Seeking Advice

[Long Cut]

What’s up guys-

I’m a 32 year old guy that’s been in the Fire Service for ~8 years now. I also own/operate a small landscaping business on my days off to help make ends meet. Between the 2 jobs April-October I’m working about 70-80 hours every week.

That being said… I’m debating on leaving the Fire Service all together to get into Line Work for either Georgia Power / EMC or another Energy Company.

Reason being one of my co-workers put in an Open Records Request for ALL of my Department’s Employee salaries and it was eye opening.. We have 20 year employees making the same pay as 2 year employees. The pay compression is terrible and our Leadership/HR/Organization doesn’t seem to have any urgency or care to do anything about it.

I’m torn because I love the job, coworkers, Department… but we’re wanting to have children soon and I cannot financially support my family on just the FD Salary alone. I also don’t want to be absent for my future children and put the entire burden on my Wife (who also works).

Transparently & for perspective I work 56 hours/week at the FD and bring home about $3500/month after taxes, insurance, benefits/pension/457…
Between the Landscaping & FD I bring in roughly $7500 / month on average 12 months a year.

The 2 power companies I’m interesting in applying to as an Apprentice Linemen offer Pensions and will start me around $65k/year working 40 hours/week, not including OT.

I also have a maxed out ROTH IRA since I was 25 as apart of my own “retirement plan”

ALL that being said, if you were in my position… what would YOU do?

 

[wyosteve]

Based on what you found out about salaries it doesn’t look like any benefit to stay. I’d do the lineman job.

 

[WyoKid]

If I am understanding the math $7,500 a month with 2 jobs is $90,000 currently and you are going to a starting pay as a Lineman of $65,000. Wouldn't you would still have to work OT and landscaping to make up the difference? How quickly does the Lineman pay scale go up to avoid OT or the 2nd job? It seems you have to time to make the Lineman job pay off in the long run if the numbers work out.

 

[coloyooper]

Tough one. Fire is the best part time job in the world, but the money is a lot better out west where I’m at than it is in the south. Can you grow your landscaping business at all? Lineman work can bring in big money but if you’re gone all the time, then what’s the point? You won’t see your kids or wife.

 

[Jon Boy]

Seems to me like expanding your landscape company would be the easy answer…

 

[RockAndSage]

100%, the lineman job if you want to prioritize your family and keep that mission foremost.

And it sounds like you'd have more time each week doing the lineman work, than fire - and could still expand your company.

 

[Long Cut]

If I am understanding the math $7,500 a month with 2 jobs is $90,000 currently and you are going to a starting pay as a Lineman of $65,000. Wouldn't you would still have to work OT and landscaping to make up the difference? How quickly does the Lineman pay scale go up to avoid OT or the 2nd job? It seems you have to time to make the Lineman job pay off in the long run if the numbers work out.

2-3 years at most.

Several family members & friends work for GA power and they said without working any crazy long duration storms, $80-100k is realistic during Apprenticeship.

 

[wapitibob]

You’re working for the wrong fire dept.

 

[Long Cut]

Tough one. Fire is the best part time job in the world, but the money is a lot better out west where I’m at than it is in the south. Can you grow your landscaping business at all? Lineman work can bring in big money but if you’re gone all the time, then what’s the point? You won’t see your kids or wife.

It’s trash here aside from Florida paving the way for 24/72’s…

Growing the lawn biz will take a lot more time/energy and the fact of the matter is.. I’d still working 56/week at the FD

 

[Long Cut]

You’re working for the wrong fire dept.

Brother that’s EVERY FD in the State of Georgia.

Sadly, we’re one of the “better” paid Metro ATL Departments

 

[coloyooper]

It’s trash here aside from Florida paving the way for 24/72’s…

Growing the lawn biz will take a lot more time/energy and the fact of the matter is.. I’d still working 56/week at the FD

But it’s still only 2 days a week. And what other job lets your family come by whenever they want to visit their dad? It’s a tough call. What’re your promoted guys making? Nothing is ever perfect. Good luck my man.

