Firefighter in New York: Salary, License Requirements, and How to Start

Public safety

New York employs 12,950 firefighters, with a statewide median of $100,960 and wide variation by city and experience. Here is the real wage data, the exact New York licensing picture, and where to train.

What Firefighters Earn in New York (May 2025)

Wages vary substantially by metro. Median annual pay for firefighters in major New York markets:

What That Pay Is Worth in New York

Prices in New York run about 8% above the national average (cost-of-living index 107.9 vs a U.S. baseline of 100, 2024), so the $100,960 median is worth closer to $93,568 once higher local prices are factored in.

Job Outlook in New York (2024–2034)

New York is projected to grow firefighters employment +5.7%, faster than the +3.4% projected nationally. The state expects about 1,620 openings a year, counting both growth and workers who retire or move on.

New York License and Certification Requirements

Firefighter I & II certification (NFPA 1001 / OFPC-certified) — regulated by the NYS Office of Fire Prevention and Control (OFPC) — DHSES.

1. Complete an OFPC-certified firefighter training program covering NFPA 1001 Firefighter I and II content (approximately 400–600 hours depending on department). Paid departments typically run their own recruit academies; volunteer departments use OFPC regional training centers.
2. Earn OFPC Firefighter I and II certification. New York career departments also typically require EMT certification; NYC requires EMT at hire and offers tuition assistance toward Paramedic.
3. NYC employs 11,000+ career firefighters through FDNY — one of the most competitive processes nationally (written exam, CPAT, medical, background). Upstate departments (Buffalo, Yonkers, Syracuse, Albany) have separate civil-service processes with less competition.

Official requirements: NYS Office of Fire Prevention and Control (OFPC) — DHSES →

Training in New York

NYC FDNY runs its own academy at Randall's Island — entry requires passing the NYC DCAS firefighter exam, which opens periodically. Upstate New York has many combination departments (career + volunteer) where lateral entry is more accessible. Nassau and Suffolk County fire districts on Long Island are separate entities from municipal departments.

Real training providers and registered apprenticeships in New York include:

• Dutchess Community College — Associate
• Erie Community College — Associate
• Finger Lakes Community College — Certificate
• Jefferson Community College — Certificate / Associate

Where Firefighters Work in New York

Real New York fire departments that employ firefighters include:

• Accord Fire District Accord Volunteer Fire Company 1 — Accord
• Adams Fire Department Number 01 — Adams
• Smithville Volunteer Fire Department — Adams
• Adams Center Fire Department — Adams Center
• Addison Volunteer Fire Department — Addison
• Tuscarora Fire Department — Addison

Is This the Right Move for You?

Best for: People drawn to public service, physical challenge, and team-based work with a clear civic purpose.

Think twice if: Shift work, physical fitness testing, fire and smoke exposure, and civil service hiring timelines sound prohibitive.

Why it's resilient: Firefighting requires physical presence, real-time judgment, community trust, and licensed skills that are inherently resistant to automation.

First Steps

Research your local fire department's recruitment cycle and start EMT-Basic training as the first practical step.

Frequently Asked Questions

Sources and Verification

Wage data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), New York statewide and metro estimates for SOC 33-2011. Licensing summary compiled from the NYS Office of Fire Prevention and Control (OFPC) — DHSES (2026-06-11). Requirements change — always confirm current rules with the board and verify program costs and outcomes before enrolling.

BLS Occupational Outlook · O*NET New York wages · New York licensing/certification source

Employment projections: Projections Central / BLS Employment Projections (2024–2034); Cost of living: BEA Regional Price Parities; Employer lists from CMS Provider of Services, the FAA Part 145 directory, EIA Form 860, and USGS/state EMS registries (2026).

Pay percentiles describe current workers, not entry-level offers; training costs and local demand vary, so verify locally before committing money or quitting a job.