Eau Claire Wisconsin Firefighter Salary And Job Requirements

By definition, firefighters are professionally trained individuals to save lives and properties in case of fire. They are strong individuals who can perform rescue actions with style and panache. Similar to any other macho image profession, like policemen, who offer jeopardizing their lives to save another. After hearing so much of praise about these brave individuals, you need to have developed a slight desire to become one yourself.

firefighter career summary Eau Claire Wisconsin
*Image Credit – BLS.gov

Table Of Contents

Just How Much Does A Firefighter Make In Eau Claire?

People say that work doesn’t seem like work anymore if you love what you do. Still, this passion is not more than enough to supply your finances like basic needs as well as life-style. Everybody needs a financial resources to help them live life the way they think fit. As a result, when it comes to choosing a career, people are always curious about the amount of they might gain from it. For a few, it is the only motivation each morning to get up and go to work. People in the community service sector don’t get paid as much. But income is not their basis of joy and fulfillment. {Let’s find out how much a firefighter earns.|Without more ado, let’s figure out the income of a firefighter.

firefighter salary Eau Claire Wisconsin
*Image Credit – BLS.gov

[asd_program_button /]

The mean annual income of a firefighter is around $49,000 with the median somewhere around $46,000. The figures may vary based on the what state he is in or his education degree or his expertise and experience. As we go further, you’ll find out factors affecting earnings.

Location Matters

Firefighter’s salary can be decided by the location of the department you are assigned. This is due to a number of aspects like – population size, availability of firemen and frequency of fighters. A place exactly where spontaneous wildfires are likely, have a higher need for firemen than other locations. New York has the highest rate among firefighters with 70% above the national mean. While Columbia pays the cheapest at 38%.

firefighter average salary by state Eau Claire Wisconsin
*Image Credit – BLS.gov

Educational Qualification

In case you have undergone a study in fire science in high school, you will be qualified to apply being a firefighter. Nonetheless, education is highly valued in this area. There are 2 major reasons for this. One is the reason is proof of your know-how in the field. The second is that the government will have to spend considerably less on you to develop you as an asset. Bringing on paying you more. If you have a degree, may it be a bachelor’s or an associate’s degree, that will help you gain added benefit. A master’s degree might help a lot more.

Length of Work Experience

Work experience is undoubtedly the determining factor of how much an employee must receive. In case a firefighter has a field experience of approximately Twenty years, his revenue may rise up to 50% That percentage is quite in comparison with other job which is at 15% to 20% even they have got the same duration of experience.

Certificates and Training

Even the fundamentals of EMT, it’s still needed by a fireman. On the other hand, you can pick to pursue the medical field a bit further and become a paramedic or get advanced EMT training. Having a deeper list of accreditations and trainings provide you with a chance of having a better income. It also provides you a “Plan B” if you do choose to change careers later.

Industry

By the end of the day, your employer signs your paycheck. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the biggest paying employers for this career aren’t the government but private companies. This includes firms that deal with waste management, coal and oil production, and also metal product production. However, the local and also the state government still hire the most number of firefighters.

Other Benefits

If you’re a government worker, one of the advantages you get is the benefits you could claim. Being a firefighter, you certainly get perks like dental and health care insurance. You can also acquire sick leave benefits. But nonetheless, benefits may differ from what department you are into.

Being a doctor might have a better earning as compared with being a fireman. Nonetheless, at the end of the day, you then become a hero in someone’s eyes. Learn the prerequisites to becoming a firefighter and be the man, the fireman, the savior!

Eau Claire Firefighter Career Outlook

firefighter job outlook Eau Claire Wisconsin
*Image Credit – BLS.gov

The job outlook is an essential factor while deciding which profession to get into. You wouldn’t wish to pick your favorite career choice just to realize that it going down the drain in a couple of years. You will 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. So, 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 is a steady development of 5% for the next couple of years till 2024. This is the average progress rate of any normal profession. Which means that there will be about 12,000 new jobs by 2024. However, this also implies that there will be that much more people looking to get the job as well. As a result, there would be some competition. This is mainly due to the low education specifications and also the attractions of a public service job. The pay might not be quite high, however the advantages make up for that. It’s estimated that there may be about 100 individuals competing for the same job by 2024.

firefighter job outlook by state Eau Claire Wisconsin
*Image Credit – BLS.gov

How To Become A Firefighter

Just like any other professional career to follow, a procedure is crucial to follow. The most significant part of these processes would be to complete the education specifications. Without these requirements, hardly any employer would be happy to hire you. As being a firefighter, there are not too many education requirements that one needs to possess. Nonetheless, there are a lot of other needs such as physical, medical and legal that one needs to have to be approved for being a firefighter. Let us explore these in detail.

