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Firefighter Salary Hourly Jobs (NOW HIRING)

PT Firefighter/EMT

Kingsburg, CA ยท On-site

$21.49/hr

Salary: $21.49 Hourly Location : 1460 Marion Street, Kingsburg, CA Job Type: Part-Time Job Number ... The Part-Time Firefighter EMT responds to alarms, rescue, and other emergency calls. May be ...

Firefighter II

Greensboro, NC ยท On-site

$16.36 - $18.90/hr

Salary: $16.36 - $18.90 Hourly Location : 1002 Meadowood Greensboro, NC Job Type: Full Time Job ... Will function as a Firefighter on a multi-person Rescue Company. Drive emergency equipment and ...

CERTIFIED FIREFIGHTER

Hobbs, NM ยท On-site

$20.69 - $23.79/hr

Salary: $20.69 - $23.79 Hourly Location : Fire Department, 301 E. White St, Hobbs, NM Job Type ... Performs firefighting and rescue activities including driving fire apparatus, operating pumps ...

PT Firefighter/EMT

Kingsburg, CA ยท On-site

$21.49/hr

Salary: $21.49 Hourly Location : 1460 Marion Street, Kingsburg, CA Job Type: Part-Time Job Number ... The Part-Time Firefighter EMT responds to alarms, rescue, and other emergency calls. May be ...

Firefighter/Paramedic

East Hartford, CT ยท On-site

$73K - $84K/yr

Rolling recruitment Salary Range: $73,379 - $84,653 annually $33.60 - $38.76 hourly Paramedic Stipend: $1,000 Sign on Bonus upon hire - one time. 2.5% of top step firefighter/paramedic pay annually 2 ...

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Firefighter Salary Hourly information

See salary details

$28.5K

$59.6K

$100K

How much do firefighter salary hourly jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 23, 2026, the average yearly pay for firefighter salary hourly in the United States is $59,606.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $45,500.00 and $69,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the average hourly salary for a firefighter?

The average hourly salary for a firefighter in the United States typically ranges from $15 to $30 per hour, depending on location, experience, and the specific fire department. Entry-level firefighters may start at the lower end of the range, while those with more experience or working in high-cost-of-living areas can earn higher hourly wages. Overtime, special assignments, and certifications can also influence overall pay.

What are some of the typical challenges firefighters face during shift work and how do departments support work-life balance?

Firefighters often work long, irregular shifts that can include nights, weekends, and holidays, presenting challenges in maintaining a work-life balance. The physical and emotional demands of emergency response, combined with extended hours, can lead to fatigue and stress. Many fire departments address these issues by offering structured shift rotations, peer support programs, and wellness initiatives to help firefighters manage stress and maintain overall well-being. Applicants should be prepared for the unique demands of shift work while also taking advantage of departmental resources that promote balance and resilience.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a firefighter, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Firefighter, you need physical fitness, emergency response skills, and completion of fire academy training, often supported by EMT certification. Familiarity with fire suppression equipment, rescue tools, and incident management systems is typically required. Outstanding teamwork, problem-solving abilities, and resilience under pressure set exceptional firefighters apart. These skills and qualities are crucial for ensuring effective emergency response, personal safety, and the protection of the community.

What is the difference between Firefighter Salary Hourly vs Paramedic Salary Hourly?

AspectFirefighter Salary HourlyParamedic Salary Hourly
Required CredentialsFirefighter certification, EMT or paramedic licenseEMT or paramedic certification, often with advanced training
Work EnvironmentFire stations, emergency scenes, rescue operationsAmbulances, emergency scenes, hospitals
Employer & IndustryFire departments, emergency servicesEMS agencies, hospitals, emergency services

Both firefighters and paramedics require emergency medical training and certifications. Firefighters focus on fire suppression and rescue, while paramedics specialize in medical care. Their salaries are often comparable on an hourly basis, reflecting their critical roles in emergency response.

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What cities are hiring for Firefighter Salary Hourly jobs?

Cities with the most Firefighter Salary Hourly job openings:

What states have the most Firefighter Salary Hourly jobs?

States with the most job openings for Firefighter Salary Hourly jobs include:

What job categories do people searching Firefighter Salary Hourly jobs look for?

The top searched job categories for Firefighter Salary Hourly jobs are:

Infographic showing various Firefighter Salary Hourly job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 88% Full Time, 10% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 91% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $59,606 per year, or $28.7 per hour.

