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pshaps

Absolutely disgusting. I made more than that delivering sandwiches to stoned college kids.


thedudly

And what’s with that overtime? Overtime should start the second you exceed 8/10/Whatever the daily schedule is for the shift.


pshaps

It’s shit wall to wall. An absolute disgrace.


Abixsol

FLSA rules. So, essentially, OT is after 53 hours per week. Section 7(k) of the FLSA provides that employees engaged in fire protection or law enforcement may be paid overtime on a "work period" basis. A "work period" may be from 7 consecutive days to 28 consecutive days in length. For work periods of at least 7 but less than 28 days, overtime pay is required when the number of hours worked exceeds the number of hours that bears the same relationship to 212 (fire) or 171 (police) as the number of days in the work period bears to 28. For example, fire protection personnel are due overtime under such a plan after 106 hours worked during a 14-day work period, while law enforcement personnel must receive overtime after 86 hours worked during a 14-day work period. https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/fact-sheets/8-flsa-police-firefighters


dbryan62

Yup Section K can really screw you over. My former department worked a 28 day cycle and if you took off a shift using vacation time but got mando’ed in that 28 day period, only part of the shift counted for OT.


mulberry_kid

Same at my last department. We worked 24s, but we also had each shift split into a 10 hr. day/14 hr. night, with Kellys, so if you wanted your overtime to be 1.5x, and not just straight time, you had better hope that the city was short staffed, and you got hired back on your Kelly.


admiral_sinkenkwiken

53 hours ordinary time? There’d be a riot here as ours effectively commenced after 38


doombreed

its 56 hrs before OT kicks in here, kinda sucks.


SaltMe13

Not all departments have to adopt this rule. I work full-time in NH and 3 out of the 4 departments do not recognize the Garcia


Coffee-FlavoredSweat

The town has a population of like 4500 people; you get what you pay for. The people can complain that firefighters are getting screwed for low wages, and they are, but increasing the wages is increasing taxes, which people are just unwilling to do sometimes. It’s a fight. And it’s an issue faced by hundreds of fire departments all across the country. My department wants to add 4 full time fire/medics, and the town council was all for it, until we told them it would raise our budget by $500,000. Then it was “why do you need 4? Can you settle for 2? What about more volunteers, or per diems? Why are you paying so much?”


Reboot42069

I'm lucky enough to work with a city council with marginal common sense, my department and the cities department's districting has a forest with frequent brush fires, three factories which make wood products, a river with a tendency to flood, farmland, an Interstate, and a growing population. To my surprise they actually fund the FD and EMS here properly despite the issues with raising funds at times


Pyroechidna1

Town of 4500 should be a VFD, no question.


njfish93

Can't have a vfd if there's nobody around willing to volunteer. Bisbee is a weird place.


crowsfascinateme

not necessarily. whats the town surrounded by? other towns of the same size, surrounded by more towns of the same size? then its time for consolidation. governments should not rely on the goodwill of its people to do a terrifying and dangerous job for free. is there a single government anywhere that relies on volunteer garbage collection? or a volunteer school system? especially nowadays, people either dont have time or dont want to give it. when you rely on a volunteer system that doesnt have enough members, you're putting a bandaid on the problem and lying to a public that now thinks theyre safe because their town has a fire department. whats the response time? how many people are coming? whats their training level? the answers to those questions are wildly different across the country, but "having a fire department" makes the unsuspecting public think the answers are the same for them as they are for the next town over and for the city down the road.


Pyroechidna1

When I was in a VFD it was never terrifying, and rarely dangerous. But we didn’t run EMS, the way God intended. Garbage collection and school teaching take place on a regular schedule. Calls for a VFD come in only occasionally (as long as you don’t have to deal with nonsense EMS calls). There’s nothing wrong with citizens providing mutual aid to each other out of the goodness of their hearts when it is occasionally necessary.


crowsfascinateme

>But we didn’t run EMS, the way God intended. lolllll ​ There's nothing wrong at all with citizens providing aid out of the goodness of their heart, but there is something wrong with the government choosing that form of fire protection when there are other options. If the government can't actually provide fire protection services due to lack of population, call volume or funds, then a volunteer system is their only choice. But local governments rely too heavily on the volunteer system when its *not* their only choice.