Education Requirements

High school diploma along with a degree in advanced schooling are the basic requirements to be qualified being a firefighter. Subjects you gained do not matter much. Nevertheless, acquiring some courses in fire sciences does help your cause. It will also educate you on how to be a more efficient firefighter.

[asd_program_search_bar /]

After high school, many individuals choose to get some formal college education in the field before they will become a firefighter. You must be at least EIGHTEEN years old to meet the age qualification. That is one of the reasons 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 are planning to join the field. There are subjects in a curriculum of the degree chosen that show you how to save lives, operate equipment required in firefighting and other related technical issues.

It’s optional, you may pursue a graduate studies in that same field. The graduate studies you attain can help you land a promotion. Concurrently, remember that the maximum age qualification is kept at 28-30 years old. That’s why you shouldn’t over concentrate on getting too much education in order to qualify.

Required Training in Paramedic

All the firefighters must have this EMT certification. It can be either of these 2, EMT-B or the EMT-Basic. This helps firefighters tend to victims in accidents or fires. The training might last for up to 12 months. Should you chose to become a paramedic at later time, you need to earn education in the area of Emergency Medical Services. This helps them gain an edge over other candidates and hopefully, a better salary. In some cases, fire victims rescued are attended by medical professional which are firefighters also.

Qualified to Drive Vehicle In Wisconsin State

In many states, employing of firefighter requires an applicant to possess experience in driving. Therefore, they need their applicants to be a licensed driver which might help them when person is required to drive the firetruck to the area. It also serves as an ID proof to confirm the applicant’s age.

Free of Criminal Record

In certain scenarios, a firefighter is compared as a policeman. Similar to policemen, firefighters also undertake life-style check just before getting hired. It certainly required that an aspiring firefighters should have a clean record, no criminal history. If its discovered that there was one, or the firefighter was previously busted, then that candidate is instantly disqualified. Individuals who were pardoned for their crimes are usually accepted, nonetheless, not all fire departments admit such people.

Eau Claire Physical Prerequisites

Firefighters must be physically active to carry out thier duty always. Instances like lifting fire victims or even objects to free victims arise quite often in rescue tasks, consequently, firefighter’s upper body strength is crucial. They’re also supposed to possess the high endurance to cope with the excessive running around they need to do. All firefighters undertake strenuous physical tests both in the academy and before it.

Free From Healthcare Problems

Suffocations in rescue tasks happen and firefighters learn how to handle it. Firefighters have masks to overcome those situations but even so, if have respiratory condition, this might hinder your chances. People having respiratory problems could not handle such heavy machinery with precision under suffocating circumstances. That is why it’s essential that an applicant must be clear from any of that respiratory conditions.

There a lot of boxes that must be ticked while picking out a firefighter. Indeed, the list is long, so find out how long will it take you become a firefighter!

Eau Claire Firefighter Work Description

Firefighters are your everyday heroes who work together to put out fires and also help people when they get stuck in such situations. They’re also in control of rescue operations for common daily troubles. Just like what you see in films, a firefighter saving a kitten in a tree. Aside from this, they’re also responsible for educating people to avoid further fires. They also do the investigation as to the reasons of fire, its origin or cause.

Extinguishing Fires

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

[asd_program_button /]

At the scene of the fire, every person has a different job. Some people are in charge of handling the ladder as well as rescue operations. Others are in control of controlling the water flow and extinguishing the fire. 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, each and every unit has their own commanding officer.

Rescuing People

All firefighters are required to be qualified as an EMT. Considering that the major job of the rescuer would be to save lives, it is important that a firefighter possesses this EMT. Much of the time this comes in handy when looking after people who are cornered inside the fires. On the other hand, not all rescue operations that the firefighters take on are fire related. Firemen or perhaps firewomen are the first on the scene with a few police officers wherever there are any casualties. These casualties might be caused due to natural disasters, motor crashes or a few other reasons. Firefighter should work to save the victim. Sometimes a firefighter is also a knowledgeable paramedic helping them provide better health care to the victims.

Teach People

Firefighters are commonly knowledgeable in fire sciences. Their know-how may vary as to how further firefighters pursue this field. By sharing what they know, they help individuals by educating them how to avoid fire from occurring. Firefighters commonly do it after visiting an extinguished fire scene. In certain other situations also, they go to schools or other public areas to educate and sometime do demonstration on what to perform in case there is fire.

Investigating Fires

It is also imperative to be aware of the origin of fire. Knowing the causes can assist firefighters prevent fire for the same scenario happen again. Instances like criminals set the first to explode are probable. Working together with law enforcement officers, it’s firefighter’s job to find out what causes the fire or who possibly started it. There are firefighters who’re also called arson investigators that specialize fire investigation. Together with the law enforcement, they work to check into possible arsonists.

There’s no doubt why we should not call them our life savers and unsung heroes. While extinguishing fires in several places, they ignite one in our hearts. So, if learning about their duties fired you up, see what education prerequisites you need to become one!