$52K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 29 days ago


Job description

FIREFIGHTER - EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIAN

(Fire Rescue Division)

**Submit certificates/licenses at time of application**

***Enrollment into paramedic school within 12 months of hire***

***Completion of paramedic school within 13 months of enrollment.***

Pay Grade: F22

  • Starting annual:ย $52,071.04 (with overtime & holiday pay)ย 
    Starting hourly: ย $16.52ย 

24-hour shifts (24/48)
1 shift on, 2 shifts off rotation

Additional salary based on years of experience - 1 additional Step for each year up to Step 5.

(Polk County Fire Rescue salaries steps range from 0-12)

Employee Benefits

Direct Deposit, Bi-Weekly Pay Checks
Medical, Dental, Vision
Life Insurance
FRS Retirement
10 Paid Holidays
Paid Time Off
Tuition Reimbursement
Education Incentives
Deferred Compensation Plan
Wellness Incentives
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Free Employee Gym
Free Employee Health Clinic
ย 

Please take a moment to enjoy this short video about Polk County Fire Rescue here.

*** This position is covered by a collective bargaining agreement ***
**This position may require a physical ability/agility test**

Mustย haveย theย physical,ย developmentalย andย mentalย ability toย performย jobย tasks,ย workย efforts, responsibilitiesย andย duties ofย theย jobย illustrated.ย 

Theย jobย descriptionย hereinย providesย forย the rangeย ofย dutiesย toย beย performedย forย thisย position.ย Itย isย notย intendedย toย reflectย allย dutiesย thatย areย required within this position.

MAJORย FUNCTION

Thisย isย responsibleย technical andย skilledย workย inย firefightingย andย emergencyย medical technician includingย theย preservationย ofย lifeย andย protectionย ofย propertyย against fireย andย related hazards,ย in rendering out of hospital life support functions, other emergency care and rescue services.

Dutiesย includeย theย operationย andย maintenanceย ofย Fireย Rescue Divisionย vehiclesย andย equipment.

ILLUSTRATIVEย DUTIES

Work involves responsibility for the protection of life and property through firefighting and rescue operations, usually under close supervision. Employees of this classย are also required to learn and participate in the operation of firefightingย equipment and apparatus. Although firefighting and emergency rescue work, including the administration of emergency medical treatment, are the most difficult and responsible areas of activity, aย majorย portion of time is spentย onย pre-fireย surveys; training,ย studyingย methods, techniquesย andย organizationย ofย firefighting andย onย routineย duties inย theย careย andย maintenanceย ofย Fireย Departmentย propertyย andย equipment. Work involvesย an element of personal danger and requiresย working on extended shifts. Work is usually performed in accordance with explicit instructions and well-defined procedures; however, satisfactory performance of the workย requires initiative and a thorough individual understanding of the methods,ย equipment and principles of firefighting,ย fire prevention, rescue and emergency medical techniques in meeting a wide variety of emergencies.

Firefighters with appropriate specialized training may work in the assignment of Hazardous Materialsย Technician,ย Technicalย Rescueย Member andย Apparatusย Operator/Driverย orย assignedย to anย Emergencyย Medical Unit.ย Firefightersย whoย serveย inย theย additionalย roleย ofย paramedic mustย also perform the illustrative duties outlined in the Paramedic job description.

Respondsย toย alarms ofย fireย orย otherย emergencies;ย dons'ย personalย protectiveย equipment;ย worksย in enclosed areas; lays and connects hoses; holdsย nozzlesย which direct water streams; raises and climbs ladders; uses chemical extinguishers, bars, hooks, lines and other equipment.

ย Responds to alarms of fire or otherย emergencies in commercial, residential and multiple story structures;ย climbsย stairs carryingย aย myriad ofย firefightingย toolsย orย emergency medicalย equipment; performs search and rescue techniquesย for locating buildingย occupants; operates and controls building fire suppression systems; operates building elevators under fire service control.

Respondsย toย alarmsย ofย fireย orย otherย emergenciesย oftenย performingย dutiesforย anย extendedย period ofย timeย whileย wearingself-containedย breathingย apparatusย inย highย temperaturesย andย withย limited vision.

Ventilatesย structuresย inย accordanceย withย appliedย knowledge;ย removesย victimsย fromย seriousย auto accidents,ย structuresย onย fire,ย orย other dangerousย situations;ย administersย emergencyย medicalย care to injured persons; performs property conservation (salvage) operations; assists in clean-up operation after the fire is suppressed.

