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firefighter in an urban/suburban area. starting pay in chicagoland area for a firefighter/paramedic is 55K. exorbitant increases as you gain seniority, along wi

firefighter in an urban/suburban area. starting pay in chicagoland area for a firefighter/paramedic is 55K. exorbitant increases as you gain seniority, along with a pension.

goatforce5 16y ago
Have family who is a paramedic. By the time you add on the extra pay for doing night shifts, etc., he gets paid _extremely_ well. There's also big pros and cons to working a non-9-to-5 schedule. 4 days on, 4 days off, etc.
gamble 16y ago
These jobs are extremely hard to land. My brother spent about ten years trying to become a firefighter. He went to firefighting school, got his B.Sc., and worked as a private firefighter on a military base - didn't help. I don't think a single person from his graduating class in firefighting school actually became a firefighter.
- mtw 16y ago
  why so? competition? or the physical standards are so high barely nobody can manage it?
  - gamble 16y ago
    Way, way too much competition. Besides being the one gov't occupation the public has unalloyed respect for, firefighters get great pay and benefits and a lot of free time. Plus there aren't that many positions available, and many of the ones that do open up often go to 'legacies' and others with insider connections. Even before the recession, advertised positions routinely got hundreds of qualified applicants.
    - mikeditkaditka 16y ago
      All of the above reasons against firefighting are absolutely correct. There is rampant cronyism, and corruption, as would be expected from a union comprised of supposed civil servants. Minimum standards are moving towards becoming an EMT-Paramedic prior to even being hired. Nonetheless, great work if you can get it. And don't get me started on people double dipping...
  - jimmyswimmy 16y ago
    Physical standards aren't that hard - look up CPAT, finish in under 10:40 and you have a shot. The biggest hindrance is that most larger (high-paying) departments are historically white and male and departments are looking to diversify. If you're a white guy, opportunities are proportionally harder and you may need to get your paramedic license to have a chance. Great work if you can get it, though, most places work 8-10 days per month and you get to sleep on the job (unless a call comes in). IT people will definitely have a hard time with this work, though, the field does not attract a lot of intellectuals.
infinite8s 16y ago
If firefighting is such a well-paying job, how come I always see firefighters doing funding drives a few times a year?

firefighter in an urban/suburban area. starting pay in chicagoland area for a firefighter/paramedic is 55K. exorbitant increases as you gain seniority, along with a pension.

goatforce5 16y ago

Have family who is a paramedic. By the time you add on the extra pay for doing night shifts, etc., he gets paid _extremely_ well. There's also big pros and cons to working a non-9-to-5 schedule. 4 days on, 4 days off, etc.

gamble 16y ago

These jobs are extremely hard to land. My brother spent about ten years trying to become a firefighter. He went to firefighting school, got his B.Sc., and worked as a private firefighter on a military base - didn't help. I don't think a single person from his graduating class in firefighting school actually became a firefighter.

mtw 16y ago
why so? competition? or the physical standards are so high barely nobody can manage it?
- gamble 16y ago
  Way, way too much competition. Besides being the one gov't occupation the public has unalloyed respect for, firefighters get great pay and benefits and a lot of free time. Plus there aren't that many positions available, and many of the ones that do open up often go to 'legacies' and others with insider connections. Even before the recession, advertised positions routinely got hundreds of qualified applicants.
  - mikeditkaditka 16y ago
    All of the above reasons against firefighting are absolutely correct. There is rampant cronyism, and corruption, as would be expected from a union comprised of supposed civil servants. Minimum standards are moving towards becoming an EMT-Paramedic prior to even being hired. Nonetheless, great work if you can get it. And don't get me started on people double dipping...
- jimmyswimmy 16y ago
  Physical standards aren't that hard - look up CPAT, finish in under 10:40 and you have a shot. The biggest hindrance is that most larger (high-paying) departments are historically white and male and departments are looking to diversify. If you're a white guy, opportunities are proportionally harder and you may need to get your paramedic license to have a chance. Great work if you can get it, though, most places work 8-10 days per month and you get to sleep on the job (unless a call comes in). IT people will definitely have a hard time with this work, though, the field does not attract a lot of intellectuals.

infinite8s 16y ago

If firefighting is such a well-paying job, how come I always see firefighters doing funding drives a few times a year?