what would you class as a low wage for firefighters?

[pengman]

I was looking at some vacancies for employment here in Iowa. and noticed this gem. This has to be the lowest wage I have seen for a firefighter/paramedic


Wage $31,859.00 Yearly Location BURLINGTON, Des Moines, IA, 52601
Send direct to pick up application packet by September 1,2005. Civil Service Commission will be conducting entrance exams on September 16,2005. Job duties in include saving lives and property by providing emergency and non emergency fire, rescue, hazardous materials, emergency medical, emergency airport incidents, perform training tasks, facility, equipment and vehicle maintenance tasks and fire prevention and public education. High School diploma or GED required. Must be currently certified in the State of Iowa as an Iowa Paramedic or Paramedic Specialist (Critical Care Paramedic certification a plus) or must be currently certified as an EMT-Paramedic through the Nation Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians with the ability to be certified as IA Paramedic Specialist prior to the date of hire or must have * produce a valid document showing successful completion of an Iowa Paramedic or Paramedic Specialist program. Must possess valid Iowa Chauffeur's License with excellent driving record, and be able to pass background investigation. Must live in Iowa within 10 air miles of the Burlington city limits or within Des Moines County.
Open Date 8/8/2005 Close Date 9/1/2005
Education None
Shift Day, Swing, Graveyard
Availability Part
Days Off
Openings 1 Work Schedule will vary

[N2DFire]

City of Roanoke, VA

FF/EMT $30,452
FF/EMT-I $31,771
FF/Paramedic $33,771

Short Description:
Performs technical work providing fire suppression and human health emergency medical services, normally assigned to a 24-hour shift; Duties are performed under emergency conditions and frequently involve considerable personal hazard. Responds to fire alarms and emergency medical calls. High school diploma or general education degree (GED); Associate degree with courses in fire science, emergency health sciences or related field; or equivalent combination of education and experience. Possession of a valid appropriate drivers license issued by the Commonwealth of Virginia. Must possess or obtain EMT certification within twelve (12) month probationary period. Must possess and maintain required certifications appropriate to duty assignment within the Fire/EMS department.


For this geographic Area - Roanoke City & Roanoke County run neck & neck for the most sought after (i.e. best paying) Fire-EMS jobs.

I know there are some brothers here who work for these two agencies and perhaps they can enlighten us more about the salary/benifits packages.

[lvwrench]

Every year Firehouse Magazine publishes busiest stations, starting and max wages, and a lot of other statistics. Good inf. Check it out.

[cashton]

The one thing I have found, you won't be getting into this line of work for the money. I am a law enforcement officer and volunteer FF and I get paid squat for the job I do. Same goes for FF's and EMS workers. I looked recently into the Pittsburgh PA fire department and they start at $27,000 and some change. Same for Baltimore MD Fire, around $27,000 starting.

[SamsonFCDES]

Zero

Actulay most volys do not recieve even Zero compensation, most end up gonig into the negative!

There are always little things you buy and the time you put in.

So, lowest compensation for a firefighter...

[FyrGuy176]

A few years back when I was in medic school and testing for fire depts. the City of East Cleveland fire dept. was paying low 20's to start while most other depts. were in the mid 40's. To make it worse, the City of East Cleveland is one of the most crime infested, run down, drug dealing/use, gang problem, ghetto areas in greater Cleveland. Personnel would respond to many violent situations including domestics, stabbings, shootings, hit and run accidents, gang fights, drug deals gone bad, and much more. Lots of fires in run down structuraly unsound buildings too!

[cozmosis]

Last time I checked, Monticello (Ark.) started their firefighters somewhere in the neighborhood of $18k. The top-out there is the ballpark of $22k or $23k. But that's not the lowest I know of.

Until just recently, the base pay for the brothers in Ruston, LA was $13,200 for probationary firefighters, $16,500 for captains and $21,120 for assistant chiefs! In Ruston, you can make more money working at McDonald's than you can at the fire department.

Fortunately, the firefighters just won a lawsuit that will provid anywhere from $1,800 to $3,000 extra per year depending on rank & experience. However, that's still way too cheap of a wage and I'm sure they will have more battles with the city in the future. Word is that the city is willing to contract out its ambulance service to avoid paying firefighters a $150/mo EMT bonus that they receive.

[neiowa]

The county average wage is $30888/yr.

[Dave1983]

I always think mine is too low.

I think our county starting average is $37K for FF/EMT with top out at $55K.

[ehs7554]

Peng
Are you sold on staying in Iowa. If you are nat'l cert MICT you can go almost anywhere.
If you like shootings, stabbings, and a fare share of fire, we're always looking for medics down here in KCKS. The pay isn't great at first (start around 30-31k) but you go up to around 56k in 3-4years. If you want some info let me know

[BFDNJFF]

i guess Jersey paid FF's are lucky most top around mid 60's to upper 70's and up w/ OT

[Rossco]

We all get our pay doubled each year. Right now, our pay scale is like this.

Chief 0.00
Asst 0.00
Cap 0.00
FF 0.00

[Weruj1]

lvwrench has it down RIGHT !

[JHR1985]

I think it all depends on where you live but I have learned that what is down on paper is not the same as what you really make. I am supposed to make like lil bit under 37k this year but with the rate i doing, 45k is easily within grasp.

Lowest I have seen for a fire medic is somewhere down around Houston area for like 27k. But its so much cheaper living down there...