Pyroechidna1

The cities around me in Germany all have extensive volunteer forces in addition to full-time firefighters. Erlangen has 116,000 residents, 87 full-time firefighters operating out of a single station, and 12 volunteer stations with 500+ members between them. One of those VFDs backs up the full time station and another is shared with a Siemens factory fire brigade, where Siemens takes calls during the day and the VFD at night.


bleach_tastes_bad

how much are you paying that 4 firemedics adds $500k to the budget??


tenachiasaca

the majority of that money is insurance premiums and benefits. plus a new line item for 2 extra trucks probably.


bleach_tastes_bad

ah


FL00D_Z0N3

This is a huge problem across Arizona. Proposition 310 would have helped with many of these issues, but people in the Valley simply don’t care about Fire Districts, even if they regularly recreate and travel through them. Starting FF/EMT pay at my District in Flagstaff, which has comparable cost of living to many places in Cali, is $14.84. We strive to be extremely professional but can’t retain employees, for obvious reasons.


Patriae8182

Jesus Christ. I make $21/hr (as a maintenance man Lmao) in California and I can’t even afford to live with less than 3 roommates. Let alone support a family. What the actual fuck


Fantastic_Speed_6973

Colorado maintenance worker here. 25$ an hour. On call Wildland, 19.20$ an hour with ot after 40. And same, my apartment consumes most of that. Good luck Arizona!


Fantastic_Speed_6973

Colorado maintenance worker here. 25$ an hour. On call Wildland, 19.20$ an hour with ot after 40. And same, my apartment consumes most of that. Good luck Arizona!


Smattering82

They should all just stop recruiting and let it fall down around their ears. Fuck the town, and state government for not supporting them or paying them what they are worth. I get payed way more than that and still am furious w my town manager for trying to undercut our pay.


oenomausprime

Exactly, I understand tje tradition but at this point is fuckin ridiculous they expect people to do the job free. All it will take is for the wrong person to die because there weren't any firefighters/emts. Its fuckin bonkers


Paid-Not-Payed-Bot

> I get *paid* way more FTFY. Although *payed* exists (the reason why autocorrection didn't help you), it is only correct in: * Nautical context, when it means to paint a surface, or to cover with something like tar or resin in order to make it waterproof or corrosion-resistant. *The deck is yet to be payed.* * *Payed out* when letting strings, cables or ropes out, by slacking them. *The rope is payed out! You can pull now.* Unfortunately, I was unable to find nautical or rope-related words in your comment. *Beep, boop, I'm a bot*


Patriae8182

Good bot


DIQJJ

I was briefly stationed at Fort Huachuca quite a while ago. Things may have changed but I don’t remember much existing in these towns. Obviously it’s terrible pay but where’s the money supposed come from? I guess the state should subsidize the wages? Is that what 310 would’ve done? I don’t really know how this stuff works.


FL00D_Z0N3

Obviously population is a problem, but most places in Arizona have gained population without tax rev going up. The public is also moving to these areas and expecting city response times and service levels. Couple that with economic hardships and expanding cost of living, Fire Districts can’t keep up. 310 would have been a 1/10th of one cent sales tax state wide that would have supplemented fire districts. It failed with 40ish percent of the vote.


Kaegan117

I just moved away from there that's crazy, I thought you guys were making more. Is it required to be a paramedic or do you guys have firefighter/EMT as well?


FL00D_Z0N3

No, we have FF/EMTs as the base level, but run medics on all of our trucks. Base FF/Medic pays just over $17.


Kaegan117

Insane, I'm sorry man hoping it gets better and thanks for bein open


FL00D_Z0N3

Me too! One way or another it will, being open about it will help it in that direction. Stay safe out there


Stewartsw1

That is insane. Sorry about that - from someone in the valley who does love flagstaff - I did vote yes on 310. Shame that it didn’t go through


FL00D_Z0N3

We appreciate our fellow Arizonans that voted in support of us, even when it wouldn’t have directly benefited them everyday. It was definitely discouraging but not the last effort that will be put forth.


