Firefighter Salary

Many may believe fire fighters (as the name suggests) help only in minimising the damage caused by fires but that is not the case. On average, only one call in five calls for help at a fire. Fire fighters, as a part of their job, endeavour to rescue individuals as well as property from all kinds of disasters and accidents. They help to promote safety and enforce standards in both private and public premises by providing advice on matters having to do with protection from fire and other related risks. Activities that fire fighters usually respond to and take part in are:

• Rescuing people and animals who are trapped
• Being present at emergency sites such as bomb incidents; road accidents; air and train crashes; floods; fires; and spillages of dangerous substances
• Ensuring the safety of themselves and others
• Giving first aid in the absence of an ambulance and otherwise minimising suffering and distress
• Checking an incident site after all has been cleared away to underscore safety
• Inspection and maintenance of all equipment used on the job, as well as testing fire hydrants and constantly checking water supplies used in cases of emergency
• Becoming familiar with surrounding buildings, streets and roads in order to ensure speed and efficiency when responding to emergencies

For these invaluable services, fire fighters usually enjoy a salary ranging from $50,000 to $65,000 annually. According to the Fire Brigades Union in the UK, a trainee fire fighter can look forward to a salary of £20,896 which can go up to £27,851 once training is completed. A station manager enjoys a salary range between £35,916 and £39,614 not inclusive of wages earned through overtime.   In addition, fire fighters receive great benefits, with retirement plans available after twenty five years of service. Many opt to pursue second careers after retirement from fire fighting since they are able to retire relatively early, which is another reason fire fighting is a great career choice.

Becoming a fire fighter is hard work and can be extremely competitive as it relates to the various candidates who may choose to apply. However, once accepted, the successful candidate will enjoy the comfort of job security since it is rare for fire fighters to be made redundant. This is due to the fact that fire fighting is seen as an essential service and the time it takes to train new recruits might make it more difficult to respond effectively to emergencies. Instead, departments might choose to stop new hires as opposed to laying off seasoned fire men. The fact that the majority of departments promote from within is another attractive benefit of becoming a fire fighter. This means there are more opportunities to quickly move up in ranks.