Mayย beย assignedย asย aย driver ofย aย vehicleย orย apparatus;ย checksย radioย operability;ย responsibleย for maintainingย apparatus,ย equipment,ย inventoryย andย otherย logs;ย mayย communicateย byย radioย from fire, rescue and other emergency scenes.

May be assigned as the operator of a heavy-dutyย diesel-powered pumper truck or aerial truck; directsย hoseย connectionsย atย pump;ย operates pumps,ย makingย sureย properย pressure andย waterย flow is maintained; operates aerial ladder or snorkel power lift.

Operatesย fireย apparatusย toย andย fromย theย fireย orย rescueย sceneย overย theย optimal routeย atย high speeds in the safest and most efficient manner in accordance with departmental policy.

Participatesย inย theย on-duty companyย physicalย fitness program.

Participates in fire drills and attends training classes in firefighting, emergency medical techniquesย andย relatedย subjects; participatesย inย pre-fire surveysย ofย industrialย andย otherย business buildings, hospitals, nursing homes, schools and multi-family dwellings; prepares floor plans, records and locates key itemsย on floor plans of facilities for departmental use in the event of fires, disasters or other emergencies.

Responds to a variety of emergency callsย requiring the performance of a varietyย of emergency medicalย skills, suchย asย administeringย oxygen,ย cardiopulmonaryย resuscitation,ย emergencyย medical care and related tasks.ย 

Performsย general maintenanceย andย cleaning workย inย theย upkeepย ofย apparatus,ย equipment, furnishings and structures.

Aidsย inย theย evacuationย ofย portionsย ofย theย county duringย naturalย orย otherย disasters. Assists law enforcement agencies in the investigation of arson cases.

Performsย relatedย workย asย assigned.


ย KNOWLEDGE,ย ABILITIESย ANDย SKILLS

Abilityย toย analyzeย situationsย quicklyย andย objectivelyย andย toย determineย theย properย courseย of action.

Abilityย toย reactย quickly andย calmlyย underย emergencyย conditions.

Considerableย knowledge ofย theย operatingย andย mechanicalย principlesย involvedย inย automotive equipment operation.

Abilityย toย becomeย familiar withย theย roadway/highwayย systemsย withinย Polkย County.

Skillย andย dexterityย inย theย useย andย manipulationย ofย toolsย andย apparatusย usedย inย fighting firesย and performing emergency medical care.

Abilityย toย learnย andย efficientlyย perform aย wideย varietyย ofย firefightingย andย rescueย duties, methods and techniques.

Abilityย toย climbย stairs inย multipleย storyย buildingsย carrying heavyย toolsย andย equipment.

Ability to perform physically demanding duties such as carrying victims; hoisting equipment usingย ropes; usingย heavyย equipment toย forceย entryย intoย orย ventilationย ofย structures;ย useย ofย hand and mechanical tools to extricate patients of automobile accidents.

Abilityย toย establishย andย maintainย effective workingย relationshipsย asย necessitatedย byย theย work. Ability to climb ladders and work at considerable heights.

Abilityย toย understandย andย executeย complex oralย andย written instructionsย quickly.

Mustย beย ableย toย read,ย write,ย andย speakย theย Englishย language inย anย understandableย manner.

Abilityย toย performย limited mechanicalย workย involved inย maintainingย firefightingย andย rescue apparatus, equipment and tools.

Abilityย toย workย asย aย partย ofย aย teamย andย toย exercise independentย judgmentย asย required. Ability to drive or operate large fire vehicles in a safe and efficient manner.

Abilityย toย copeย withย stressfulย situationsย firmly,ย courteouslyย andย tactfully,ย andย withย respect forย the rights of others. Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.

MINIMUMย QUALIFICATIONS

Graduateย ofย anย accreditedย highย schoolย orย possessย anย acceptableย equivalencyย diplomaย andย haveย a valid Certificate of Compliance asย outlined in theย Florida Division of Stateย Fireย Marshal Uniform Fire Safety Rules and Standards Chapterย 69A-37,ย orย a verification letter indicating that the individualย meetsย theย aboveย requirementsย andย willย beย issuedย aย Certificateย ofย Complianceย fromย the Florida Division of State Fire Marshal, Bureau of Fire Standards and Training Office.

