How much do Firefighters?

I am a recruit in the Baltimore City Fire Acadmey. I am paid bi-weekly at $1157 Gross equaling approximately 30 k a year. ....not much

One must not look at only pay, but benefits as well. In Florida, most firefighters receive Excellent insurance and retirement packages. I have only been a firefighter for 4 years, and to receive my same take home pay (if I paid my own retirement and insurance) and I worked a normal 40 hour per week job, I would need almost $33 per hour to keep my pay. Not bad for a high school diploma.

This amounts to about $65K per year (including fringe benefits). Salary only is around $40k with take home pay at just under $600 per week.

I will retire at age 46, with my retirement checks of over $4K per month for the rest of my life (with a 3% raise each year). That's assuming I only promote one time in my entire career.

District Chiefs (lowest level chief) can receive take home retirement checks of over $7K per month, for their ENTIRE life; with salary and fringe benefits of over $130K per year.

New York, by contrasts pays 5 year firefighters over $80K per year, but their cost of living is incredible. I say Florida has it pretty good, if you're with a decent department.

My wife is a dental hygienist in Florida, and I am a firefighter. I work 10 days a month, and she only works 30 hours per week. We make over $100K per year (including my fringe benefits) and have three vehicles (all paid cash), two four wheelers, a motorcycle and a new home in a gated Golf community. If you do it right, you can make a decent living.