Any firefighters out there? (Charlotte: transfer, salary, airport)

[ComSense]

Any firefighters out there? A relative of mine has been a firefighter for about 7 or 8 yrs now, all kinds of certifications, etc... down in FL makes about $70k with OT. Do you know what he can expect to earn in Charlotte? I know it'd be hard to say exactly. But anyone a fireman, know a fireman, and how long in the field and what's the pay?

Thanks a lot!

[ComSense]

Anyone out there?

[sophialee]

Sometimes it just takes people awhile to respond to your thread, I've started threads that have gone all the way to the second page w/ no response so i just bump them back up.

The forum seems kinda slow today. I'm sure eventually you'll get some more responses

[Metallisteve]

My brother's girlfriend is a firefighter/EMT at an airport down in FL. They've been testing the waters for moving up to NC for a while now...so I know a little bit of second-hand info.

For the most part, NC is very different from FL in that it has a lot of volunteer stations and relatively few paid or staffed fire stations...especially in the rural areas. Even areas that you would swear had a paid staff will only typically have very few fire fighters on payroll and will rely heavily on volunteer forces.

Speaking specifically for Charlotte though and the surrounding incorporated cities, there are a greater concentration of paid positions. Now, $70k salaries, not likely. That's quite a bit of money. Your friend must be high ranking, even with overtime/off duty work! I think our basic firefighters in Charlotte start somewhere around $35k a year. I'd imagine high ranking official within the FD make in the $70-100k range, based on other city salaries.

Before times got rough lately, Charlotte FD used to hold a career recruitment fair every 6 months. I'd imagine they'll start back up again as soon as things nose up out of the toilet and the city is aloowed to hire people again...

[ComSense]

Metallisteve, thx for the response. You are probably a good source of info since you know someone in FL. His base pay is like $52k, but with OT he makes around $70k. He isn't that high up (I dont believe), he has just been a Fireman for 7 or 8 yrs and his base keeps getting higher and higher. He went from Central FL making a base of like 28k when he first got started, and then after 6 or 7 yrs in, he transfered down to South FL, and I think they started him out at a base of $46k or something. Now his base is $52k (just a couple yrs after joining the FD in South FL) but with all of his certifications (arson, diving, etc...) he makes around $70k. He was looking into CLT and I think he would make around 50k up there (?). I cant imagine they'd want to start him in the $30k's.

[Metallisteve]

I'm sure he'd get more just based on experience. Although, up here a "swift water" certification would go much further as there aren't many lakes (like FL).

[ComSense]

Yeah I'd be curious to know what kind of pay he would get. I just cant imagine a city the size of Charlotte would pay that much less than S FL. I would have actually thought Charlotte would pay a litte bit more than S FL.

[gkleoni1]

Firefighter Salaries in Charlotte, NC - Free Salary Search | Indeed.com

says average is $41K

[gkleoni1]

Fire Fighter Salary in Charlotte, NC - CBsalary.com

says average salary is $32K

[smclarke4]

I know a number of firefighters in Charlotte and I think all of them that I know have a second job which probably means that their salary is not paying the bills. Of course their hours are weird so they can have a business and work it in.