Benefits

  • $79,800 starting salary
  • Medical, dental and vision benefits for employee and family
  • Operations Firefighters work approximately eight 24-hour shifts per month
  • State Retirement System pension plan (LEOFF Plan 2)
  • Tax deferred compensation account with fixed City contributions (similar to a 401K plan)
  • Vacation (up to 14 shifts per year)
  • Compensatory time
  • Sick Leave (approximately 4 shifts per year, with unlimited accrual)
  • Life and Disability Insurance
  • Employee Assistance Program counseling and referral benefits available for employee and household members
  • Uniform Allowance
  • Paid military leave (256 hours) and military wage supplement pay
  • Veterans are eligible for certain GI Bill reimbursements during Recruit School
  • Paid Parental Leave (320 to 480 hours)
  • Other leaves include emergency, paid family care leave, funeral, pregnancy disability, jury duty, transplant donor, family and medical, EAP counseling and personal leave
  • Eligibility for Public Service Loan Forgiveness
  • Tuition Reimbursement Program
  • IAFF Local 27 union membership
  • Employee Discounts (gym membership, cellphone service and more)

Salary

The starting annual salary for a Fire Recruit is $79,800 per year with step, longevity and cost of living pay increases per union contract.

  • $6,650/month - Starting Recruit Firefighter Pay
  • $7,048/month - 6 months
  • $7,447/month - 18 months
  • $7,845/month - 30 months
  • $8,243/month - 42 months

In addition to promotional opportunities, there are several premium pay assignments available to firefighters. Seattle firefighters must have completed probation to apply for a technical team, including Hazardous Materials, Decontamination, Technical Rescue, Marine Emergency Response and Vault Rescue. Seattle firefighters must have at least three and a half years with the department to apply to attend Medic One Paramedic training and work as a Seattle paramedic.

Promotional Opportunities

  • Firefighter (starts at $79,800 per year)
  • Fire Lieutenant (starts at $108,473 per year)
  • Fire Captain (starts at $124,248 per year)
  • Battalion Chief (starts at $134,376 per year)
  • Deputy Chief (starts at $153,408 per year)
  • Assistant Chief (up to $235,443 per year)
  • Fire Chief

Premium Pay Assignments

  • Paramedic (17-18.5%)
  • Apparatus Driver (5%)
  • Hazardous Materials (5%)
  • Technical Rescue/Dive (5-8%)
  • Marine Emergency Response (5%)
  • Vault Rescue (5%)
  • Fire Prevention Inspector (7.5%)
  • Training Division Instructor (7.5%)
  • Fire Dispatcher (7.5%)
  • Arson Investigator (7.5%)
  • Other Administrative Positions (7.5%)

Questions

Questions about the hiring process should be directed to the Seattle Fire Department Recruitment Office via email to SFD.Recruitment@seattle.gov.