How to hire a firefighter/paramedic

How to hire a firefighter/paramedic, step by step

Here's a step-by-step firefighter/paramedic hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a firefighter/paramedic job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new firefighter/paramedic
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a firefighter/paramedic do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your firefighter/paramedic job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a firefighter/paramedic for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A firefighter/paramedic's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, firefighter/paramedics from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   Here's a comparison of firefighter/paramedic salaries for various roles:

   Type of Firefighter/Paramedic	Description	Hourly rate
   Firefighter/Paramedic	Emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and paramedics care for the sick or injured in emergency medical settings. People’s lives often depend on the quick reaction and competent care provided by these workers... Show more	$19-31
   Emergency Department Volunteer	The Emergency Department (ED) Volunteer provides non-medical support by assisting medical and administrative staff. They deliver excellent service by visiting and monitoring medical results and helping patients expedite and improve patient care... Show more	$12-19
   Emergency Medical Technician	Emergency medical technicians or EMTs are skilled medical professionals who act as first responders to injured or sick patients. They apply first aid or do emergency medical procedures upon arriving at the area where the emergency happened... Show more	$12-28

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Patients
   • CPR
   • EMT
   • Fire Suppression
   • Medical Services
   • Firefighting
   • Customer Service
   • Medical Emergencies
   • Ventilation
   • Fire Prevention
   • Fire Safety
   • Fire Drills
   • Medical Procedures
   • Medical Assistance

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Teach the public about fire safety, precept and instruct both paramedic and EMT students during there rides with the department.
   • Participate in continuing education opportunities for up-keeping of EMT certifications and recent medical procedures.
   • Train in HAZMAT response and perform monthly exercises.
   • Provide 9-1-1- BLS and ALS attention to the residents of the city of Chicago.
   • Respond to but not limit to fire, medical, haz-mat, aircraft emergency.
   • Identify persons requiring immediate care, provide life-saving ALS & BLS procedures for emergency care.

   More firefighter/paramedic duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in the firefighter/paramedic job description is a good way to get more applicants. A firefighter/paramedic salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

   For example, the average salary for a firefighter/paramedic in Minnesota may be lower than in California, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level firefighter/paramedic. Additionally, a firefighter/paramedic with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

   Average firefighter/paramedic salary

   $51,764yearly

   $24.89 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level firefighter/paramedic salary

   $40,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 20, 2026

   Average firefighter/paramedic salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$63,659	$31
   2	Washington	$60,927	$29
   3	Oregon	$58,270	$28
   4	Nevada	$55,853	$27
   5	Texas	$53,659	$26
   6	Florida	$51,400	$25
   7	Arizona	$50,462	$24
   8	Illinois	$50,179	$24
   9	Ohio	$50,152	$24
   10	Missouri	$49,955	$24
   11	Michigan	$49,814	$24
   12	Wisconsin	$48,972	$24
   13	Virginia	$45,980	$22
   14	Georgia	$42,125	$20

   Average firefighter/paramedic salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Argonne National Laboratory	$79,823	$38.38
   2	City of Roanoke, Virginia - Government	$70,247	$33.77	2
   3	Meridian Township	$67,160	$32.29
   4	City Of Alexandria	$63,938	$30.74
   5	City of Coronado	$61,955	$29.79
   6	City of Vista, CA	$61,914	$29.77
   7	City of Largo	$61,763	$29.69	1
   8	City of Roseville Michigan	$61,323	$29.48
   9	City of Peoria	$60,963	$29.31
   10	City of Carlsbad	$60,848	$29.25	1
   11	City of Anaheim	$60,696	$29.18
   12	City of Fairfield	$60,241	$28.96	1
   13	City of Visalia	$60,028	$28.86
   14	City of Poway	$59,115	$28.42
   15	Columbus Consolidated Government	$58,766	$28.25
   16	City of Maricopa	$58,692	$28.22
   17	The City of Vacaville, CA	$58,450	$28.10
   18	City of Mobile	$58,399	$28.08
   19	City Of Longview	$58,384	$28.07
   20	City Of Oneonta	$58,245	$28.00	2

4. Writing a firefighter/paramedic job description

   A firefighter/paramedic job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a firefighter/paramedic job description:

   Firefighter/paramedic job description example

   Firefighter I
   Salary: Starting at $40,000 Per Year
   Position Type: Full Time
   Close Date: Until Filled
   
   General Description: The purpose of this job within the organization is to respond to incidents, including but not limited to, fires, emergency medical calls, hazardous materials incidents, rescues and auto extrications. This position works under general supervision, independently developing work methods and sequences.
   
   Minimum Training and Experience:
   
   Requires High School graduation or GED equivalent supplemented by specialized courses/training equivalent to completion of one year of college in fire service programs. The equivalent combination of education and work experience may be considered. A valid driver's license is required.
   
   Desirable Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: Physical ability to perform interior structural firefighting duties as per National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) current guidelines. Ability to respond quickly to changing situations under emergency pressures. Ability to climb ladders and work at considerable heights. Ability to learn the use of tools and equipment used in fighting fire. Ability to meet such physical requirements as may be established by competent authority. Ability to obtain and maintain EMT Basic Certification within one year of employment and apply these skills in emergency situations. Ability to deal with people beyond giving and receiving instructions. Must be adaptable to performing under stress when confronted with emergency situations or tight deadlines. Ability to maintain positive customer-focused relationships with co-workers, supervisors, agencies, the general public, and all other internal and external customers. Personally demonstrates appropriate customer service skills. Work is performed onsite. The incumbent must be present at work to perform the essential functions of this job. Essential Job Functions: Trains for and participates in varied firefighting and life rescuing duties and activities in the protection of life and property. Conditions under which firefighters work may require strenuous exertion under such handicaps as fire, heat, smoke, and cramped surroundings. Ventilates burning buildings, removes persons from danger, administers first aid to injured persons; performs salvage operations such as throwing salvage covers, sweeping water, and removing debris. Cleans and maintains fire station, fire apparatus and grounds. Responds to medical emergencies and provides first aid, CPR and appropriate EMT basic level care. Responds to a variety of calls of an emergency nature including vehicle accidents, technical rescue and hazardous materials incidents. Responds to emergencies to perform fire suppression, hazardous materials response, auto extrication, high angle rope rescue, confined space rescue, and water rescue. Attends training to meet required certifications and to remain knowledgeable of modern job performance methods. Meets job requirements pertaining to annual fit for duty and knowledge of response district. Ensures the readiness of assorted fire service and medical equipment. May drive and operate fire apparatus; fills in for Firefighter II as necessary. Prepares and processes incident reports, vehicle and equipment records as necessary. Assists with conducting and documenting pre-fire plans and other company records as necessary. Performs related work as assigned to meet organizational needs. This Notice is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of duties, knowledge, skills and abilities required to do the job. This is intended only to describe the general nature of the job. A more comprehensive list of duties, responsibilities and essential job functions is available on the job description. The City of Rock Hill is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, political affiliation, disability, national origin, genetic information, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical condition), or age.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right firefighter/paramedic for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   To find firefighter/paramedic candidates, you can consider the following options:

   • Post your job opening on Zippia or other job search websites.
   • Use niche websites that focus on engineering and technology jobs, such as healthcarejobsite, health jobs nationwide, hospitalcareers, medreps.com.
   • Post your job on free job posting websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit firefighter/paramedics, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new firefighter/paramedic

   Once you've decided on a perfect firefighter/paramedic candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new firefighter/paramedic first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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