Fire Chief
Overtime 9%- Median base
- $185,400
- Entry step
- $168,200
- 90th percentile
- $204,800
Major municipalities offer executive compensation packages with vehicle allowances.
View fire chief salaryNew Jersey salary guideUpdated Jan 10, 2025
New Jersey Firefighter Salary (2025)
New Jersey firefighters command the second-highest state median salaries nationally, driven by strong IAFF union contracts, high cost of living adjustments, and competitive metropolitan area compensation across Newark, Jersey City, and surrounding municipalities.
Median base pay
$84,850
+4.2% YoY
Average overtime
$13,600
From 20 municipal & county agencies
Quick facts
- Newark-Union-Jersey CityTop paying metro
- $124,040Newark supervisory avg
- $82,360Jersey City median
- 70+ IAFF localsPFANJ member locals
Salary snapshot by rank
Promotions add education incentives, specialty pay, and overtime opportunities. Use these benchmarks when budgeting for recruitment, retention, or union negotiations.
Analyst note
Overtime share rises rapidly for mid-career officers due to constant staffing and deployment rosters. Include projected overtime when evaluating total compensation.
Battalion Chief
Overtime 11%- Median base
- $158,600
- Entry step
- $146,800
- 90th percentile
- $174,200
Battalion chiefs supervise multi-company operations in densely populated areas.
View battalion chief salaryCaptain
Overtime 12%- Median base
- $124,040
- Entry step
- $112,400
- 90th percentile
- $136,800
Newark metro supervisory roles offer the highest captain compensation nationwide.
View captain salaryEngineer / Driver
Overtime 13%- Median base
- $98,600
- Entry step
- $89,200
- 90th percentile
- $108,400
Engineer positions include apparatus maintenance and specialized equipment operation.
View engineer / driver salaryFirefighter / Paramedic
Overtime 15%- Median base
- $82,360
- Entry step
- $72,800
- 90th percentile
- $92,400
Jersey City and Newark departments offer premium pay for dual paramedic certification.
View firefighter / paramedic salaryProbationary Firefighter
Overtime 7%- Median base
- $60,500
- Entry step
- $54,200
- 90th percentile
- $66,100
Entry-level salaries reflect high cost of living in northern New Jersey metros.
View probationary firefighter salaryTop cities by firefighter pay
Metro departments with specialty teams and higher cost-of-living deliver the largest base pay. Bars below represent average base wages, with notes on overtime share.
Newark · Newark Fire Division
650 career
$108,400 total comp
Average base pay$84,890
Overtime share 16% · Specialty pay included in total comp.
Jersey City · Jersey City Fire Department
520 career
$104,200 total comp
Average base pay$82,360
Overtime share 15% · Specialty pay included in total comp.
Paterson · Paterson Fire Department
380 career
$94,800 total comp
Average base pay$76,400
Overtime share 14% · Specialty pay included in total comp.
Elizabeth · Elizabeth Fire Department
320 career
$97,600 total comp
Average base pay$78,900
Overtime share 14% · Specialty pay included in total comp.
Detailed compensation table
Compare rank-by-rank compensation, including overtime trends and hiring notes that impact career planning.
| Rank | Department | City | Base pay | Overtime | Total comp | Hiring / promotion note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fire Chief | Newark Fire Division | Newark | $192,400 | $15,200 | $207,600 | Internal promotion, executive recruitment |
| Captain | Jersey City Fire Department | Jersey City | $126,800 | $18,400 | $145,200 | Promotional exam, April 2025 |
| Lieutenant | Paterson Fire Department | Paterson | $98,600 | $14,200 | $112,800 | Internal promotional list |
| Firefighter / Paramedic | Elizabeth Fire Department | Elizabeth | $76,200 | $11,800 | $88,000 | Paramedic premium 8%, continuous hiring |
| Probationary Firefighter | Jersey City Fire Department | Jersey City | $62,200 | $5,400 | $67,600 | Academy starts February 2025 |
Contract updates & budget highlights
Track adjustments that influence upcoming negotiations and pay plan refreshes.
Ongoing negotiations 2025
Professional Firefighters Association of NJ
Post-cap era negotiations continue with 70+ IAFF locals pursuing competitive wage increases without the previous 2% salary cap constraint.
Effective January 2025
Newark IAFF Local Contract Update
Secured 3.8% general wage increase plus enhanced healthcare cost-sharing and specialty pay adjustments for hazmat and technical rescue teams.
FY 2025
New Jersey Pension System Reform
State pension contributions fully funded, ensuring PFRS benefits remain stable with 2.0% multiplier for career firefighters.
Frequently asked questions
Answers sourced from contracts, HR briefings, and state statutes to help HR partners, union stewards, and candidates understand compensation.
Why are New Jersey firefighter salaries so high?
High cost of living in northern New Jersey metro areas, proximity to New York City, strong IAFF union representation through PFANJ, and removal of the 2% salary cap in 2017 have all contributed to competitive compensation packages.
What pension benefits do New Jersey firefighters receive?
Career firefighters participate in the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) or Police & Fire Retirement System (PFRS) with a 2.0% multiplier, offering 50% of final average salary after 25 years of service.
Are there signing bonuses or incentives for New Jersey firefighters?
Major departments like Newark and Jersey City offer tuition reimbursement, paramedic certification bonuses ($3,000-$5,000), and retention incentives for members with 5+ years of service.
Sources & methodology
We compile collective bargaining agreements, municipal pay plans, and state payroll disclosures. Each dataset is timestamped so you can cite the most recent update in labor talks.
- Newark Fire Division Compensation Data · Updated 2025
- Professional Firefighters Association of New Jersey · Accessed Jan 2025
- New Jersey Civil Service Commission · 2025 Public Safety Data
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