Los Altos California Firefighter Salary And Job Requirements

As the name suggests, Firefighters are those who basically save people or some other objects from fire by fighting it. They’re chosen among the finest to risk their lives in rescue actions. Just like any other macho image profession, like policemen, who offer risking their lives just to save another. Right after hearing so much of praise regarding these brave individuals, you should have developed a slight desire to become one yourself.

firefighter career summary Los Altos California
*Image Credit – BLS.gov

Table Of Contents

How Much Money Does A Firefighter Make In Los Altos?

People say that work does not seem like work anymore if you value what you are doing. However, this passion is not more than enough to provide your finances like basic needs as well as life style. Everyone requires a financial backing to make them live life the way they deem fit. That is why when you go with a career to pursue, it’s undeniable that you think also how much money you could receive from it. For some, it’s the only motivation each morning to get up and go to work. People who do community outreach do not earn much. On the other hand, they do have a sense of accomplishment at the end of the day. {Let’s see how much a firefighter earns.|Without further ado, let us find out the income of a firefighter.

firefighter salary Los Altos California
*Image Credit – BLS.gov

[asd_program_button /]

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

Location Matters

The precise location of the fire department is a major element in figuring out someone’s income. This is because of a number of components like – population size, availability of firemen and frequency of fighters. A place where spontaneous wildfires are likely, have a higher need for firemen than any other locations. Presently, New York pays their firemen the most at around 70% above the national mean. On the other hand, Columbia pays the smallest at 38% below the national average.

firefighter average salary by state Los Altos California
*Image Credit – BLS.gov

Education Qualification

If you have undergone a study in fire science in high school, you will be eligible to apply being a firefighter. Nonetheless, education is extremely valued in this area. Here’s Two reasons why. This shows you have the required understanding as well as knowledge in firefighting. Another one is for the department to invest less on you before becoming an asset in the government. Resulting to paying you more. If you have a degree, may it be a bachelor’s or an associate’s degree, that will help you acquire added advantage. A master’s degree may help even more.

Length of Work Experience

Work experience is certainly the determining component of how much a worker must earn. As a firefighter, your income can rise about 50% with experience in the area of Two decades. That percentage is quite as compared with other job which is at 15% to 20% even they have got the same duration of experience.

Certifications

Being a fireman, you will have to learn the fundamentals of EMT to even apply for the job. Nevertheless, aside from learning the basic, you can go further and learn the advanced accreditations. Possessing a deeper list of certifications and trainings provide you with a chance of having a greater salary. It also provides you a “Plan B” if you do decide to change careers later.

Industry

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

Other Benefits

One of the best things about possessing a government career is that there is a lot of other advantages that are included with it. As being a firefighter, you definitely get perks like dental and medical insurance. But you also get covered sick leaves as well as reimbursement for a few specific tuition fees. But then again, advantages may vary from what department you are into.

As you can see, the monetary scope of a fireman is not as nice as that of a health care professional. Nonetheless, by the end of the day, you then become a hero in someone’s eyes. Learn the requirements to becoming a firefighter and be the man, the fireman, the savior!

Los Altos Firefighter Job Outlook

firefighter job outlook Los Altos California
*Image Credit – BLS.gov

The job outlook is an essential aspect while determining which career to get into. You wouldn’t wish to choose your favorite career option just to realize that it going down the drain in a couple of years. You can find out such info from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The career outlook for public servants is obviously on the rise since because of the growing population. Consequently, what does the future hold for the common fireman? Let us find.

[asd_program_button /]

There are presently about 300,000 firemen employed in america. There’s a steady advancement of 5% for the next few years till 2024. This is the average progress rate of any normal career. This means that there will be about 12,000 new jobs by 2024. But, this also implies that there will be that much more individuals trying to get the job too. Hence, there would be some competition. This is mainly due to the low education requirements and also the attractions of a public service job. The pay might not be very 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 Los Altos California
*Image Credit – BLS.gov

How To Become A Firefighter

One needs to follow a certain process to join any profession. The most crucial part of these procedures is to complete the education specifications. You need to have your diploma or you will never get hired. As a firefighter, there aren’t too many education requirements that you have to have. Beside, education you have to pass other exams such as physical, medical and legal test. We’ll go further in details to much better understand the prerequisites.

Educational Qualification

High school diploma along with a degree in higher education are the basic specifications to be qualified as a firefighter. The subjects do not matter as such. However , if you have fire fighting related subjects attained, that would be very helpful. That will provide you a backgrounder of the profession you are about to enter.

[asd_program_search_bar /]

Many of those who intended to be a firefighter, they decide to pursue a degree in college after earning their diploma in high school. The minimum age qualification is EIGHTEEN years. That’s one of the reasons why many of the aspirants are not be eligible after graduating in high school. If you would like to have options later if you decide to become a firefighter, much better choose a degree with subjects in firefighting, you might need them. There are subjects in a curriculum of the degree picked that educate you on how to save lives, operate equipment required in firefighting and other related technical issues.

