Astoria New York Firefighter Salary And Job Requirements

As the name suggests, Firefighters are people who actually save people or some other objects from fire through fighting it. They’re selected among the finest to risk their lives in rescue operations. Similar to any other macho image profession, like policemen, who offer risking their lives to save another. Right after hearing so much of praise about these brave individuals, you must have developed a slight desire to become one yourself.

firefighter career summary Astoria New York
*Image Credit – BLS.gov

Table Of Contents

How Much Does A Firefighter Make In Astoria?

If you value your work, sometimes you really feel like you aren’t working anymore. Nevertheless, passion is not enough to sustain a lifestyle. Everybody needs a financial resources to help them live life the way they deem fit. That is why when you go with a career to pursue, it is unquestionable that you think also how much cash you could gain from it. For some, it’s the only motivation in the morning to get up and go to work. People in the community service sector do not get paid as much. Nevertheless, they do have a sense of achievement at the end of the day. {Let us find out how much a firefighter earns.|Without further ado, let us find out the wages of a firefighter.

firefighter salary Astoria New York
*Image Credit – BLS.gov

[asd_program_button /]

Around $49,000 is the mean yearly income a firefighter makes. A median of around $46,000 is the median. There are many factors which affect this number including the size of the population and also the education that a firefighter has gone through. Below is a list of these components and how they are able to increase or decrease your wage as a firefighter.

Location Matters

Firefighter’s wage can be decided by the place of the department you are assigned. Factored to that are the need of the population of fighters. A place exactly where impulsive wildfires are likely, have a higher need for firemen than other areas. New York has the highest rate among firefighters with 70% above the national mean. On the other hand, Columbia pays the lowest at 38% below the national average.

firefighter average salary by state Astoria New York
*Image Credit – BLS.gov

Educational Level

To be a firefighter, one normally just needs to have studied a course relevant to fire science in high school. However, education is extremely valued in this area. There are 2 main reasons for this. One is the reason is evidence of your expertise in the field. Another one is for the department to invest less on you before becoming an asset in the government. Therefore, they can afford to pay you more. In case you have a degree, may it be a bachelor’s or an associate’s degree, that would help you gain added benefit. Just how much more when you have a graduate credentials in firefighting.

Experience

Work experience is undoubtedly the determining aspect of how much a worker should receive. In case a firefighter has a field experience of around 20 years, his salary may rise up to 50% This is extremely high when compared to other jobs which normally see a 15-20% rise in the same period of time.

Certifications

Being a fireman, you will need to learn the basics of EMT to even apply for the job. On the other hand, you can pick to pursue the medical field a bit further and be a paramedic or get advanced EMT training. Having these credentials gives you a greater chance of earning more. Besides, this also gives you another choice should you opt shift careers later.

Industry

At the end of the day, your employer signs your paycheck. Based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the highest paying employers for this job aren’t the government but private companies. This includes firms that deal with waste management, coal as well as oil production, and also metal product production. No matter, the local and state government are still looking for firefighting people.

Other Benefits

In case you are a government worker, an advantage you get is the benefits you can claim. As a firefighter, you certainly get benefits like dental as well as health care insurance. You may also acquire sick leave benefits. But nonetheless, benefits may differ from what department you are into.

Being a physician may have a better earning in comparison with being a fireman. However a fireman has the accolades of an instant savior. Therefore, if you wish to be that hero, find out the requirements to become a firefighter now!

Astoria Firefighter Job Outlook

firefighter job outlook Astoria New York
*Image Credit – BLS.gov

The job outlook is a crucial aspect while deciding which profession to get into. You wouldn’t want to pick your favorite career option simply to realize that it going down the drain in a few years. You can find out such info from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The career outlook for public servants is definitely on the rise since because of the growing population. Consequently, what does the future hold for the common fireman? Let us discover.

[asd_program_button /]

There are currently about 300,000 firemen appointed in the USA. There’s a steady development of 5% for the next few years till 2024. This is the average growth rate of any normal profession. This means that there will be about 12,000 new jobs by 2024. But, this also implies that there would be that much more people hoping to get the job also. Therefore, there would be some competition. This is mainly because of the low education specifications and also the attractions of a public service job. The pay may not be extremely high, however the advantages make up for that. It’s estimated that there might be about 100 people competing for the same position by 2024.

firefighter job outlook by state Astoria New York
*Image Credit – BLS.gov

Steps To Becoming a Firefighter

Much like any other expert career to follow, a procedure is important to follow. The most important part of these procedures would be to accomplish the education requirements. You need to have your diploma or you’ll never get hired. Being a firefighter, there aren’t too many education requirements that one needs to have. Alongside, education you need to pass other tests like physical, medical as well as legal test. We will go further in details to better understand the prerequisites.

Education Requirements

High school diploma along with a degree in advanced schooling are the basic prerequisites to be qualified as a firefighter. Subjects you gained do not matter much. But if you have fire fighting related subjects attained, that would be useful. It will also educate you on how to become a more effective firefighter.

