What gives?

Check out this job posting in this Sunday’s Roanoke Times. Ablemarle is offering to pay there firefighters almost $8000 more than Roanoke City. The medics receive almost $8000 more than that.

Don’t get the wrong idea, I am not saying everyone should jump ship and run to work for Ablemarle. I am probably the only person in the City whose call volume would go up instead of down. What I am getting at is that how can you keep your morale up if you open the paper to see that firefighters are making so much more money doing the same thing only a couple of hundred miles away. How can Roanoke City compete in recruiting competent trained ALS providers if they could make $13000 more in Ablemarle.

Yes, I realize that Ablemarles job posting talks of pay up to these limits if the experience and training warrant it. Well I believe that I fall under those parameters.

It is no secret as to how much money a firefighter makes, it is public knowledge. That being said, if Ablemarle hired me for the fullest amount due to my experience and training, I would get a pay raise. Mind you, I have been with Roanoke City for 7 years and I have been promoted once.

Roanoke Times – Roanoke.com job postings

FIREFIGHTERS
EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIAN (EMT)
ADVANCED LIFE SUPPORT (ALS)
The County of Albemarle is looking for positive, energetic people with a great attitude to serve our citizens as Firefighters and EMS Providers. Qualified applicants are required to take a physical agility test & written exam to qualify for an interview. We are currently accepting applications for:
FIREFIGHTER/ALS:
Must possess current Virginia State Firefighter I or equivalent, EMT-C, EMT-I, or EMT-P. Starting salary up to $46,207 annually depending on experience and qualifications.
FIREFIGHTER/EMT:
Must possess current Virginia State Firefighter I or equivalent AND EMT -B to apply. Starting salary up to $38,310 annually depending on experience and qualifications. (Read More)