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SOC 33-2011·Protective ServiceGood pay · growing
Firefighters
Median wage
$90,893
10-yr outlook
+20.5%by 2032
Openings / year
1,163
Workers in NY
14,730
How pay grows with experience
Firefighters — typical pay by experience
Annual wages statewide: starting out, typical (median), and experienced.
| Category | Value |
|---|---|
| Starting out (entry) | $62,609 |
| Median (typical) | $90,893 |
| Experienced | $102,417 |
Source: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (NYSDOL / U.S. BLS via data.ny.gov)
Where it pays most across New York
Median pay for this occupation by region. Select a region for its full profile.
Firefighters — median pay by region
Regional median annual wage, highest first.
| Category | Value |
|---|---|
| Hudson Valley | $111,220 |
| New York City | $108,240 |
| Finger Lakes | $90,891 |
| Long Island | $83,197 |
| Central New York | $77,511 |
| Mohawk Valley | $75,245 |
| Capital Region | $75,211 |
| Western New York | $74,454 |
| Southern Tier | $70,956 |
| North Country | $63,933 |
Source: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (NYSDOL / U.S. BLS via data.ny.gov)
A realistic next step
Higher-paying roles in the same field
Jobs in the same field (Protective Service) that pay more than this one. A plain “same field, higher pay” guide — not a skills-match score.
- First-Line Supervisors of Protective Service Workers, All Other$94,783 median (+$3,891)
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$95,700 median (+$4,807) · +20.5% by 2032
- First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers$100,161 median (+$9,268) · +5.7% by 2032
- Detectives and Criminal Investigators$106,277 median (+$15,384) · +20.4% by 2032
- First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$126,210 median (+$35,317) · +20.5% by 2032
- First-Line Supervisors of Fire Fighting and Prevention Workers$134,791 median (+$43,899) · +20.4% by 2032
Ways in
Lower-paying roles in the same field
Jobs in the same field (Protective Service) that pay less than this one — often earlier-career roles or a way in.
- Bailiffs$83,230 median (−$7,663) · +12.7% by 2032
- Correctional Officers and Jailers$77,474 median (−$13,419) · +8.8% by 2032
- Fire Inspectors and Investigators$77,217 median (−$13,676)
- Transportation Security Screeners$72,431 median (−$18,461) · +18.9% by 2032
- Private Detectives and Investigators$61,545 median (−$29,347) · +7.5% by 2032
- Protective Service Workers, All Other$61,529 median (−$29,364)
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