Mustย possessย andย maintain aย validย Stateย ofย Florida Emergencyย Medicalย Technicianย Licenseย or State of Florida Paramedic License (preferred) and:

  1. Isย atย leastย 18ย yearsย of age.
  2. Certifiesย underย oathย thatย he/sheย isย notย addictedย toย alcoholย orย anyย controlledย substance.
  3. Certifies under oath that he/she is free from anyย physical or mental defect or disease thatย might impair his/her abilityย to drive an ambulance and perform his/her duties.
  4. Meetย theย following drivingย historyย requirements:
    1. Haveย notย accrued 12ย pointsย within 36ย monthsย orย 18ย points withinย 48ย months.
    2. Haveย notย beenย convictedย onย alcohol/drugย related offensesย withinย 36ย months.
    3. Haveย notย beenย convicted ofย twoย (2)ย alcohol/drugย related offensesย withinย 10ย years.
    4. Haveย notย hadย aย suspension,ย revocation,ย orย restrictionย dueย toย moving violationsย or alcohol/drugย related problem,ย includingย failure toย takeย aย breathย testย withinย theย 36 months prior.
    5. Haveย notย hadย twoย (2)ย failures toย payย finesย withinย 36 months.
    6. Haveย notย hadย twoย (2)ย seatbeltย violationsย withinย 36ย months.
    7. Haveย notย hadย threeย (3)ย lapsesย ofย insuranceย withinย 36ย months.
    8. Noย seriousย traffic violationsย suchย asย leavingย theย sceneย orย drivingย onย aย suspended license within 36 months.
    9. Mustย provideย proofย ofย insurance whenย requiredย toย useย their personalย vehicleย asย part of their daily job duties.
  5. Possessย aย validย Americanย Heartย Associationย CPRย "BLSย forย Healthย Careย Providers"ย cardย or the American Red Cross Professional CPR card or American Heart Association (AHA) or American Safety and Health Institute (ASHI)
  6. Mustย haveย aย validย driver'sย licenseย andย beย ableย toย secureย aย validย Floridaย driver'sย licenseย atย theย time of employment.
  7. Possessย theย followingย National Incidentย Managementย System (NIMS)ย certifications:
    1. ICS-100:ย Introductionย toย theย Incident Commandย System
    2. ICS-200:ย ICSย forย Single Resourcesย andย Initial Actionย Incidents
    3. IS-700:ย National Incidentย Managementย System, Anย Introduction
    4. IS-800:ย Nationalย Responseย Framework,ย Anย Introduction

SPECIALย REQUIREMENTS

Mustย obtainย andย maintain Federalย Bureauย ofย Investigationsย (FBI)ย Criminalย Justice Information Services (CJIS) Security Awareness certification through the Florida Department of Law Enforcementย (FDLE)ย Employeesย hiredย intoย thisย positionย afterย Januaryย 1,ย 2013,ย mustย obtainย and maintain this certification as a condition of employment.

Applicant/employeeย shallย beย fingerprintedย andย subjectย toย personalย backgroundย investigation procedures to ascertain an evaluation and determination of moral character according to Chapter 69A-37 Firefighters Standards and Training.

Mustย beย ableย toย add,ย subtract, multiply,ย andย divideย allย unitsย ofย measure.ย 

Workย requiresย lifting very heavy weight occasionally, heavy weight frequently and moderate weight constantly.

Abilityย toย copeย withย mentalย andย emotionalย stresses ofย theย job.

Mustย haveย aย telephoneย whileย employedย withย theย Fireย Rescueย Divisionย asย employeeย isย subjectย toย callย in emergencies.

Applicants who have not been employed by the Polk County Fire Rescue Division in a firefighter-emergencyย medical technicianย capacityย willย beย required toย produceย documentation that they have successfully completed the following from the National Testing Network:

  • Candidateย Physical Abilityย Testย (CPAT) or RPAT (if sponsored by PCFR),ย andย theย examย dateย canย beย noย moreย thanย one calendar year from the hire date.
  • A Personalย Historyย Questionnaireย (PHQ)ย atย theย time of application.

Thisย positionย willย beย required toย reportย forย workย whenย aย declarationย ofย emergencyย hasย been declared in Polk County.

ย SPECIALย PREFERENCES

Preferenceย willย beย given to the following:

  • Candidates who possess technical competencies such as Hazardous Materials, Confined Space, Vehicle Machinery Rescue, Rope Rescue, or other state-recognized certificates.
  • Enrolled in paramedic school with a completion date within 12 months.
  • Candidates who agree to enroll in paramedic training immediately upon hire (40-hour schedule while in school).
  • Candidates who have completed a two-year degree or higher.
  • Emergencyย Vehicleย Operatorย Courseย Certificationย cardย orย aย recognizedย 16-hour course that is equivalent.

V.6.4.2023