Average Starting Salary

[wvkuch]

Just wondering what the average starting salary is for a firefighter in Florida, more specifically, the Tampa Bay area?

[mikelinkins]

Polk County Fire Rescue
Starting Firefighter/EMT 10.87 hr x 2912 base hours = 31,653.44
W/FSLA Overtime and holiday pay, can be as much as 34,283

Incentives .50 hr EMT seat pay, .20 hr EMT patch pay, .07 hr FO1 certification, etc.

Other incentives detailed in our contract at http://www.polkfl.com/fire/Portals/0...reFighters.pdf


We just tested, so we will be good for a while, but will most likely test again in late summer.

[FFPotenziano]

Starting FF/EMT or FF/PM

$33,546.24 for 2,496 hours worked.

13.44 hourly + holidays (11) @ 9.6 hours each = 1419.26

That's 35,000.00 starting.

Paramedic patch and after taking a test and a few rides add $1,200 a year.

We're at impasse with our contract. Stay tuned.


http://www.tampagov.net/appl_personn...osting_id=1412

[wvkuch]

wow, thats pretty good, I am seriously considering going to the academy.

[rriganati320]

FFPotenziano I just received my letter to take the PAT with Tampa in May. How do you like the department? Anything you could tell me about the department would be great. Good or Bad

Thanks

[kevnaz1]

^^ same here any info would be great

[FFPotenziano]

I can honestly say, I'm very happy with Tampa. Sure there are things that could be better, although I don't think we're different than any other department.

You're going to find that you will have a lot of opportunities if you choose to pursue them. This is a good time to apply, we have a large amount of people retiring beginning now and through the next two years.

If you get an interview, don't forget your references and enroll in paramedic school. Those are good things that reflect your serious about the job.

Good Luck,

Louis

[StormHill]

in CT..anywhere from 40-50k/year

[Firemedic 61]

City of Palm Beach Gardens

Starting salary $44,??? 24/48 with 3 week Kelly Days
Paramedic pay $7,000
11 paid holidays at 10 hours of regular hourly rate
EMT's get 5% per shift for being on a Rescue
Medics get 5% per shift for being Lead Medic
Up to $2000 in incentive pay for NREMT or NREMT-P, Fire Officer-1,
Instructor-1, Special Ops
Free health insurance and dental for the employee
$250 a year clothing allowance
No top out

Top out for FF/PM at Palm Beach County is $90,000 at 8 years.

[FFPotenziano]

What a square kick in the nuts...my stomach still hurts.

[fireman4949]

City of Palm Beach Gardens

Starting salary $44,??? 24/48 with 3 week Kelly Days
Paramedic pay $7,000
11 paid holidays at 10 hours of regular hourly rate
EMT's get 5% per shift for being on a Rescue
Medics get 5% per shift for being Lead Medic
Up to $2000 in incentive pay for NREMT or NREMT-P, Fire Officer-1,
Instructor-1, Special Ops
Free health insurance and dental for the employee
$250 a year clothing allowance
No top out

Top out for FF/PM at Palm Beach County is $90,000 at 8 years.

Holy crap, Batman!

I don't know about the rst of you Florida guys, but I want this department's negotiaters working on our next contract!

[VESmedic]

City of Palm Beach Gardens

Starting salary $44,??? 24/48 with 3 week Kelly Days
Paramedic pay $7,000
11 paid holidays at 10 hours of regular hourly rate
EMT's get 5% per shift for being on a Rescue
Medics get 5% per shift for being Lead Medic
Up to $2000 in incentive pay for NREMT or NREMT-P, Fire Officer-1,
Instructor-1, Special Ops
Free health insurance and dental for the employee
$250 a year clothing allowance
No top out

Top out for FF/PM at Palm Beach County is $90,000 at 8 years.

when is the next hiring for firemedics?

[Firemedic 61]

when is the next hiring for firemedics?

Actually the city still planning 8 layoffs and one station closure Oct'09 due to the tax cuts(the city is lowering the millage rate on top the cuts). While the pay is ok, the moral is low and has been for years. We do enjoy the nicest fire apparatus in Palm Beach County and all but one of our stations are all under 10 years old.

We didn't always make this much. When I started 8 years ago I made $27,000 with $4,000 extra for my medic. I actually made more money working 40 hours a week at AMR. When house prices went through the roof the city gave us a 30% raise in the form of a 3 year step plan, which was lost at the following contract negotiations. The pay here may seem high to you guys but remember, this is S.Fla. Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties have some of the highest pay rates(hundreds of guys making over $100k between the 3 counties), but the cost of living is higher here than the rest of the state. Even with the housing market slump no new FF can afford to buy a single family home here without working 6-7 days a week, and up until recently that house was in the getto. I paid nearly $300,00 for mine(yes my wife has a job with a similar salary) my buddy in Ft Myers paid just less than $200,000 for a much larger, brand new house in an area equal to where I live.
Gas prices are also the highest in the state here according to the news paper last week, vehicles are marked up $3-$8k more than one or two counties north, even a burger at Chilli's cost more here than it did when we were in Tampa last month. So you see its not as great as it seems.