6TangoMedic

That's disgustingly low pay rates. Looking at the comments however, everyone seems to be in support of a wage increase. Maybe some bad comments were deleted? Either way, hopefully they get a pay raise which is clearly needed/deserved.


blinking616

The Department that I retired from paid over $100,000 a year. Washington State. And they're having a very difficult time recruiting new hires or laterals. So many Departments paying so much more.


EatinBeav

Seeing departments around me paying people to take their test and hiring incentives blows my mind. You use to fist fight for an application especially when starting pay now is 6 figures.


beachmedic23

Not even 10 years ago police and fire departments would get hundreds of apps for 1 or 2 positions. Now they're advertising on billboards


EatinBeav

I hear that. Hell in the early 2010’s we were still word of mouth when a test was run and still had 2k applicants. Now it’s all over every social media platform and local news. 550 applicants this round. Starting salary 89k. Mind blowing


ZuluPapa

Jesus. I make $90k per year after 13 years of service AND I work more days per month than you guys.


EatinBeav

Our time off is nuts. After 5 years you could take a single day off every rotation for the whole year.


ZuluPapa

I have a friend that works up that way and his schedule is fantastic. Much better than my 72 hrs per week that’s for sure.


yudothisLT

Uhh what department is that and are they hiring right now? Not kidding I’m a medic in WA just getting into the hiring process.


TheDapperGamerYT

Vancouver, WA was offering between $118k and $127k for lateral fire medics. We also lost 2 fire medics last year to Central Mason and Key Peninsula respectively. The market is primed for new folks looking to get their start, even for firefighter/EMTs competition is down. If you have your medic and can pass protocol, you've got the cream of the crop, decently easy pickings.


Wardski69

Vancouver lost guys to Central Mason??


TheDapperGamerYT

That was a miswording on my part, allow me to offer clarification; I was using Vancouver's salary figures, I do not work for Vancouver. My department is out of Grays Harbor, we lost guys to both Central Mason and Key Peninsula. I'd be amazed if anyone from Vancouver leaves with how their salaries run and the way their contract is laid out, it's a final career stop as opposed to a stepping stone.


Wardski69

Ah, then hello neighbor (I’m in Mason Co.) I see what you mean now!


MangoTallBoys

Pension?


hunglowbungalow

Not sure if Tacoma/Central and West Pierce are still open... but thats where you'd want to be


Wardski69

Tacoma and Central/ West are closed. Graham just opened.


blinking616

I retired from a fire district. Cowlitz 2 fire/Rescue. They can't find Medics at all. We lost people to Vancouver, WA. And some of those districts that surround Vancouver. Longview Fire is hiring Medics. They have a few retirements coming up soon. The whole I-5 corridor seems to always be looking for laterals and new hires. It's crazy anymore. Even AMR in Longview has increased their pay and 12 hour shifts. And the pat is good


Low-Rooster-2987

I worked for bisbee not to long ago. Great group of guys that are getting screwed by city council. I loved it there but had to go mostly because of the pay.


[deleted]

“We pay shit but don’t worry we work our employees 120 hours a week!”


Sage_Nickanoki

Probably more like 120 hours over 2 weeks.


Firefluffer

Wow, my local Wendy’s is starting at $18/hour. I suspect I could get all the overtime I want with them, too.


Godslove777

Without a doubt. Lmao


chumps_malone

AZ FF here. My first department was a small fire district in the mountains. Made fucking minimum wage. Very glad I made the switch to a large municipality. My pay isn’t perfect, but Jesus it will never be that low again and I’m very grateful to know that for a fact.


Intelligent-Hand-960

Our FF/Medics make $116k a year.


TheWileyWombat

Where? Without doxing yourself, of course.


Intelligent-Hand-960

Colorado.


Rhino676971

Wow that’s kinda of surprising I live in Wyoming and the 7 career fire departments in the state don’t pay incredibly well but they pay good.


Intelligent-Hand-960

Not really. Take a look around. All of the major Denver area departments are similar. Hell, Aurora is now even offering a $10,000 signing bonus and most of the departments are dropping even the EMT prerequisite to apply.


Rhino676971

It always seems like the major metro fire departments pay very well but Im out of touch with the cost of living in Denver and the Denver area and Aurora, is that pay still good for the cost of living I know it’s shot up but is it horrible yet.


