How Much Do Firefighters Make in New Jersey? 2026 Salary Data

Nationally, firefighters make $63,630 a year on average. See how much firefighters make in every state, ranked.

If you're considering a career in firefighting in New Jersey, one of the first questions you probably have is about pay. How much do firefighters actually make in New Jersey? Is it enough to support a family? And how does it compare to what firefighters earn in other states?

Right now, no New Jersey departments have a firefighter opening with a listed yearly salary on FireJobs (updated Oct 7, 2026). For the full picture, we pair that with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage survey (May 2025, published 2026), the official average pay for every firefighter in New Jersey. Let's break it all down.

The average firefighter salary in New Jersey is $85,810 per year (BLS, May 2025, published 2026), which is above the national average of $63,630. New Jersey ranks #4 out of 50 states for firefighter pay. Entry level firefighters can expect to earn around $47,920, while the most experienced firefighters earn up to $123,940 annually.

What Departments Are Posting Now (FireJobs, as of October 2026)

Right now there are no current entry level firefighter postings in New Jersey on FireJobs that list a yearly salary. Departments hire on their own schedules, so this changes week to week. See every current firefighter opening in New Jersey.

These are advertised starting salaries in current full time, entry level firefighter job postings, not averages of what firefighters earn. Posted pay often excludes overtime and incentives, and the BLS figures below include experienced firefighters, so the two numbers measure different things.

Live postings: FireJobs, updated Oct 7, 2026

How Much Do Firefighters Make in New Jersey?

Here are the key numbers for firefighters in New Jersey, straight from the BLS:

Metric	New Jersey	National
Average (mean) annual salary	$85,810	$63,630
Median annual salary	$84,130	$59,280
Entry level (10th percentile)	$47,920	$34,910
Top earners (90th percentile)	$123,940	$101,040
Firefighters employed	7,500	,

Federal data: BLS, May 2025 (published 2026)

The median is often the more useful number. Half of New Jersey firefighters earn more than $84,130 and half earn less. The average gets pulled around by a small number of very high earners in the biggest departments.

Firefighter Salary Breakdown in New Jersey

Entry level: Around $47,920. This is what a probationary firefighter at a smaller or rural department can expect in year one.
Mid career: Around $84,130. Most firefighters with five to ten years on the job land in this range.
Experienced / senior: Up to $123,940 and beyond. Top step firefighters, engineers, and lieutenants at the largest departments, especially with overtime and paramedic pay, sit here.

Newark, Jersey City, Paterson, Elizabeth, Trenton, and Camden run large career departments, and New Jersey has dozens of midsize career departments in its dense northern suburbs. It is one of the highest paying states for firefighters in the country.

New Jersey vs. National Average

At $85,810, the average New Jersey firefighter earns about $22,180 (35%) more than the national average of $63,630. That puts New Jersey at #4 of 50 states. For comparison, California leads the country at $95,090 and the lowest paying state comes in at $36,610.

New Jersey's cost of living is high, particularly property taxes and housing near New York City. The high salaries and pension largely keep pace.

Factors That Affect Firefighter Pay in New Jersey

Department size and location. Big city departments pay the most. The largest employers are in Newark, Jersey City, Paterson, Elizabeth, Edison, Trenton.
Union representation. New Jersey firefighters have strong collective bargaining rights and binding interest arbitration. The state's civil service system governs hiring in most career departments.
Certifications. Paramedic certification is the single biggest pay bump for most firefighters, often adding $5,000 to $15,000 a year. Hazmat, technical rescue, and driver/operator certifications add more.
Overtime. Most departments run 24 hour shifts, and overtime, holiday pay, and call back pay can add 10% to 30% on top of base salary.
Rank. Promotion to engineer, lieutenant, captain, and chief officer each brings a meaningful raise. Chief officers in New Jersey's large departments earn well into six figures.

How to Become a Firefighter in New Jersey

The basic path is the same everywhere: meet the age and education requirements, pass a written test and the CPAT physical ability test, clear a background check and medical exam, and complete a fire academy. Many New Jersey departments strongly prefer or require EMT certification, and paramedic certification makes you a much stronger candidate.

We have a full step by step guide: How to Become a Firefighter in New Jersey.

Is Being a Firefighter in New Jersey Worth It?

Pay is only part of the picture. Firefighters in New Jersey typically get a defined benefit pension, employer paid health insurance, and a schedule that leaves plenty of days off for family or a second job. Against that you have to weigh the physical toll, the exposure to trauma, and the long term health risks that come with the job. For most people who want this career, the answer is still yes. Just go in with realistic numbers.

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