Starting Regional Pay
#11
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Sep 2017
Posts: 198
All of our pay is public info at transparent California.com. Look at various fire depts to see what many guys doing this make. It was the number factor that made me switch from airlines to this career, and of course stability.
#13
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Oct 2019
Posts: 1,280
Crazy that starting fire fighter pay in Texas is mid $50’s, for 6 months of training. Yet a few years, numerous check rides and a $70k debt later you’re lucky to get a $45k a year regional job.
The sign on bonus may be a thing of the past but if they eliminate it they will discourage many career changer that just can’t afford the pay cut. And let’s be honest, during the last few good years the majority of new hires were career changers 35-50 year olds.
The sign on bonus may be a thing of the past but if they eliminate it they will discourage many career changer that just can’t afford the pay cut. And let’s be honest, during the last few good years the majority of new hires were career changers 35-50 year olds.
Pre-covid I always told people who asked the key was to look at year 3 CA pay, because almost everywhere you can upgrade by then and that is when the money starts rolling in. Any bonus you may have missed out on was quickly erased. Endever and Republic were the best for those. Now my advice is to take whatever job you can get first, and thank your lucky stars you actually got a job offer in this environment. If you are still holding out for a bonus you are in for a real attitude adjustment.
#14
Also pay is commensurate with COL, which is why it's higher in big metro areas in CA. My friend's husband is a firefighter in NC... she *****es all the time that he only makes like $30K, and that she can't do airlines because of his work schedule.
Airlines you commute if you want big QOL in a low COL area (if the tradeoff is worth it to you).
Fire/police has aviation beat hands down for stability though.
#15
Banned
Joined APC: Jan 2020
Posts: 152
Honesty here in California. Easily yes to both with a pension. I cleared well over $100,000 my second year as a firefighter/paramedic and most our captains make $300,000 with OT. That’s with out gaming the system.
All of our pay is public info at transparent California.com. Look at various fire depts to see what many guys doing this make. It was the number factor that made me switch from airlines to this career, and of course stability.
All of our pay is public info at transparent California.com. Look at various fire depts to see what many guys doing this make. It was the number factor that made me switch from airlines to this career, and of course stability.
#16
If you are chasing bonuses to choose a Regional you are probably making poor decisions to begin with. They were only there to mask poor pay/working conditions so they could still attract applicants. Pilot unions absolutely hated them because as long as they kept attracting suckers (oops, mean FOs) there was no reason for the regional to improve the contract.
#19
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Sep 2017
Posts: 198
How easy is it to make captain? Once you get there, how long until retirement? The pension helps, but I don't think many firemen can work to age 65 (and get another fire-fighting gig after mandatory retirement).
Also pay is commensurate with COL, which is why it's higher in big metro areas in CA. My friend's husband is a firefighter in NC... she *****es all the time that he only makes like $30K, and that she can't do airlines because of his work schedule.
Airlines you commute if you want big QOL in a low COL area (if the tradeoff is worth it to you).
Fire/police has aviation beat hands down for stability though.
Also pay is commensurate with COL, which is why it's higher in big metro areas in CA. My friend's husband is a firefighter in NC... she *****es all the time that he only makes like $30K, and that she can't do airlines because of his work schedule.
Airlines you commute if you want big QOL in a low COL area (if the tradeoff is worth it to you).
Fire/police has aviation beat hands down for stability though.
#20
Line Holder
Joined APC: Apr 2020
Posts: 59
Crazy that starting fire fighter pay in Texas is mid $50’s, for 6 months of training. Yet a few years, numerous check rides and a $70k debt later you’re lucky to get a $45k a year regional job.
The sign on bonus may be a thing of the past but if they eliminate it they will discourage many career changer that just can’t afford the pay cut. And let’s be honest, during the last few good years the majority of new hires were career changers 35-50 year olds.
The sign on bonus may be a thing of the past but if they eliminate it they will discourage many career changer that just can’t afford the pay cut. And let’s be honest, during the last few good years the majority of new hires were career changers 35-50 year olds.
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