Firefighters are called in as first-responders to car crashes, structural collapses, cave, tunnel and ice emergencies. They might often respond to elevator emergencies and industrial emergencies, including those involving power lines. Firefighters also take care of pre-fire planning, hydrant maintenance and child safety seat installations.
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How can I know if I am being paid fairly?
If you’re unsure about what salary is appropriate for a firefighter, visit Indeed's Salary Calculator to get a free, personalized pay range based on your location, industry and experience.
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What are the typical hours for firefighters?
Most firefighter shifts are 24-hour shifts. Some of them work for only 8 to 12 hours, but this is not the usual practice.
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Is there much on-the-job training for firefighters?
Firefighters receive paid on-the-job training before they officially begin work in their department. Once hired, every firefighter attends several weeks of training programs, regardless of prior experience. They train together to practice their skills and enhance their teamwork strategies.
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How might you contribute to your community and network while considering a job as a firefighter?
Volunteering for groups, like the American Red Cross or Habitat for Humanity, is a wonderful way to help your community and develop some skills that you will find useful. Visiting local firefighters is a great way to start networking and learn more about the career and volunteer opportunities.
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Is firefighting a good career choice ?
A firefighter is a great profession, as it is both demanding and rewarding. Providing a service that impacts the community is the best part of the job. It is invaluable to be able to help others and have fun while on the job, working in a great station with a great crew cannot be beaten.
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Is it worth becoming a firefighter?
Becoming a firefighter can be very time-consuming. For some, it is worth pursuing, and for others, it may not be. Some significant factors you need to consider include:
Age
Education
Family
Expenses
Life risk
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Do firefighters get paid weekly?
Firefighters work on a 21-day, 168-hour pay schedule. They receive two different types of paychecks. One type of paycheck is received bi-weekly and is intended to cover 106 hours. The second type of paycheck is paid every three weeks, at the end of the firefighter's 168-hour pay period.
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Is it hard to get hired as a firefighter?
Becoming a firefighter is no easy task. It requires hard work, long hours of training, dedication and a sincere desire to help others. It is a rewarding career with good benefits and good job security. The testing process for getting the job requires a written exam, physical agility and oral interview.
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How much do similar professions to a Firefighter get paid?
Check the below indeed career pages for the detailed pay ranges for the similar professions here:
Firefighting is a tough job. At the end of the day, firefighters want to go home to a safe and comfortable home. It is recommended to choose cities that are the best for you in terms of average salary, cost of living, and quality of life.
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Can you become a firefighter with no experience?
Many towns make use of volunteer firefighters alongside or even in place of paid professionals. For instance, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection requires applicants with no experience to begin by applying for a temporary firefighter I position, but with at least a year as a volunteer, you can be considered for permanent positions.
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How can a firefighter get paid more?
One aspect of working as a firefighter is the potential to earn overtime pay. When staffing is limited, off-duty firefighters can take extra shifts and earn 1.5x their regular pay rate. They can also make more money by joining a hotshot crew and work with the Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, or National Forest Service.
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Does a police officer earn more than a firefighter?
The pay ranges for police officers and firefighters are around the same. But hikes in salary are considerably higher for firefighters.
For more information on pay ranges,visit Indeed's salary calculator page:
How to increase chances of becoming a firefighter?
To achieve your goal of becoming a firefighter, you must learn as much as possible and try to get hands-on experience. One can volunteer, take fire technology classes, maintain a clean background and lifestyle, take firefighter tests, stop by fire stations to network and research the hiring process before submitting your applications for the job.
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Can firefighters have another job?
One of the most enticing aspects of working as a firefighter is the schedule. Working 12 or 24 hours on and four days off means one has a chunk of time away from work. Often having a second job during your off-time makes sense. It's an astute way to amp up a modest firefighter salary.
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Is firefighting dangerous?
Being a firefighter is a very rewarding career. However, there is a darker side to firefighting. Firefighters are susceptive to burns, smoke inhalation, and injuries from disintegrating structures. They may suffer heat exhaustion and long-term job-related illnesses such as asthma, persistent cough, heart disease, cancer, and lung damage.
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What will disqualify from becoming a firefighter?
