Does being a firefighter pay well?
The median annual wage for firefighters in the United States was $48,030 or $23.09 per hour, as reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) in 2016. The highest paid metropolitan areas were Oakland, California where firefighters averaged $94,020 per year and San Francisco where firefighters earned $89,030.
What is the highest paying state for firefighters?
New Jersey
Why do firefighters get paid to sleep?
It’s cheaper, more efficient, steeped in tradition, and preferred by most firefighters. It’s a win/win for the citizens as well as the firefighters. There is also no guarantee of any sleep at all, especially at a busy firehouse. We are often up all night running calls.
How long is a firefighters shift?
A full-time firefighter works an average of 56 hours per week, but the work hours are divided into 24-hours shifts. Some departments schedule firefighters to work eight or 12-hour shifts, but this is not the usual practice.
How many vacation days do firefighters get?
Regular full-time employees are granted twelve (12) days of sick leave each year of which six days may be used as personal leave for family emergencies and/or illness.
Can firefighters be fat?
However, studies comparing BMI-based classification of obesity with waist circumference or measured body fat percentage have shown that the rates of misidentifying a fit and muscular firefighter as obese are fairly low, with rates ranging from 3 to 14 percent (methods for assessing body fat percentage varied in these …
What city pays firefighters the most?
Table 1. 100 Highest-paying cities/areas for Firefighters
| Rank | City/Area | Average Salary i |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, California | $115,170 |
| 2 | Vallejo-Fairfield, California | $101,230 |
| 3 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, California | $99,620 |
| 4 | Oakland-Fremont-Hayward, California | $95,220 |
How hard is it to get hired as a firefighter?
Being a firefighter is not easy and neither is the process of becoming a firefighter. Competition is fierce and the hiring process can be very grueling and challenging, something many people do not endure or succeed at. More than 70% give up the pursuit of becoming a firefighter and move on to other career choices.
What do firefighters do when not on a call?
When they are not on an active call, firefighters prepare written reports on emergency incidents, clean and maintain their equipment, conduct drills, and do fitness training. Many firefighters also provide public education on fire safety at schools and community events.
Are firefighters always on call?
For most paid and career staff, traditional firefighting shift is usually 24 hours on, and 48 hours or even 72 hours off. That usually works out to about eight shifts a month. Many firefighter families spend those holidays at the firehouse when their spouses are on duty.
Can firefighters smoke?
While not true of every department and every area, research shows a range between only 7 to 13 percent of firefighters smoking. By contrast the military has smoking rates among males as high as 30 percent.