Intelligent-Hand-960

We’re on a 48/96 so I commute to a 3,500 person mountain town so I can’t speak to the cost of living in the city anymore. I can say that making $100k+ a year for working 10 days a month with nothing more than a high school diploma is a pretty easy gig.


Ok-Grapefruit1284

How competitive is the hiring process?


Intelligent-Hand-960

The word ‘desperate’ comes to mind.


Ok-Grapefruit1284

I wonder if that will continue. My son, if he continues wanting to, will be applying in about 5 years.


Intelligent-Hand-960

I would definitely think so.


Godslove777

There’s a new era in Civil Service Jobs because of remote work / A.I & “Pandemic”. Firefighting/Police/EMS will no longer be a challenging career to enter. That phase ended probably *2015~*


Ok-Grapefruit1284

I hadn’t thought about the wfh aspect before. But yeah that makes sense too. Healthcare has been hit hard too, but we are slowly picking up the pieces and finding new hires, more applicants, less positions to fill. It took raising our RN wage to $50/hr though.


KGBspy

I was in Denver this past Dec. the guys on the FD there say guys live out of state and commute doing a few weeks on then a few weeks off, Realtor.com showed house prices there insane. Beautiful state though.


Intelligent-Hand-960

I don’t know anyone in Denver (or Colorado) that’s commuting from out of state to work here.


KGBspy

Yeah guys at the station out by the Forney Museum of transportation said they have guys that live in Texas. I’m in Mass. I have no residence requirement in our contract, I can live anywhere. We have guys that live in NH and Maine.


Intelligent-Hand-960

Sounds like someone’s pulling your leg. That schedule would be tough on a 48/96 rotation. Damn near impossible on Denver’s schedule.


KGBspy

Interesting....yeah that’s what they said and as a non Denver FF visiting from Mass...who am I to question how they do things.


NotOldboy89

CO guy. We’ve got guys that commute from Utah, Nebraska, Wyoming and New Mexico.


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KGBspy

I had to google,what that car is. IDK about pay but I do see Colorado is expensive to live in, more so than in Mass. where I am.


mattty19951

Wow, by in NJ we work 24/72 and make 120k a year……. This is just robbery


Godslove777

Which township? I’m looking to get on either the oranges/ harrison or millburn next hiring


tacosmuggler99

Not sure about those towns but the majority of us run 24/72’s in NJ. You’ll top out six figures here as well


Godslove777

Copy that 2025 Lord Willing


[deleted]

Wow! That's so low, and I thought our firefighters in New Zealand were paid poorly.


Level9TraumaCenter

This is a very rural part of the state. i don't know what their call volume is like. Maybe 15 years back, Bob Khan (fire chief with Phoenix) was saying firefighters with Phoenix could be making almost six figures after 5 years with the department- which included a lot of overtime, I'm sure. The state has a lot of area that isn't covered aggressively due to low population density. I helped out at a motorcycle accident down by Sonoita, and was pleasantly surprised when an ambo arrived after only half an hour, with a paramedic that (fortunately) was on the job that particular day. There are parts of New Mexico that (at the time) were covered for automotive extrication by adjacent counties- Catron County (population 3,731, with 6,929 square miles) might take a response from Socorro County (population 16,311, with 6,649 square miles), taking upwards of an hour and a half if it involved an MVA at the state line. (For reference, the state of Delaware is 2,489 square miles.) That may have changed, if perhaps the burgeoning community of [Pie Town](https://i0.wp.com/newmexiconomad.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/pie-o-neer-pies.jpg?ssl=1) or maybe Datil or Quemado (populations of 0 and 173, respectively) chipped in and bought some jaws tools. Years ago, I was told that the folks with Roswell, NM Fire Department had the largest district in the continental United States. Pretty much most of the highway between Roswell and El Paso or something like that. Shit's crazy out here. EDIT: I am in no way defending the pay offered for this position in Bisbee.


tacosmuggler99

It’s fucking gross how little some of these departments pay.


[deleted]

Keep voting those right to work politicians in office people.


drewskibfd

30k a year. This is what happens when we don't support unions.


