Colleton County Fire-Rescue is an all-hazards,
full-service department. It doesn't matter to which unit you are
assigned, our team responds to and mitigates many types of incidents.
An employee assigned to an engine could find themselves first on scene to a
cardiac arrest and an employee assigned to a medic unit may find themselves
first on scene to a structure fire and serve as part of the interior attack
crew. An employee assigned to an engine could assist the medic crew
with transporting a critical patient. Three medic units may respond to
a tractor-trailer fire without any injuries to provide additional staffing
to support suppression efforts. Whether it is a cardiac arrest,
confined space rescue, house fire, or hazardous materials release, our
department is equipped with the most modern tools available in today's fire
and medical services. Through extensive and ongoing training and
preparation our staff solves whatever problems arise, in a caring manner, to
continually provide for the safety of our citizens, the stabilization of
their lives, and the protection of their property.
SOME BENEFITS OF WORKING AT COLLETON COUNTY FIRE-RESCUE
Frequent complex and challenging calls.
We utilize Kenworth Chasis MAV Medic
Units. The larger frame provides for a safer and more
comfortable ride with increased storage space for PPE,
SCBA's and equipment.
We utilize E-One Engines, 3000 gallon
Tenders, and a multitude of special response vehicles
We utilize Holmatro Rescue tools
including Pentheon battery operated cutters, spreaders, and
rams.
We utilize Stryker power load stretchers
in all primary medic units.
Hose Testing is completed by a
contractor. Firefighters
do not have to test fire hose.
We provide opportunities to join our
C.A.R.E. Flight Air Medical Program which allows
participants to regularly serve as a
Firefighter/Flight-Paramedic on board a rotor wing platform.
We are one of six non-hospital based
ground programs in the United States administering whole
blood in the field.
Our Medical Control Director provides us
with a comprehensive set of Standing Orders allowing
practitioners to fully utilize their skills
We operate an additional, seasonal medic
unit at Edisto Beach from April to October that is staffed
solely with overtime.
All Fire-Rescue Officers are seasoned
Firefighter/Paramedics.
98% of our patient transports go to a
medical facility in the county. The attending
Firefighter/Paramedic determines the patient's closest,
appropriate destination.
Forced overtime is seldom used.
No meal time or sleep time deductions
from time worked.
We offer opportunities to participate in
various specialized response activities (marine search and
rescue, boat operations, diving, hazardous materials
response, trench rescue, confined space rescue, high/low
angle rescue).
COMPENSATION (Effective July 1, 2025)
(includes scheduled time only [no deductions
for meal or sleep times] – excludes extra
overtime opportunities).
Position
Hourly Rate
Estimated Annual Salary (see Pay
Breakdown below)
FIREFIGHTER II/PARAMEDIC*
$25.24
$89,147.68 - $90,056.32*
FIREFIGHTER II/EMT*
$19.11
$67,496.52 - $68,184.48*
FIREFIGHTER II ONLY**
$18.32
$52,395.20**
*Assigned to 24 hours
on/72 hours off/48 hours on/72 hours off Shift
**Assigned to D-shift (Monday-Friday,
0800-1800, Weekends/Holidays Off)
How do you get paid at CCFR?
Most Fire Departments only pay overtime after 53 hours in
a week, 106 hours in two weeks or 212 hours in a month. Colleton
County Fire-Rescue pays overtime for any hours worked past 40 hours each
week.
Employees work 24 hours on / 72 hours off / 48 hours on / 72 hours off and are paid every other Friday
(every two weeks) and are compensated at overtime rate (time and one-half)
for any hours worked beyond forty hours each week. Any time off (other than
personal swaps) is paid at straight time and is not counted toward the
40-hour overtime threshold. Pay periods consist of two weeks, each starting
on Monday at 00:00 and ending on Sunday at 23:59. Always having three
shifts off makes your weekly hours highly variable. Your regular
schedule requires you to work either 72, 64,
56, 48, 40 or 32 hours in a week (which are either 120, 112, 104, or 96 hours in a pay
period). The hour rotation resets every 9 pay periods. The breakdown is illustrated in the table below and indicates the
Firefighter/Paramedic hourly rate of $25.24/hour.
