Dover Massachusetts Firefighter Salary And Job Requirements

By definition, firefighters are skillfully trained individuals to save lives and properties in case of fire. They are strong individuals who can do rescue operations with style and panache. Usually loved by girls, these pros aren’t frightened of anything as well as literally lay down their lives daily like policemen. Right after hearing so much of praise about these brave people, you must have developed a slight desire to become one yourself.

firefighter career summary Dover Massachusetts
*Image Credit – BLS.gov

Table Of Contents

Just How Much Does A Firefighter Make In Dover?

People say that work doesn’t seem like work anymore if you love what you are doing. Nevertheless, this passion is not more than enough to provide your finances such as basic needs and lifestyle. Everyone needs a financial backing to help them live life the way they think fit. Thus, in terms of selecting a profession, people are always curious about the amount of they might gain out of it. For a few, it’s the only motivation in the morning to get up and go to work. People who carry out community outreach don’t earn much. But income is not really their basis of happiness and fulfillment. {Let’s see how much a firefighter earns.|Without further ado, let us determine the income of a firefighter.

firefighter salary Dover Massachusetts
*Image Credit – BLS.gov

[asd_program_button /]

Around $49,000 is the mean annual income a firefighter would make. A median of around $46,000 is the median. The figures may vary depending on the what state he is in or his education qualification or his abilities and experience. Below is a listing of these components and how they are able to increase or decrease your salary as a firefighter.

Location Matters

Firefighter’s earnings can be decided by the place of the department you are assigned. Factored to that will be the need of the population of fighters. A place where spontaneous wildfires are likely, have a higher need for firemen than any other locations. New York has the greatest rate among firefighters with 70% above the national mean. While Columbia pays the lowest at 38%.

firefighter average salary by state Dover Massachusetts
*Image Credit – BLS.gov

Educational Qualification

To be a firefighter, one normally just needs to have studied a course related to fire science in high school. In this area of firefighting, having achieved a college degree is advantageous. There are two significant reasons for this. One is that it is evidence of your expertise in the field. The 2nd is that the government will need to invest substantially less on you to develop you as an asset. Resulting to paying you more. If you have a degree, whether it is a bachelor’s or an associate’s degree, that will help you gain added advantage. A master’s degree might help even more.

Length of Work Experience

Experience is commonly a major key in deciding someone’s earnings. Being a firefighter, your income can rise about 50% with experience in the field of 2 decades. That percentage is quite in comparison with other job which is at 15% to 20% even they have the same duration of experience.

Certifications

Even the fundamentals of EMT, it’s still needed by a fireman. Nevertheless, apart from learning the fundamental, you can go further and learn the advanced accreditations. Having these credentials gives you a higher chance of gaining more. Besides, this also provides you another option should you decide shift careers later.

Industry

When all’s said and finished, you must receive your income. Per BLS records, it’s not the government employers who pay firefighters more, but it is the private companies. Included are companies handling production in oil, manufacturing of metal products and waste management. Regardless, the local and state government are still in need of firefighting people.

Other Advantages

If you are a government personnel, an advantage you receive is the benefits you could claim. You get the services such as insurance in your health or even dental check-up. However you also get covered sick leaves and reimbursement for some specific tuition fees. But then again, benefits may vary from what department you’re into.

Being a doctor might have a higher earning as compared with being a fireman. Nonetheless, by the end of the day, you then become a hero in someone’s eyes. So, if you would like to be that hero, figure out the requirements to be a firefighter now!

Dover Firefighter Job Outlook

firefighter job outlook Dover Massachusetts
*Image Credit – BLS.gov

The job outlook is an important aspect while deciding which profession to get into. You would not want to select your favourite career option just to realize that it going down the drain in a couple of years. You could find out such information from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The career outlook for public servants is definitely on the rise since due to the growing population. Consequently, what does the future hold for the common fireman? Let’s find out.

[asd_program_button /]

There are presently about 300,000 firemen employed in america. There’s a steady growth of 5% for the next few years till 2024. This is the average growth rate of any normal career. Which means that there would be about 12,000 new jobs by 2024. However, this also implies that there would be that much more people hoping to get the job as well. Hence, there will be some competition. This is primarily due to the low education requirements and also the attractions of a public service job. The pay might not be quite high, but the benefits make up for that. It’s approximated that there may be about 100 people competing for the same position by 2024.

firefighter job outlook by state Dover Massachusetts
*Image Credit – BLS.gov

How To Become A Firefighter

You need to follow a particular procedure to join any profession. The most significant part of these procedures is to accomplish the education requirements. You need to have your diploma or you’ll never get employed. As being a firefighter, there aren’t too many education prerequisites that you need to possess. Nonetheless, there are many other requirements such as physical, medical and legal that you must have to qualify for being a firefighter. We’ll go further in details to much better understand the requirements.

Educational Qualification

The fundamental prerequisite becoming a firefighter is to complete high school and get a relevant degree. The subjects usually do not matter as such. However, acquiring some courses in fire sciences does help your cause. It will also show you how to become a more effective firefighter.

