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is it worth it??
i'm wanting to take fire and safety services in college and was just wounderin if its worth it...as in the pride and joy u get of helping ppl...and does anyone kno the salery for the job?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by nathan osborn on
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so ur working 42 hours a week and bringing in almost 50 grand a year??
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Permalink Reply by John on
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I want to be a career firefighter, and am currently going to college to get a degree in Fire Protection Technology. Having a college degree will make you marketable in terms of finding a job and being hired. Not all fire departments require a college degree, but some of them do. Also if you are thinking about wanting a promotion someday to become a company officer, a lot of fire departments require you have a degree in a fire related field. In addition some fire departments even offer pay incentives for people with college degrees. So it really depends on where you want to get a job, and if you are willing to get the advantage of having a college degree behind your back. Personally I think that you would benefit by getting a degree not to just help you get employed, but there is a lot of information in fire science courses that you can benefit from personally. I hope that this information helps you out a little.
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thank you
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Permalink Reply by FF Schoen on
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In my neck of the woods we make $32,700 a year. It is the best job anyone can ever have. There is a constant rush of adrenaline. I dont mean to sound odd, but I am gonna tell you straight. You are not in the career for the right reason if you are just in it for the money. You are not going to be a millionaire in this job. You are going to have to deal with some of the worst things in peoples lives and have to make sacrifices, just hopefully you wont have to pay the ultimate one. You need to make sure you are getting in it for the right reason first. Sorry if it was blunt, but thats something that has to be told.
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Permalink Reply by Mike Sullivan on
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Well Nathan I can tell you this. Although many people look at the starting or entry level pay for a job, I think you need to consider the long term issue. There are countless numbers of firefighters all over the country, but by getting a related degree you will have a " leg up" on long term career advancement. This could end up helping you move up not only in the fire department itself, but also open doors into private sector opportunities later down the line. Dont get me wrong, a degree will not and should not lead to "automatic" promotions, but it can help in the long run.
When it comes to the question of is it worth it.... well let me answer it this way.... If you are blessed enough to find a job doing something you truly love, you will never "work" another day in your life.
To me I truly love it, so it is worth it for me.....you have to answer that one for yourself.
Wish you all the best, drop me a line if there is anything else I can do for you...
Sully
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Permalink Reply by Robert Owens on
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You will never get rich off of helping people. You can make a comfortable living and enjoy a decent retirement.
But this job isnt about the money and it isnt just a job. Its a calling, a way of life, a purpose etc. If you have to ask questions and you have doubt then mabey this isnt for you.
As for me I can never and have never been able to see myself doing anything else. Only 1 thing in life is better than going to work and thats being with my son. It is the best job in the world period.
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Permalink Reply by Some Irish Guy on
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Hey all, I'm new here, but I have a question, a pretty big one. I joined my volunteer fire dept recently, and while I'm a probationary member still, I love it. It's one of the greatest decisions I've made.
Which, of course, has led me to think of a possible career in firefighting. I don't know if I could get there from where I am now. See, I go to a top 25 college in New York right now, and I'm a freshman. They don't have any fire-related degrees, (because I wasn't thinking that way when I chose to go there a year ago). However, I see the FDNY in action every day there, and I'm always impressed with those guys. I feel like I could be more than happy doing a job like that, but I don't know if I could get there from where I am now. I was planning (still am, actually), to get a degree in Politics or History, but would that make me less of a candidate? Keep in mind, too, I have other things under my belt. I'm an eagle scout, and by that time I'll have a few years experience with a volunteer department. I don't know if any of that matters to the recruiters, though.
I read somewhere that becoming a paid firefighter is more of a calling than a career choice. Well, I gotta say, I feel the call, but I don't know if I can get there from where I am now. What do you guys think? Any suggestions?
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Thanks man. A problem is my parents, though. They really want me to get a general degree from the college where I am now. I sorta agree, since it'll give me a bunch of different options. It just happens though that the FDNY is really of huge interest to me. The timing of their firefighter test promises to be awesome. Apparently the FDNY only gives the test every 3 or 4 years, and they did it last january, meaning the next test will be as I'm about to leave college.
But still, here's a question of mine. With the stuff I'll have in 3 1/2 years (a politics/history degree from a top 25 school, Eagle Scout, experience in a volunteer dept.), do you think I could pull it off?
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Sorry, I didn't realize you weren't a guy. When I read siren, I immediately thought of the sirens on the trucks, and not the mythical being. Yes, I very well know what they are, I just misunderstood...
But anyway, I didn't mean that to come across as me being unsure of myself. I am; I know I can do it myself, and I really feel a calling. I know I could make a hell of a difference as a city ff, and i know I could be useful as a lieutenant, capt., and even battalion chief possibly. I know I'm smart enough to do it, and I want it to happen badly enough.
The reason I asked was because I don't want to miss out because of some technical stuff, like a degree or something. I don't want to set my sights on this and then get shot down because I don't have a fire-oriented degree or something like that.
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I just looked it up, and the FDNY doesn't require a degree: they require either 15 college credits (i have 16 as of now) or i think 2 years work experience. So technically I have enough to get hired right now.
Lieutenant requires a certain number of years on the job, and then i think 60 college credits, which I'll have in a year and a half. I'll have twice that when I graduate, which I'm planning to. Of course, Lieutenant also involves a written test, interviews, and a whole bunch of other stuff, but I'm sure I could do it.
So apparently I'm ahead of the game, according to their website. Now I just need to wait till I graduate, take the test, and see how it goes...
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I already am a volunteer. I only recently turned 18, so I'm a probie until the summer, when I go to fire I. I'm gonna go to fire II the year after that, and yes, I'm planning on becoming an EMT. You have to be certified in a number of medical related things to even be eligible for hiring, so that's important.
I'm aware of the competition, but I'm saying I think I can do it.
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Permalink Reply by Paul Montpetit on
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Nate I'm going to be brutally honest with you...If you are looking at it as in "how much money wll I make" ....then sorry to say you don't belong in the fire service...People do what makes them happy and if you can make a living as well then great...many here do it for NOTHING...yes, thats right...NOTHING...we are called VOLUNTEERS...Look deep inside of yourself or maybe even try Volunteering first then you and only you can make that decision....true it is a noble and pround profession....but have to guess that most are not in it for the money...$$$$ Good luck in your decision and in life......Paul
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