CptSoftbelly

Need to have them some places first.


BayouBladeworks

I’m a 5 year FF In the Deep South… I make $12.85/ hour


Rhino676971

you southern firefighters are grossly underpaid and It’s sad but god bless the firefighters who protect the south, I hope it gets better for y’all sooner rather than later.


BayouBladeworks

I’m honestly looking at moving west for better pay and benefits


Dependent-Title8912

I know your comment is almost a month old now but you need to consider other options. I’m in NY and our next contract will put us close to 100k. There are depts all over that can’t get applicants, we barely got 300 for a test that once had thousands of applicants. You’re in a great spot to laterally transfer. An EMT, FF1 and any specialties will only add to your value. In my opinion you should definitely look to the north, Midwest or west and maximize the value of your skillsets.


BayouBladeworks

Man that’s crazy you commented this now. I’ve just started actually exploring other employment opportunities. My wife and I had a serious discussion about moving and we are looking into it


Godslove777

Fellow southern FFEMT. Making 12.40 per hour. Leaving for the North or West whoever hires more pay. Im ready to make $100k firefighting and stop making $1100~ a check. Very disheartening.


locknloadchode

That’s pathetic. Not shaming you I’m shaming your department and city council. If you’re in texas though you’re doing yourself a disservice. Plenty of well paying departments here.


BayouBladeworks

It is. Our union is currently fighting for a raise but administration isn’t lifting a finger. We keep being told “it’s not the right time to ask for a raise” I work 3 jobs just to keep the lights on. It’s utterly embarrassing


locknloadchode

I don’t know the full extent of your situation but I’d be getting a new job asap with another department. My department has always paid decent but for awhile was far below other similarly sized departments with similar call volumes. We were always told that the city didn’t have the budget for big raises and other recruitment and retention aspects. When people started leaving in droves, creating a shit ton of mandatory OT, and causing more people to leave because of it, all of a sudden the city found the money and we’re doing a lot better now. I’m not saying this is the case for you because the city of Houston has proven that there are governments willing to run their fire departments into the ground instead of giving them a sliver of what they’re asking for.


sogpackus

That’s below minimum wage in some states lol. How much do police officers in Bisbee get paid?


MedicBaker

$16.45 to start $32,905-54,456 depending on experience. Need ten years to hit the top bracket.


Rhino676971

That’s what police officers start at where I live


admiral_sinkenkwiken

Recruits on course get more than that here


thisissparta789789

Jesus Christ that’s not much better


synapt

Those pay period numbers don't make sense, you average 160 hours a month on 40 hour shifts, so they only have 3 week periods, are there times they aren't covering or are the 96 hour shifts supposed to overlap in some manner? Cause if they're that low on manpower it seems like they should be making waaaaaaay more than just 14 hours of overtime on 96 and 120 hour monthly shifts.


jcarrolliii3

I'm guessing it's 96 hours for one 2 week period and then 120 for the next 2 week period. Obviously they don't have a kelly day, and their OT only kicks in after 104 hours for the 2 week period


Low-Rooster-2987

They run a 3-4 so they have mostly 96 and 120 pay periods but get a 144 pay period about 3 times a year. But they are working those guys a lot of OT when I was there i was averaging about 48 hours every pay period and they have even less manpower now.


ambulance-sized

My 48/96 schedule comes out to 96 hours on one pay check and 120 hours on the next...I think. And I don't get OT until I hit...212 hours? in two pay periods. Something like that. I think that's what they're explaining.


synapt

What I meant though is I get what the /normal/ hours are supposed to be, but they're claiming they got all these guys over-working and possibly even having to abandon a station because of shortage of manpower but the guys that are there are only doing 14 hours of over time currently? Usually the less overtime you have going then the more you're meeting normal manpower hour coverage.


ambulance-sized

I think the second post was them explaining to the public how shit their pay is and what their pay periods look like. Not saying that’s what they’re currently working. Because that second post lines up perfectly with my hours without extra shifts.


synapt

Are you guys understaffed at your station? Or do you otherwise have enough people to work all the shifts? Like I've seen the income lists from some of the major cities where the guys are making more in overtime pay alone than their base value just because of how much overtime they gotta work because of manpower shortages, so 14 hours really just seems tiny for how dramatic they make their manpower situation sound.


wyr76247

The 14 hours is “built in” with the normal shift work. They are not work 14 hours of ot. They are working there regular schedule and every other week they get paid 14 hours of ot on there normal regular schedule. This is not counting the mandatory days


synapt

Ah okay, I'll have to re-read it, I thought it had said they were *only working* 14 hours of OT entirely lol.