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Weekly
Hours
Overtime
Hours
Weekly
Total
Pay Period Total
24
24
16
64
24
$1,918.24
8
24
24
56
16
$1,615.36
$3,533.60
24
24
16
64
24
$1,918.24
8
24
32
0
$807.68
$2,725.92
24
24
24
72
32
$2,221.12
24
24
48
8
$1,312.48
$3,533.60
24
24
24
72
32
$2,221.12
24
16
40
0
$1,009.60
$3,230.72
24
8
24
56
16
$1,615.36
24
24
16
64
24
$1,918.24
$3,533.60
8
24
24
56
16
$1,615.36
24
24
16
64
24
$1,918.24
$3,533.60
8
24
32
0
$807.68
24
24
24
72
32
$2,221.12
$3,028.80
24
24
48
8
$1,312.48
24
24
24
72
32
$2,221.12
$3,533.60
24
16
40
0
$1,009.60
24
8
24
56
16
$1,615.36
$2,624.96
Since you are paid 26 times a year, you can expect a rotating check of
the above pay period totals every three pay periods. The total of
these are:
Pay Breakdown
Pay Period
A-Shift
B-Shift
C-Shift
1
$3,533.60
$3,028.80
$3,230.72
2
$2,725.92
$3,533.60
$3,533.60
3
$3,533.60
$2,624.96
$3,533.60
4
$3,230.72
$3,533.60
$3,028.80
5
$3,533.60
$2,725.92
$3,533.60
6
$3,533.60
$3,533.60
$2,624.96
7
$3,028.80
$3,230.72
$3,533.60
8
$3,533.60
$3,533.60
$2,725.92
9
$2,624.96
$3,533.60
$3,533.60
10
$3,533.60
$3,028.80
$3,230.72
11
$2,725.92
$3,533.60
$3,533.60
12
$3,533.60
$2,624.96
$3,533.60
13
$3,230.72
$3,533.60
$3,028.80
14
$3,533.60
$2,725.92
$3,533.60
15
$3,533.60
$3,533.60
$2,624.96
16
$3,028.80
$3,230.72
$3,533.60
17
$3,533.60
$3,533.60
$2,725.92
18
$2,624.96
$3,533.60
$3,533.60
19
$3,533.60
$3,028.80
$3,230.72
20
$2,725.92
$3,533.60
$3,533.60
21
$3,533.60
$2,624.96
$3,533.60
22
$3,230.72
$3,533.60
$3,028.80
23
$3,533.60
$2,725.92
$3,533.60
24
$3,533.60
$3,533.60
$2,624.96
25
$3,028.80
$3,230.72
$3,533.60
26
$3,533.60
$3,533.60
$2,725.92
Holidays
$3,937.44
$3,937.44
$3,937.44
CE/IST
$908.64
$908.64
$908.64
Annual
Salary:
$90,056.32
$89,147.68
$89,147.68
Additional
Information
listed in
the column
on the right
The pay checks listed on the left assume that your
overtime was calculated with normal hours worked. Remember that your
overtime rate is only applied to hours worked that are more than 40 hours
each week.
Each employee is required to attend monthly continuing
education (or in-service/fire training). That training is compensated
at overtime rate (unless you work less than 40 hours that week) and is
between 2 and 3 hours each month. This is approximately an additional $900
(for Firefighter/Paramedics) each year. This
additional pay is listed as "CE/IST" on the left.
Each employee receives 12 hours of straight-time holiday
pay for each of the 13 paid holidays recognized by Colleton County whether
they fall on the employee's assigned shift or not. $25.24 (for
FF/Paramedic) x 12 hours = $302.88 x 13 holidays = $3,937.44.
This additional pay is listed as "Holidays" on the left.
While the pay can decrease as a result of taking time
off (causing the hours worked beyond 40 hours each week at overtime rate to
decrease), it is also possible to obtain additional hours by signing up for
extra overtime opportunities. These include other employees' leaves,
special events, and the Medic 14 assignments. Medic 14 is the second
medic unit on Edisto Island between April and September to meet the
increased demand caused by an increased population during the summer months
and is staffed mostly by voluntary overtime. At Firefighter/Paramedic
hourly rate, each additional 24 hour shift is $25.24 x 1.5 (overtime rate) =
$37.86/hr x 24 hours = $908.64.
Adding the Continuing Education and Holiday Pay to the
Annual Salaries on the left, Firefighter/Paramedics
could expect to earn between $89,147.68 and $90,056.32 annually.
See the May 2022 Video of CCFR in action!
Learn more about our department by meeting some of our team!
See the August 2021 Video of CCFR in action!
See the 2021 Video of CCFR in action!
See the 2020 Video of CCFR in action!
To apply for employment and join our team, email your resume and
certifications to
jobs@colletoncounty.org.