Firefighters are required to exhibit responsibility and reliability. They can be disqualified due to lack of physical fitness, drug abuse, extensive criminal history, repeated traffic violations, or dishonorable discharge from the military are not tolerated
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What is the polygraph test process to become a firefighter?
Firefighters go through a polygraph/lie detector test. They are generally asked questions before and during the test. The test is usually done to gauge physiological factors such as blood pressure, perspiration, pulse, skin conductivity, and movement, while a person is asked and answers a series of questions.
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Do firefighters get paid at the fire academy?
Firefighters usually obtain paid on-the-job training before they start to work for their department.
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Do you get paid more as a firefighter if you have a degree?
Comparatively, firefighters with a bachelor's or master's degree draw higher wages than those who do not possess a degree. This ancillary pay is to match with their level of education and varies by department.
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Is there a lot of competition for firefighter positions and do many drop out of the process?
There is always a lot of competition for any fire department job. The hiring process is exhausting and challenging. Most people give up the pursuit and move on. There may be many reasons for this, perhaps they did not know what they were getting into when they began the process, or they did not sufficiently prepare themselves.
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Can I become a firefighter at 40?
The maximum age to apply is set at 39 or 40 for some departments.
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How long does it take to complete the fire academy to become a firefighter?
On average, it takes up to 12-14 weeks to complete the training hours to become a firefighter.
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What are the pros and cons of being a firefighter?
As a firefighter, an individual has a sense of fulfillment, giving back to the community while enjoying good benefits and job security. People who enjoy working with a team may love working in the fire department. However, the cons could be constant training, putting your life at risk, and not being paid enough at times.
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Is there a minimum grades to be a firefighter?
To become a firefighter you need to submit your qualification certificates as part of the application process. You need to attain 9-4 grades in general certificate of secondary education math and english language, or a level two equivalent if it is a vocational qualification.
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What are the day to day duties of a firefighter?
The duties of a firefighter may include driving firetrucks and emergency vehicles. They put out fires using water hoses, fire extinguishers, and water pumps. Finding and rescuing victims in burning buildings and sometimes treating them is also part of your duties.
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What qualities make a good firefighter?
Qualities that a good firefighter is expected to possess should include a commitment to diversity and integrity alongside great problem-solving skills. They must be open to change, have confidence and resilience. They should also be aware of how to communicate effectively and work in a team.
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What is the most important aspect of being a firefighter?
One of the key aspects to becoming a firefighter includes being physically fit. Firemen need to possess above-average agility and strength. Most of the duties cannot be carried out without maintaining a fit physique.
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How long does it take to get Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) certified for fire department?
To get Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) certified for the fire department it takes around 1 to 2 years. Facilities that often offer Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) certification programs can be universities, emergency care training facilities, technical institutes and community colleges.
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How long does a firefighter background check take?
Fire departments expect their candidates to have the same high standards as a police officer. Criminal history, drug usage, credit history, employment record, encounters with the law and a candidate’s overall persona are checked during a background verification. It takes around 4-8 weeks for this check to be completed.
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Can firefighters sleep on shift?
When firefighters are working a 24 hour shift that splits the day into various day and night shift schedules or working a night shift, they do get to sleep at their stations. However, they must be alert and ready to jump into action in case of any emergencies.
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What are the different firefighter ranks?
A firefighter can be promoted by the ranks of:
Engineer
Lieutenant
Captain
Battalion Chief
Assistant Chief
Deputy Chief
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What are the different types of firefighters?
There are different kinds of firefighters who carry out a wide range of duties:
Firefighter Paramedic
Volunteer Firefighter
Firefighter Engineer
Forest Firefighter
Air Force Firefighter
Reserve Firefighter
Wildland Firefighter
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Do firefighters have good benefits?
The benefits of working as a firefighter can include dental, health insurance coverage and pension after 25 years in service. They are also eligible to receive disability payments in case of injury on the job. Firefighters also have job security and receive academic scholarships for themselves and their dependents if they belong to any union.
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How long does it take to become a firefighter?
It takes around 2-4 years to attain a Fire Science Education degree and up to 3 years for Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) training. Or up to 7 years if you elect to become a full paramedic and acquire a 4 year Fire Sciences Degree. After this, you can volunteer for a year and then apply for positions to be a firefighter.