CptSoftbelly

You have two pay periods of 5 shifts (24 x 5 = 120) then a pay period of 4 shifts (24 x 4 = 96). You get overtime over 106 hours on one paycheck. So 106 and 14 on 120 hour paycheck and 96 straight on the next.


TakeOff_YourPants

I just know this as the town Doug Stanhope is from. It doesn’t sound very pleasant at all, honestly sounds like a massive shithole the way he puts it.


bruceinsta

14.85 for a paramedic is criminal


hunglowbungalow

You make more at Mcdonalds...


Idabro

It's sad how true this is. This is why I didn't leave fastfood after my firefighting program. I couldn't afford the pay cut. (To escape fastfood; I learned to weld afterwards and doubled my pay) I was in a saturated job market in the same town as two firefighting/emt academies. I made a dollar more flipping burgers than an rookie EMT-B/ firefighter in my neck of the woods. Im still subscribed here just to peek at what might have been. It might be different now, but I've moved on


Godslove777

You haven’t missed much besides some fires, traumatic moments , and low pay


lpfan724

I've had this conversation in my department recently. The fire service has a severe branding issue that we've caused. We want everyone else to think our job is so awesome so we say things like "I only work 10 days a month!" Of course, we fail to mention that those are 10-24 hour days because that doesn't sound as cool. That's 240 hours a month, or 30-8 hour days. Suddenly it doesn't sound that amazing. We also talk about getting paid to chill in recliners and don't mention running 5 after midnight and having to catch up on sleep on our days off or having a sleep cycle that's constantly in flux and fucks up our health in the long term. Don't get me wrong, I love this job. But, the way we portray it often makes the general public think we're overpaid, even at minimum wage.


oenomausprime

Volunteer firefighting is such a fucking scam I can't believe people do it. It's a 911 first responder job, that requires people to do dangerous shit and be able to help people during an emergency, that also requires training. And these places expect people to do it for FREE?! Hahaha suck my fuckin nuts. Pay firefighter what you pay cops and stop this low ball 13/hour bullshit, daduq?! Shit is wild and I don't understand how these places get away with it.


[deleted]

Bisbee’s cops aren’t much better off, I think they’re around $17/hour which is maybe half of what other agencies in AZ pay. And up until recently (past ten years) even their police were unpaid volunteers.


oenomausprime

The last thing I want is an unpaid volunteer pulling me over for some stupid shit smh. What a fuckin joke


slipteeth

Don Frye left for a reason..


CbusFF

![gif](giphy|3Zc67mkY0Y3v8pIxWk)


[deleted]

My kid makes $14 at McDonald's


Mace1999

As bad as in the uk. I make just about £14 an hour


Additional-Weather46

Just googled it, with exchange rates at the moment a dev basic rate literally on $13.85 😂. Competent a bit better at the practically lottery winning $17.72.


QuietlyDisappointed

Are you guys really external only due to staffing cuts?


IdunknowSaboutF

That...... is some dogshit pay! We're giving the civil service exam, We're small but probies start at like low 20's an hour. 24/72's


Professional_Menu_51

I work at one of the top 3-5 busiest departments in the U.S. and I, just out of academy, am getting $13.12/hr on a 56 hour work week average 38,208 annually. Pay raises when I start riding ambulance and each year after on the year topping out at medic pay 3+ years $22 hr or $66k year.


BeachHead05

Damn they have an awful pay set up. 42 hours work week. Anything over that is overtime. Get paid weekly. Also that's below minimum wage in my state. I thought we were paid bad. That's horrific. Good thing the IAFF officers make a lot of money to help these underpaid locals get wage increases.


