How much money do firefighters earn?
As town employees our wage is considered public information. Unfortunately the numbers often quoted are inaccurate and inflated. The wages of individual firefighters are divided by job position, with increases for qualifications (such as paramedics) and longevity. Wages are set by a negotiated contract between the Town of Mansfield and the Mansfield Firefighters Association Local 1820. A new hire or recruit firefighter starts at $21.34 an hour. The most senior and highest ranking individual (Fire Prevention Lt.) receives $30.98 an hour. The average hourly wage of the fire department is $26.16. Hourly wages are the fairest way to compare employees, and Mansfield firefighter’s wages are consistent with many other technical professionals and skilled labor. In the past annual salaries have been published in some local papers to show how “overpaid” members of the fire department were. The numbers published belonged to the highest paid individuals (Chiefs with 20 years on the job) and includ