Salary & Benefits

Firefighters assigned to the Operations Section work a 24 hour shift. All other positions with the exception of Fire Rescue Communications work 8 hour shifts.

Benefits include: Specialty Pay, Educational Incentive, Tuition Sponsorship, Health & Dental Insurance, Life Insurance, Paid Vacation, Holidays & Sick Leave, and Retirement.

Firefighter/EMT positions start at $34,580

• Shift work: Working 24 consecutive hours and off 48 hours.

Specialty pay includes the following:

• Paramedic $2,912/year
• Special Hazards Operations Team $650/year
• Fire Investigator $650/year
• Rescue assignment $24/shift

Educational Incentive is calculated quarterly:

• 2-year degree in related field $150/quarterly
• 4-year degree in related field $330/quarterly

Tuition Sponsorships

• St. Johns County Fire Rescue aggressively trains personnel in all fire rescue related aspects.
• Throughout the year, courses offered include the certification programs of Fire Officer I and II, Fire Safety Inspector I, Pump Operators, and Hazardous Material Technician.
• Additional courses related to such specialty operations as trench rescue, confined space and high angle are available at specified points during the year.

Health and Dental Insurance

Employee is eligible for group insurance after 90 days of employment. Both individual and dependent coverage is offered.

• Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO
• Employee fully covered
• Affordable spouse and dependant child coverage
• 125 Flex Plan (pays premiums on pre-tax basis)
• Excellent vision, dental, and prescription coverage

Life Insurance

• $20,000 term life policy paid by St. Johns County
• Affordable additional term life policy available

Paid Vacation, Holidays and Sick Leave (shift personnel)

• 120 paid vacation hours/year (increases to 180 with 3 years service)
• 8 paid holidays per year for 24 hour
• Shift personnel
• On duty personnel receive 2.5 times salary for 24 hours
• Off duty personnel receive a “banked” 24 hours of usable leave
• 144 paid sick hours accrued annually
• Funeral leave
• Military leave
• Birthday leave (24 hours leave)

Retirement

• Florida State Retirement System (FRS)
• Special risk classification
• 100% paid by St. Johns County
• 6 year vesting period for pension plan or 1year for investment plan
• 25 year service for total benefit