 

[signing off]

If you have a defined pension of any sort, being in 10 years could pay MUCH different than 8-ish. My dad tried using 55 years old as his exit from a factory job but should have crossed the 20 year mark which was really close also.

 

[Long Cut]

But it’s still only 2 days a week. And what other job lets your family come by whenever they want to visit their dad? It’s a tough call. What’re your promoted guys making? Nothing is ever perfect. Good luck my man.

Medic/SGT’s avg $75k
Medic/LT’s avg $80-90k

Years of Service don’t matter for the ranked guys, either. There’s no longevity incentive pay nor is there any type of merit program, just COLA’s which are typically 1-2%

 

[NW Hunt€r]

What’s up guys-

I’m a 32 year old guy that’s been in the Fire Service for ~8 years now. I also own/operate a small landscaping business on my days off to help make ends meet. Between the 2 jobs April-October I’m working about 70-80 hours every week.

That being said… I’m debating on leaving the Fire Service all together to get into Line Work for either Georgia Power / EMC or another Energy Company.

Reason being one of my co-workers put in an Open Records Request for ALL of my Department’s Employee salaries and it was eye opening.. We have 20 year employees making the same pay as 2 year employees. The pay compression is terrible and our Leadership/HR/Organization doesn’t seem to have any urgency or care to do anything about it.

I’m torn because I love the job, coworkers, Department… but we’re wanting to have children soon and I cannot financially support my family on just the FD Salary alone. I also don’t want to be absent for my future children and put the entire burden on my Wife (who also works).

Transparently & for perspective I work 56 hours/week at the FD and bring home about $3500/month after taxes, insurance, benefits/pension/457…
Between the Landscaping & FD I bring in roughly $7500 / month on average 12 months a year.

The 2 power companies I’m interesting in applying to as an Apprentice Linemen offer Pensions and will start me around $65k/year working 40 hours/week, not including OT.

I also have a maxed out ROTH IRA since I was 25 as apart of my own “retirement plan”

ALL that being said, if you were in my position… what would YOU do?

Me?… I would take the lineman job. Good starting pay with overtime available and that rare and ever extincting PENSION.

A couple of questions you should ask yourself…

How good is the health insurance with the power company?
Are you are willing to climb the ladder, what kind of life and cash are those folks living?
Will this pension offer health insurance when you retire?
How long does it take to be vested in the pension?
How long will you be away from the family?
Will you be willing to do this work when you’re 55-60 years old out in the weather?

Good luck with your decision and never look back

 

[Long Cut]

If you have a defined pension of any sort, being in 10 years could pay MUCH different than 8-ish. My dad tried using 55 years old as his exit from a factory job but should have crossed the 20 year mark which was really close also.

I’ve only 4 years with the current Department. Shitty part is we have a great retirement plan ; 25 years & 55 yr/age is eligible for a 62.5% Pension and eligible to withdraw from the ROTH457 with a 4% employer match at 55 with no deductions.

 

[7mm-08]

Me?… I would take the lineman job. Good starting pay with overtime available and that rare and ever extincting PENSION.

A couple of questions you should ask yourself…

How good is the health insurance with the power company?
Are you are willing to climb the ladder, what kind of life and cash are those folks living?
Will this pension offer health insurance when you retire?
How long does it take to be vested in the pension?
How long will you be away from the family?
Will you be willing to do this work when you’re 55-60 years old out in the weather?

Good luck with your decision and never look back

These are excellent questions that (when answered) will make your decision an easier one than it appears with the information unanswered.

I know that fire department jobs are excellent jobs with healthy work-related social interactions (unlike law enforcement). They are dangerous in that women throw themselves at male firefighters (a REAL danger to stable marriages). It doesn't sound like your department is on par with the fire department salaries I am familiar with in the mountain west and on the west coast.

All that being said, I'd be heading to that lineman's job (as long as your wife and family understand the time and travel commitments, which have their own costs as well). Pensions are a tremendous benefit that keep on giving. Good luck with your decision.