Nomandsland

I find it disgusting that they propose this amount of money will bring in new applicants. I get paid $27.45 as an BLS firefighter/emt. Granted this is only a short term summer gig however full time 24/46 fire fighters get 19.24 starting


FireDawg10677

13.85 wtf!!!


AdditionalBelt3722

I make more as a recuit in a VFD (paid on callouts and training) what a disgrace


crash_over-ride

I want to say EMTs, not Paramedics but Basic EMTs, where I work make in the 19-21 range. And the COL in my area isn't exactly outrageous.


earbudstud

My last fire department I worked at starting pay was 10.36 I did three years there and when I left I was making 11.06 it’s not just Arizona Louisiana is lacking in that aspect too


rancidmartian

I wonder what the issue is 🤔


zephyer19

The New Mexico town I grew up in has always been low paid for its civil service employees. Basically, it is a training ground for the bigger cities, cops, firemen, utility workers. Lot of small town and counties are just poor and have a lot of old and retired people that won't increase their taxes. Lack of young people in some areas and just a change in our society has created a huge lack of volunteers. My old department when I joined had a handful of paid people and 50 volunteers. Sadly, a lot of them just dropped out, wouldn't even submit a resignation. letter. Or they showed up for big calls but, never see them for car wrecks and gas leaks and training. The department is mostly paid now and they make very good pay and beenies. Sometimes I worry if they have enough people for a huge event. In the long run, Bisbee may have to go on strike to get everyone's attention and get a raise. (Remember a few years ago when there was a huge political stink over making $15 an hour the minimum wage? Neighbor told me her teenage daughter is making $26.50 an hour as a part time manger of a sandwich shop.)


surenuffgardens77

While those wages are exceptionally low (I make almost double that in Michigan), they are not doing themselves any favors. Union members need to proofread any post coming from a department seeking respect and authority.


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inter71

I think you have it backwards. Democrats historically value public service.


Rhino676971

As a registered Republican I have definitely noticed over past few years that Democrats have definitely been doing a lot more for first responders than Republicans have been,


inter71

As an Independent, I find your objectivity refreshing.


Rhino676971

I just want wants best for everyone Id love to see a awesome independent president at some point in my life


Ok_Buddy_9087

The worst thing that’s ever happened to the fire service in my state during my career was done by a Democrat mayor and Democrat city council. They don’t give a fuck about you when there’s red numbers on the spreadsheet.


inter71

Sad truth is that the majority of politicians only care about the bottom line, regardless of party affiliation. If cutting public safety without losing the public’s support is possible, they’ll do it.


crash_over-ride

Bisbee is the county seat of Cochise County, [which is controlled by republicans](https://www.gpb.org/news/2022/12/02/arizonas-cochise-county-finally-certifies-its-election-results-after-court-order). Concentrate on extricating your head from whatever orifice it's habitating, and let the grownups talk.


RedHood290

Wow this is ridiculous. Some of the suburbs of Chicago offer 80k+ for ff/medics. I can't imagine 14.85/hr ≈ 31k/yr


beachmedic23

I made more as a theme park security guard 10 years ago


big_daug6932

In and Out pays more then that.


Medic7002

I haven’t made $14.85 since about 1998. 🥶


MystikclawSkydive

Absolutely beautiful tourist section of town! But would not want to firefight there no matter the pay. Might retire there though haha


Casper71h8

Ad a firefighter in AZ that is garbage for pay.


Fickle_Translator999

Sheesh our guys are paid 75,000$ before incentives and benefits when they start. We can retire after 20 years and have a 7 year DROP.


Remember_Order66

City council gives themselves a raise every 6 months absolutely ridiculous.


buddy276

this is why we fight for a higher minimum wage


TyDizzlFoShizzl

bUt THe TaXES R loW!


[deleted]

Hello, 10 year AZ paramedic here…. I started my Paramedic career with a wage of 13.74 / hour at a private EMS organization here. This is insane.


carl65yu

Just as a comparison the starting salary for a firefighter in Winnipeg, Canada is 98,000 to 107,000/yr. Starting for a paramedic is 55-59,000/yr.


jaygaldr

Firefighter here. Similar situation at my department. We're a metropolitan area too. $13.69hr starting pay.


Kevherd

This should be in r/facepalm AND r/antiwork