Swansea South Carolina Firefighter Salary And Job Requirements

As the name suggests, Firefighters are those who literally save people or other objects from fire by fighting it. They’re strong people who can do rescue actions with style and panache. Usually loved by women, these pros aren’t frightened of anything and literally lay down their lives daily just like policemen. Right after hearing so much of praise about these brave people, you need to have developed a slight desire to become one yourself.

firefighter career summary Swansea South Carolina
*Image Credit – BLS.gov

Table Of Contents

Just How Much Does A Firefighter Make In Swansea?

If you value your work, sometimes you really feel like you are not working anymore. Having said that, passion is not enough to sustain a lifestyle. Everybody needs a financial backing to help them live life the way they think fit. Consequently, in terms of choosing a career, individuals are always curious about the amount of they might earn from it. For a few, it’s the only motivation in the morning to get up and go to work. People in the community service sector don’t get paid as much. Nonetheless, they do have a sense of achievement at the end of the day. {Let us see how much a firefighter earns.|Without more ado, let’s find out the income of a firefighter.

firefighter salary Swansea South Carolina
*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 various factors which affect this number including the size of the population and the education that a firefighter has been through. As we go further, you’ll know factors affecting salary.

Location Matters

The location of the fire department is a main factor in deciding someone’s income. 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 locations. New York has the highest rate among firefighters with 70% above the national mean. While Columbia pays the lowest at 38%.

firefighter average salary by state Swansea South Carolina
*Image Credit – BLS.gov

Education Qualification

In case you have undergone a study in fire science in high school, you’ll be qualified to apply being a firefighter. In this field of firefighting, having gained a college degree is advantageous. There are two main reasons for this. One is that it is evidence of your know-how in the field. Another one is for the department to invest less on you before becoming an asset in the government. Bringing on paying you more. In case you have a degree, whether it is a bachelor’s or an associate’s degree, that would help you acquire added benefit. Just how much more when you have a graduate credentials in firefighting.

Working Experience

Career history is certainly the determining factor of how much an employee must receive. As being a firefighter, your income can rise about 50% with experience in the area of Twenty years. This is extremely high when compared to other careers which usually see a 15-20% rise in the same length of time.

Accreditations

Even the basics of EMT, it’s still needed by a fireman. However, you may choose to pursue the medical field a bit further and be a paramedic or get advanced EMT training. Possessing a deeper list of certifications and trainings give you a chance of getting a higher wage. Besides, this also provides you another choice should you opt shift careers later.

Industry

At the end of the day, your company signs your paycheck. Based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the highest paying employers for this career aren’t the government but private companies. Included are companies dealing with production in oil, manufacturing of metal products and also waste management. Nonetheless, the local and the state government still hire the most number of firefighters.

Other Advantages

One of the best things about possessing a government work is that there is a lot of other benefits that are included with it. You get the services like insurance plan in your health or even dental check-up. You may also get sick leave benefits. But then again, benefits may differ from what department you are into.

Being a medical 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!

Swansea Firefighter Employment Outlook

firefighter job outlook Swansea South Carolina
*Image Credit – BLS.gov

The job outlook is an essential factor while choosing which profession to get into. You would not want to choose your favourite career option just to realize that it going down the drain in a couple of years. You could find out such info from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The career outlook for public servants is definitely on the rise since due to the ever-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 appointed 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 would be about 12,000 new jobs by 2024. But, this also implies that there will be that much more people looking to get the job too. Hence, there would be some competition. This is mainly because of the low education requirements and the attractions of a public service job. The pay may not be very high, however the benefits make up for that. It’s approximated that there may be about 100 individuals competing for the same position by 2024.

firefighter job outlook by state Swansea South Carolina
*Image Credit – BLS.gov

How To Become A Firefighter

One needs to follow a certain procedure to join any profession. Main requirement is you must have the necessary education. Without these requirements, hardly any employer will be happy to hire you. Though education is the main requirement, you must not be worried mainly because employer only need at least 1 degree completed. Beside, education you must pass other tests like physical, medical and legal test. Let us explore these in detail.

Education Requirements

High school diploma along with a degree in advanced schooling are the fundamental specifications to be qualified being a firefighter. The subjects really do not matter as such. However , if you have fire fighting related subjects earned, that would be very helpful. Which will give you a backgrounder of the profession you are about to go into.

[asd_program_search_bar /]

After high school, many people choose to get some formal college education in the field just before they will become a firefighter. You have to be at least 18 years old to meet the age requirement. That’s a primary reason why many of the aspirants aren’t be eligible right 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 chosen that show you how to save lives, operate equipment required in firefighting and also other related technicalities.

