Kids becoming Firefighters and Cops

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My federal agency law enforcement colleagues had MD, DDS, PhD, lots of JDs, and plenty of Masters degrees of different types. Around 50% of the 1811 series employees had advanced degrees of one kind of another; the rest all had bachelors'.

How is the compensation and what is the relocation situation like?

[Anonymous]

Here is a USNWR listing of colleges that offer a Fire Protection Major.

https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/fire-protection-major-4302?_sort=rank&_sortDirection=asc

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My federal agency law enforcement colleagues had MD, DDS, PhD, lots of JDs, and plenty of Masters degrees of different types. Around 50% of the 1811 series employees had advanced degrees of one kind of another; the rest all had bachelors'.

How is the compensation and what is the relocation situation like?

Start as GS-10, journeyman level is GS-13, Management and Executive levels up to SES 6. Locality pay and availability pay enhance salaries. Retirement eligibility at age 50 with 20 years of service. Relocation depends on whether one enters management - managers are transferred into different roles, often in different locations, as they progress administratively.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My federal agency law enforcement colleagues had MD, DDS, PhD, lots of JDs, and plenty of Masters degrees of different types. Around 50% of the 1811 series employees had advanced degrees of one kind of another; the rest all had bachelors'.

How is the compensation and what is the relocation situation like?

Start as GS-10, journeyman level is GS-13, Management and Executive levels up to SES 6. Locality pay and availability pay enhance salaries. Retirement eligibility at age 50 with 20 years of service. Relocation depends on whether one enters management - managers are transferred into different roles, often in different locations, as they progress administratively.

Thanks for this.

[Anonymous]

This is from another forum here, but it validates the path college students are following into law enforcement. New grads need jobs and income.

Anonymous wrote:The article linked below is from last September, when the job market was much better than it is currently.

“Americans may be finding it a little tougher to land a job these days, but not so much in one field in which salaries are climbing fast and employers are offering robust perks.”

“The average salary of a police officer climbed more than 37% in the first eight months of this year compared to the same time last year, according to ZipRecruiter data provided to CNN. That’s a recent sign of strong demand for police officers, because from 2022 to 2023 the average salary for policing jobs rose by roughly 8%.”

https://www.cnn.com/2024/09/09/business/job-market-law-enforcement

[Anonymous]

Every time I check in on the “Jobs” forum on DCUM I think about this forum. Incoming college students need to pivot now or they’ll be ill prepared to earn a living in 2029 & 2030.

[Anonymous]

Your mom likes cops and firefighters.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Your mom likes cops and firefighters.

How did you know my siblings are cops and firefighters?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your mom likes cops and firefighters.

How did you know my siblings are cops and firefighters?

Levity aside, these are professions where it's not uncommon for family members to follow the same path. Law enforcement and the fire service are, for many, not just jobs, or even careers. They become who you are; the cultures are distinct, not well understood by those outside them. The rigors of the shared intense training experiences contributes to this, as does the hazardous character of the work.

[Anonymous]

A cautionary tale for your children.

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1290122.page

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why aren't more parents encouraging these careers as well, along with the usual talk on trades given the rise of AI for white collar job risks. Understand it could be a dangerous job but guaranteed employment, excellent benefits and pension, location mobility, and high salary in areas like NYC.

Parents would rather brag about their STEM major offspring at parties than help ensure their long term financial stability.

[Anonymous]

Our relative has training Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Wednesday and Thursday are their days off so those 20 hours will be overtime(@ +/- $750 per day) while Friday is a regular shift day at regular pay. Their employer is paying over $2,000 for this training that will result in two valuable certifications. It’s a huge perk to get paid an extra $1,500 to attend free $2,000 training that will increase your value and compensation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our relative has training Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Wednesday and Thursday are their days off so those 20 hours will be overtime(@ +/- $750 per day) while Friday is a regular shift day at regular pay. Their employer is paying over $2,000 for this training that will result in two valuable certifications. It’s a huge perk to get paid an extra $1,500 to attend free $2,000 training that will increase your value and compensation.

Yeah, yeah.

This belongs in a jobs/career forum.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our relative has training Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Wednesday and Thursday are their days off so those 20 hours will be overtime(@ +/- $750 per day) while Friday is a regular shift day at regular pay. Their employer is paying over $2,000 for this training that will result in two valuable certifications. It’s a huge perk to get paid an extra $1,500 to attend free $2,000 training that will increase your value and compensation.

Yeah, yeah.

This belongs in a jobs/career forum.

Incoming college students need to make good choices about their career paths early to maximize their marketability and value at graduation. Very few people here have taken the time to look into the benefits of a law enforcement career. Parents are preoccupied with majors that face an inordinate level of exposure to AI disruption. Someone needs to impress upon students that hands on jobs are a potential safe haven in a down market.

Firefighters
Police
Nurses
Therapists
Surgeons
Plumbers
Electricians
Carpenters
HVAC
Federal Law Enforcement

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our relative has training Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Wednesday and Thursday are their days off so those 20 hours will be overtime(@ +/- $750 per day) while Friday is a regular shift day at regular pay. Their employer is paying over $2,000 for this training that will result in two valuable certifications. It’s a huge perk to get paid an extra $1,500 to attend free $2,000 training that will increase your value and compensation.

Yeah, yeah.

This belongs in a jobs/career forum.

Incoming college students need to make good choices about their career paths early to maximize their marketability and value at graduation. Very few people here have taken the time to look into the benefits of a law enforcement career. Parents are preoccupied with majors that face an inordinate level of exposure to AI disruption. Someone needs to impress upon students that hands on jobs are a potential safe haven in a down market.

Firefighters
Police
Nurses
Therapists
Surgeons
Plumbers
Electricians
Carpenters
HVAC
Federal Law Enforcement

+ 1.