[asd_program_search_bar /]

A lot of those who intended to become a firefighter, they choose to pursue a degree in college right after earning their diploma in high school. The minimum age requirement is EIGHTEEN years. That’s one good reason why many of the aspirants aren’t be eligible after graduating in high school. College degrees in fire sciences are a huge plus if you’re planning to be a part of the field. There are subjects in a curriculum of the degree picked that show you how to save lives, operate machines required in firefighting and also other related technical issues.

It is optional, you may pursue a graduate studies in that same field. The former ones are needed to get promoted to greater positions. At the same time, keep in mind that the maximum age requirement is kept at 28-30 years of age. Consequently, if you wish to expend most of your life as being a firefighter, you shouldn’t focus too much on education.

Paramedic Training

All of the firefighters must have this EMT certification. The one required is the EMT-B or the EMT-Basic. This helps firefighters tend to victims in accidents or fires. A year is required to be able to finish this training. Should you chose to become a paramedic at later time, you should gain education in the field of Emergency Medical Services. This helps them get an edge over other candidates and hopefully, a higher income. Additionally, there are some medical expert firefighters who can take better care of individuals after they have been rescued from the fires.

Licensed to Drive Vehicle In Massachusetts State

Many states require the applicants to be able to drive. As a result, they want their candidates to be a licensed driver that might help them in case that person is needed to drive the firetruck to the location. The driver’s license also validate other details required in application like for instance the age.

Free of Legal Record

Firefighters are vetted almost as meticulously as police officers. They undertake a thorough criminal background check before they are appointed. It absolutely needed that an aspiring firefighters should have a clean record, no criminal record. If its found that there was one, or the firefighter was previously busted, then that candidate is instantly disqualified. Nevertheless, there are cases where a pardoned individual of his violations are accepted however, not all department perform that.

Physical Fitness

One of the main characteristics that a firefighter should have is physical durability. Instances like lifting fire victims or even objects to free victims arise much of the time in rescue tasks, consequently, firefighter’s upper body strength is vital. They’re also supposed to have the high endurance to cope with the excessive running around they should do. No one become a firefighter without undergoing heavy and extremely thorough physical examinations.

Free From Medical Conditions

Firefighters should deal with a lot of suffocating situations. Firefighters have face masks to conquer those situations but even so, if have respiratory condition, this might hinder your chances. If you have history in your respiratory, that would affect your efficiency. Thus, candidates are checked accurately for any such illnesses which may cause them harm in such cases.

When you fill up the forms, a lot of boxes must be marked. Indeed, the list is long, so find out how long will it take you become a firefighter!

What Does a Dover Firefighter Do?

Firefighters are the unsung heroes who risk their lives just to save other lives. They are around in rescue tasks you see in common incidents, not just fire. The same as what you see in films, a firefighter saving a kitten in a tree. Apart from this, they’re also responsible for educating people to avoid further fires. In many cases, they’re supposed to examine causes of fire and dig deep into the case because of the possibility of an arsonist.

Extinguishing Fires

Certainly, fire extinguishing is their major work. They are always in check waiting for a call for their services. When a distress call is got, firefighters along with their devices rush to the fire location to extinguish it. There are also fire trucks that are utilized for carrying harmed fire victims.

[asd_program_button /]

At the scene of the fire, every individual has a distinct job. Some people are in charge of controlling the ladder and rescue operations. Another firefighter is only for extinguishing the fire, while other do the rescue of fire victims. Similar to any other team that has a leader ordering the operation, their group is in the direction by their commanding officer. Given that they work in shifts, every unit has their own commanding officer.

Saving People

A certification in EMT is required to all firefighters. Since the primary task of the rescuer would be to rescue lives, it is important that a firefighter has this EMT. A firefighter may need this technical skills if a victim is cornered in fires. On the other hand, not all rescue operations that the firefighters carry out are fire related. Firemen or even firewomen are the first on the field with some police officers wherever there are any casualties. Casualties maybe caused natural phenomena or road crashes. Firefighter has to work to rescue the victim. Sometimes a firefighter is also a qualified paramedic assisting them provide better healthcare to the victims.

Teach People

Firefighters are usually knowledgeable in fire sciences. The amount of know-how will depend on which degree they have pursued in the area or which course they have studied. Consequently, they help most of the people by educating them about ways to avoid fires. Firefighters normally do it after visiting an extinguished fire scene. In a few other cases also, they go to schools or other public areas to educate and sometime do demo on what to undertake in case of fire.

Investigating Fires

To teach people on how to prevent fires, the firemen/firewomen need to first find the cause of the fire. Understanding the causes can assist firefighters avoid fire for the same situation happen again. Sometimes, it is possible that criminals with vicious intent set such fires. It is then the task of the firefighters to investigate and provide more hints to the police officers about who started it. There are firefighters who’re also called arson investigators which specialize fire investigation. Along with the law enforcement, they work to check into possible arsonists.

There is no doubt why we must not call them our life savers and unsung heroes. They do rescue lives through extinguishing fires and they develop also our admiration to them. Consequently, if learning about their responsibilities fired you up, see what education requirements you have to become one!