It’s optionally available, you may pursue a graduate studies in that same field. The former ones are required to get promoted to higher positions. Simultaneously, keep in mind that the maximum age requirement is kept at 28-30 years old. That is why you must not over focus on acquiring too much education in order to qualify.

Paramedic Training

All of the firefighters should 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. If one desires, they could choose to pursue further studies in the field Emergency Medical Services and be a paramedic. This helps them acquire an edge over other candidates and hopefully, a better income. In some instances, fire victims rescued are attended by medical professional which are firefighters also.

Licensed to Drive Vehicle In South Carolina State

In most states, employing of firefighter requires an applicant to have experience in driving. Thus, they require their applicants to be a licensed driver that may help them when person is needed to drive the firetruck to the location. It also serves as an ID proof to validate the applicant’s age.

Clean Record

In a few cases, a firefighter is compared as a policeman. They go through an extensive background check just before they are appointed. To get hired, the firefighters could not have a criminal record. If it is found that there was one, or the firefighter was previously imprisoned, then that candidate is instantly disqualified. Individuals who were pardoned for their crimes are usually accepted, nevertheless, not all fire departments admit such individuals.

Swansea Physical Requirements

One of the main characteristics that a firefighter must have is physical durability. Instances like lifting fire victims or even objects to free victims arise quite often in rescue missions, therefore, firefighter’s upper body strength is a must. Not just body strength is need, firefighter’s endurance should be high as they have to deal lots of factors like running even in harsh surroundings. All firefighters experience rigorous physical tests both in the academy and before it.

Swansea Medical Requirements

Suffocations in rescue missions happen and firefighters learn how to handle it. They are normally supplied with masks to help them handle such situations but not always are they so lucky. In case you have history in your respiratory, that will affect your efficiency. That is why it’s a must that an applicant must be clear from any of that respiratory ailments.

There a lot of boxes that must be ticked while choosing a firefighter. Without a doubt, the list is long, so find out how long will it take you turn into a firefighter!

What Does a Swansea Firefighter Do?

Firefighters are the unsung heroes who risk their lives just to save other lives. They’re around in rescue quests you see in common incidents, not only fire. Just like what you see in movies, a firefighter saving a kitten in a tree. Apart from the normal job they are doing, firefighters help teach individuals to avoid fire from happening. In many cases, they’re supposed to check sources of fire and dig deep in to the case due to the chance of an arsonist.

Putting Out Fires

This is the major function of firefighters. When on-duty, these people stay in their firehouse to interact to a call as quickly as possible. When they do get a phone call, they rush to the area in one of their firetrucks which might contain hoses or ladders. A few of the fire trucks are simply meant to deliver harmed people.

[asd_program_button /]

At the scene of the fire, every person has a distinct task. Some individuals are in charge of controlling the ladder as well as rescue operations. Others are in charge of controlling the water flow as well as extinguishing the fire. Similar to any other team which has a leader ordering the operation, their group is headed by their commanding officer. They work in shifts, for that reason, each shifting unit has its corresponding officers.

Rescuing People

All firefighters must be qualified as an EMT. Since the primary task of the rescuer is to rescue lives, it is a must that a firefighter possesses this EMT. Most of the time this comes in handy when looking after people who are stuck inside the fires. Having said that, not all rescue operations that the firefighters undertake are fire related. Firemen or even firewomen are the first on the field with a few police officers wherever there are any casualties. Casualties possibly caused natural phenomena or road accidents. The firefighters are supposed to work together and rescue the victims from further harm. This is where a firefighters knowledge in EMT will come in handy.

Teach People

Firefighters are usually educated in fire sciences. The amount of know-how will depend on which degree they have pursued in the field or which course they have studied. By sharing what they know, they help individuals by teaching them how to avoid fire from happening. Firefighters commonly do it after visiting an extinguished fire scene. Or else, they also go to schools and other locations to positively teach individuals about fires, how to avoid fires and if necessary, how to extinguish them.

Fire Investigation

To teach people on how to prevent fires, the firemen/firewomen have to first find the cause of the fire. They have to identify what caused it so they can avoid further such circumstances. Oftentimes, it is possible that criminals with malicious intent set such fires. It is then the task of the firefighters to check out and provide more hints to the police officers about who started it. Firefighters specializing in investigations associated with fire are called arson investigators. They work with law enforcement to catch arsonists.

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