Can A Firefighter Afford Rent in Rochester, NY?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 25.7% of gross income.
Rochester rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (New York state estimate).
About rent and a firefighter salary
Firefighter base pay plus typical overtime sits modestly above the US median household income, but local rent levels determine whether that translates into affordability or rent burden. At the national-average firefighter base salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,570 a month in rent. The per-city pages compare local rent against local firefighter-pay estimates so renters can see where rent stays in range.
Cheaper rent nearby
These New York cities have lower median rent than Rochester, which improves the affordability math on a firefighter salary:
Compare with full rent data for Rochester
View full rent data for Rochester, NY →Frequently asked questions
Can a firefighter afford rent in Rochester, NY?
Median rent in Rochester is $1,532 a month. A typical firefighter in New York earns about $71,603 a year, which makes that rent 25.7% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a firefighter afford in Rochester?
Using the 30% rule, a firefighter salary in New York (~$71,603/yr) supports up to $1,790 a month in rent. Rochester's current median rent is $1,532/mo, which leaves a $258/mo buffer.
How many hours does a firefighter work to cover rent in Rochester?
At an hourly equivalent of about $34 an hour, a firefighter in New York works roughly 44.5 hours a month to cover Rochester's median rent of $1,532.
Where is rent cheaper than Rochester for a firefighter?
Nearby New York cities with lower median rent include Henrietta ($1,529/mo), Canandaigua ($1,527/mo), Brockport ($1,526/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a firefighter salary.