[asd_program_search_bar /]

After high school, a lot of people decide to get some formal college education in the field just before they will become a firefighter. The minimum age requirement is EIGHTEEN years. That is one of the reasons why many of the aspirants aren’t be eligible right after graduating in high school. If you want to have options later if you decide to become a firefighter, much better choose a degree with subjects in firefighting, you may need them. Courses that educate you on how to save individuals, control hydraulic devices such as ladders or some other related things are a major plus.

If desired, you can also opt to finish an associate’s, bachelor’s or a master’s degree in the same. The graduate studies you attain can assist you land a promotion. At the same time, keep in mind that the maximum age qualification is kept at 28-30 years old. That is why you must not over concentrate on having too much education in order to meet the requirements.

Paramedic Training

Each and every firefighter is needed to present an EMT certification. The one needed is the EMT-B or the EMT-Basic. This helps firefighters tend to victims in accidents or fires. A year is needed in order to finish this training. If one desires, they could choose to pursue further studies in the field Emergency Medical Services and become a paramedic. The advantages of entering this direction are possible increase in salary or added edge over other candidates. In most cases, fire victims rescued are attended by medical professional which are firefighters as well.

New York State Driving License

Many states need the applicants to be able to drive. A driving license to each candidate is necessary so they could be useful in case of emergency where for an instance no other fire truck driver is available. It also functions as an ID proof to verify the applicant’s age.

Free of Criminal Record

Firefighters are vetted almost as meticulously as police officers. They go through a comprehensive background check before they are hired. To get hired, the firefighters cannot have a criminal record. If you feel you possess previous records, then better not to pursue this career as you will immediately be disqualified. Nonetheless, there are situations where a pardoned individual of his crimes are acknowledged but not all department practice that.

Astoria Physical Prerequisites

Among the main attributes that a firefighter needs to have is physical strength. They must have the high upper body strength to be able to lift objects and people to help them in rescue cases. They’re also supposed to have the high endurance to cope with the excessive running around they must do. Nobody become a firefighter without undergoing heavy and extremely comprehensive physical exams.

Free From Medical Conditions

Firefighters should deal with a lot of suffocating situations. Firefighters have face masks to overcome those situations but even so, if have respiratory condition, this may hinder your chances. People having respiratory conditions could not operate such heavy machinery with precision under suffocating circumstances. That’s why it’s a must that an applicant should be clear from any of that respiratory ailments.

If you fill up the forms, a lot of boxes have to be marked. Certainly, the list is long, so learn how long will it take you become a firefighter!

Astoria Firefighter Job Description

Firefighters are the unsung heroes who risk their lives just to save other lives. They are also in charge of rescue actions for common everyday troubles. This means that the image of firefighters saving a kitten stuck on a tree often shown on televisions is in fact true. Aside from this, they are also responsible for teaching people to prevent further fires. They also carry out the investigation as to the reasons of fire, its source or cause.

Extinguishing Fires

This is the major function of firefighters. When on-duty, these individuals stay in their firehouse to respond to a call as quickly as possible. When they do get a call, they rush to the area in one of their firetrucks which may contain hoses or ladders. There are also fire trucks which are used for carrying harmed fire victims.

[asd_program_button /]

Firefighting is a team work. Every single member already has its specified task. A particular firefighter maybe in charge of handling the ladder and hose. Others are in control of controlling the water flow and extinguishing the fire. These people work under the command of their respected commanding officers. Since they work in shifts, each and every unit has their own commanding officer.

Saving People

A certification in EMT is required to all firefighters. Considering that the main task of the rescuer would be to save lives, it is important that a firefighter has this EMT. A firefighter may need this technical abilities if a victim is cornered in fires. Not all rescue operations are fire related. Firemen or even firewomen are the first on the field with some police officers wherever there are any casualties. These casualties may be caused due to natural disasters, motor crashes or a few other reasons. The firefighters are supposed to work together and save the victims from additional harm. Oftentimes a firefighter is also a qualified paramedic helping them provide better healthcare to the victims.

Educating People

Firefighters are normally educated in fire sciences. Their knowledge may vary as to how further firefighters pursue this field. Consequently, they help most of the people by teaching them about ways to avoid fires. This is commonly carried out right after they visit a fire site as well as extinguish it. Or else, they also go to schools and also other places to actively teach people about fires, how to prevent fires and if necessary, how to extinguish them.

Fire Investigation

To educate people regarding how to avoid fires, the firemen/firewomen should first find the source of the fire. They have to identify what caused it so they could avoid further such cases. Oftentimes, it’s possible that criminals with vicious intent set such fires. Working with police officers, it’s firefighter’s job to determine what causes the fire or who possibly started it. There are firefighters who’re also known as arson investigators which are skilled fire investigation. They work with the police to catch arsonists.

As you could see, there’s a wide number of reasons to contact these people our everyday heroes. They do save lives through extinguishing fires and they develop also our appreciation to them. So, if you feel you wish to be like them, begin filling up the list!