[AFDMac]

I can honestly say, I'm very happy with Tampa. Sure there are things that could be better, although I don't think we're different than any other department.

You're going to find that you will have a lot of opportunities if you choose to pursue them. This is a good time to apply, we have a large amount of people retiring beginning now and through the next two years.

If you get an interview, don't forget your references and enroll in paramedic school. Those are good things that reflect your serious about the job.

Good Luck,

Louis

Also ... wear a suit and tie to the interview!

[wvkuch]

how many years do u have to put in until u can retire? And once you retire how much do they pay you? I've heard that it's half pay, but I'm not certain.

[FFPotenziano]

Also ... wear a suit and tie to the interview!

Suit and tie makes an good impression!

The people doing the PAT may also be on your hiring panel or make comments to the hiring authority. A simple thank you could make a good impression.

We have close to 30 openings now, plus possibly 20 more by mid summer. Give or take a few, Good Luck.

[Dell205]

Actually the city still planning 8 layoffs and one station closure Oct'09 due to the tax cuts(the city is lowering the millage rate on top the cuts). While the pay is ok, the moral is low and has been for years. We do enjoy the nicest fire apparatus in Palm Beach County and all but one of our stations are all under 10 years old.

We didn't always make this much. When I started 8 years ago I made $27,000 with $4,000 extra for my medic. I actually made more money working 40 hours a week at AMR. When house prices went through the roof the city gave us a 30% raise in the form of a 3 year step plan, which was lost at the following contract negotiations. The pay here may seem high to you guys but remember, this is S.Fla. Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties have some of the highest pay rates(hundreds of guys making over $100k between the 3 counties), but the cost of living is higher here than the rest of the state. Even with the housing market slump no new FF can afford to buy a single family home here without working 6-7 days a week, and up until recently that house was in the getto. I paid nearly $300,00 for mine(yes my wife has a job with a similar salary) my buddy in Ft Myers paid just less than $200,000 for a much larger, brand new house in an area equal to where I live.
Gas prices are also the highest in the state here according to the news paper last week, vehicles are marked up $3-$8k more than one or two counties north, even a burger at Chilli's cost more here than it did when we were in Tampa last month. So you see its not as great as it seems.

Yeah, I agree bro.
I use to live down in south florida and it aint cheap to live down there. I thought about applying for the big departments down there but probie FFs' salary alone can't get you to buy a single family house.
I just got picked up by Orange County Fire Rescue Department and I believe the starting salary around $36K for a FF/EMT. I start on May 8th. A source of mine that works in that department told me a new contract has been approved and it "looks good" for me and the 29 other recruits they just picked up from their last hiring cycle. It is a "little more" affordable to live up here in Central Florida, but I am certain I will still need a part-time job for suppl. income.

[e10pvmt]

i myself live in the Tampa area but i work for Osceola County just south of Orlando. i couldnt wait to get outta that city so i dont mind the drive every third day....but this is our starting stats

about 36k a year
$7500 PM incentive
24/48
Kelly day every 7th shift (so mine is Thurs. and every time my shift is on Thurs. i am off paid)
8 hr vacation earned a month
8 hr Sick time earned a month
8 hr floating holiday earned a month
School leave when available
Special Ops incentives, ROG incentives, as well as moany others i cant remember
Paid health and inexspensive dental and vision (i pay like 30 a month for me and my son)
Educational reimbirsement
650 a year clothing allowance

we are a growing dept adding 2 stations this year bringing us too 15 total. In House medic program should be up and running hopefully by Oct. We cover about 1500 sq miles and the largest portion of the turnpike in FL. I just got off probation in april and they recently hired 11 more and just started today another 22 i believe. i have heard rumors of another couple classes starting in Oct so they will be opening a process in the summer

[LowBlazin]

lol...was just reading a post on ssm. same person? So how is it in tampa or clearwater area. Seriousy thinking bout moving to florida from texas. Been looking at tampa and clearwater fire depts. anyone know if tx certs are transferable to florida.

[e10pvmt]

cool another minitruckin firefighter.....just met an engineer with my dept last shift who knew my od truck and alot of people i know....anywyas to your questions........i dont know abou the tampa/clearwater area depts....i have heard great things about Tampa, Hillsborough County, and St Pete.....i almost made it with tampa...got to the chiefs interview but never got called bakc for the polygraph.....i myself am from the orlando area and couldnt wait to get outta there.....so luckily i got on with Osceola County in the Kissimmee area south of Orlando...so i commute every 3 days to work....its only an hour to my station....and i dont have to deal with much traffic at all since it is all interstate drivin.......as for your certs they will not transfer.....i hear you can challenge the PM license as long as your nationally registered.....you will have to go back through standards and EMT school....it took me about 10 months total....Best place for info would be the state fire college in Ocala