, the top step is close to a $110,000 salary, which takes home $76,072.79 a year in NYC with no pension contribution.
Take-home pay per paycheck
$2,764.17
$71,868.36a year
Enter your salary to see your take-home pay.
- Effective tax rate
- 29.3%
- Marginal tax rate
- 39.8%
Based on 2026 IRS and New York State withholding tables.
Paycheck breakdown
| Line | Per paycheck | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $4,205.85 | $109,352.00 |
| 414(h) pension | $210.29 | $5,467.54 |
| Federal income tax | $539.41 | $14,024.64 |
| Social Security | $260.76 | $6,779.76 |
| Medicare | $60.98 | $1,585.48 |
| New York State income tax | $211.75 | $5,505.49 |
| New York City income tax | $158.49 | $4,120.73 |
| Take-home pay | $2,764.17 | $71,868.36 |
Where your paycheck goes
- Take-home pay$2,764.1765.7%
- Federal income tax$539.4112.8%
- Social Security and Medicare$321.747.6%
- New York State income tax$211.755%
- NYC income tax$158.493.8%
- Pre-tax deductions$210.295%
Paychecks through 2026
- Paychecks 1 to 25 come to $2,764.17 each.
- On paycheck 26 gross pay is 10 cents lower, bringing the year to the exact salary, so take-home falls to $2,764.11.
Rent you can qualify for
$2,733a 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 differentials and other pay
- Service differential. Paid after 5.5 years as a firefighter, and it counts toward the pension.
- Longevity. Longevity pay, with extra amounts after 10 and 15 years of service.
- Holiday, night shift and overtime pay. Paid on top of salary.
- First responder course. Probationary firefighters repay the cost of the Certified First Responder with Defibrillation course at $30 a paycheck until it is covered.