If desired, you can also decide to complete an associate’s, bachelor’s or a master’s degree in the same. The former ones are required to get promoted to higher positions. Simultaneously, remember that the maximum age requirement is kept at 28-30 years old. That is why you shouldn’t over focus on having too much education so as to meet the requirements.

Needed Training in Paramedic

All the firefighters should have this EMT certification. It could be either of these Two, EMT-B or the EMT-Basic. This helps firefighters tend to victims in accidents or fires. The training may last for up to 12 months. If one desires, they can choose to pursue further studies in the field Emergency Medical Services and become a paramedic. Some great benefits of entering this direction are possible upsurge in salary or added edge over other applicants. In some cases, fire victims rescued are attended by medical professional which are firefighters too.

California State Driving License

In many states, hiring of firefighter requires an applicant to have experience in driving. As a result, they need their candidates to be a licensed driver which might help them when person is needed to drive the firetruck to the area. The driver’s license also validate other information needed in application like for instance the age.

Free of Criminal Record

In most scenarios, a firefighter is compared as a policeman. Just like policemen, firefighters also undergo life-style check before getting employed. It certainly needed that an aspiring firefighters must have a clean record, no criminal record. If you feel you possess previous records, then better not to pursue this career as you will immediately be disqualified. However, there are instances where a pardoned individual of his violations are acknowledged but not all department practice that.

Physical Fitness

One of the main features that a firefighter must have is physical strength. Cases like lifting fire victims or objects to free victims arise much of the time in rescue tasks, consequently, firefighter’s upper body strength is essential. Not only body strength is need to have, firefighter’s endurance must be high as they should deal a lot of aspects like running even in harsh surroundings. Nobody become a firefighter without going through heavy and extremely thorough physical examinations.

Free From Medical Conditions

Firefighters should cope with a lot of suffocating cases. They are usually supplied with masks to help them deal with such scenarios however, not always are they so fortunate. Individuals having respiratory conditions could not handle such heavy machinery with precision under suffocating circumstances. That’s why it’s a must that an applicant must be clear from any of that respiratory problems.

There a number of boxes that must be ticked while picking out a firefighter. If you really feel you tick these boxes, then go and find out how long it will take you to be a firefighter!

Los Altos Firefighter Work Description

Firefighters are your everyday heroes who work together to put out fires and help people when they get stuck in such scenarios. They’re also in control of rescue operations for common daily troubles. Just like what you see in movies, a firefighter saving a kitten in a tree. Aside from the usual job they do, firefighters help educate individuals to avoid fire from taking place. In some cases, they are supposed to check sources of fire and dig deep in to the case due to the possibility of an arsonist.

Extinguishing Fires

Clearly, fire extinguishing is their major task. When on-duty, these people stay in their firehouse to respond to a call as quickly as possible. When they do get a call, they rush to the location in one of their firetrucks which may contain hoses or ladders. Several of the fire trucks are simply meant to deliver wounded people.

[asd_program_button /]

Firefighting is a team work. Each and every member already has its designated task. Some individuals are in charge of controlling the ladder as well as rescue operations. Another firefighter is solely for extinguishing the fire, while other do the rescue of fire victims. These individuals work under the control of their respected commanding officers. Given that they work in shifts, each and every unit has their own commanding officer.

Saving People

A certification in EMT is needed to all firefighters. This is required given that one of the primary tasks of the firefighters are to save people. A firefighter might need this technical know-how if a victim is cornered in fires. Nonetheless, not all rescue operations that the firefighters take on are fire related. There are instances that a fireman comes first in the scene. These casualties might be caused because of natural disasters, motor crashes or several other reasons. Firefighter has to work to save the victim. Oftentimes a firefighter is also a qualified paramedic helping them provide better health care to the victims.

Teach People

Fire science is one of the skills a firefighter has. Their knowledge may vary as to how further firefighters follow this field. By discussing what they know, they help individuals by teaching them how to avoid fire from going on. This is normally performed right after they visit a fire site and extinguish it. In a few other instances also, they go to schools or other public sites to teach and sometime do demonstration on what to do in case there is fire.

Fire Investigation

To educate people regarding how to avoid fires, the firemen/firewomen must first find the cause of the fire. They need to identify what caused it so they could prevent further such cases. Oftentimes, it is possible that criminals with malicious intent set such fires. It is then the job of the firefighters to check out and provide more clues to the police officers about who started it. There are firefighters who are also called arson investigators that 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. While extinguishing fires in different locations, they ignite one in our hearts. So, if you think you would like to be like them, begin filling up the list!