What does a Firefighter salary really buy you in New York?
New York is 7.6% pricier than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2024 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-03-31
New York's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 107.6, meaning prices are 7.6% higher the national average. A Firefighter earning $88,380 in New York has the equivalent purchasing power of $82,137 in an average-cost US state.
Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for New York's cost of living.
| Percentile | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $56,220 | $52,249 | $-3,970 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $71,600 | $66,542 | $-5,057 |
| Median (P50) | $88,380 | $82,137 | $-6,242 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $105,260 | $97,825 | $-7,434 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $105,270 | $97,834 | $-7,435 |
While $88,380 sounds high, New York's elevated cost of living erases 7% of that salary's purchasing power. Your real buying power is $82,137. Consider whether the higher pay offsets the higher costs.
Where does Firefighter salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
New York ranks #2 out of 49 states for Firefighter after cost-of-living adjustment.
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A Firefighter in New York earns a median salary of $88,380 per year. After adjusting for New York's cost of living (RPP=107.6), the real purchasing power is $82,137 — a -7.1% difference.
New York's cost of living is 7.6% higher than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for New York is 107.6 (US average = 100).
Regional Price Parities (RPPs) are price indexes published by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) that measure differences in price levels across states. They are expressed as a percentage of the national average (US = 100). Higher RPP means higher cost of living.
The adjusted salary is calculated as: Nominal Salary x (100 / RPP). For a Firefighter in New York: $88,380 x (100 / 107.6) = $82,137. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
Partially — a Firefighter's nominal salary of $88,380 in New York has 7.1% less purchasing power due to higher living costs. The real value is $82,137. However, New York may offer better career opportunities, networking, and industry access.