Sadly (and frustrating to say), firefighters' meager salaries would make most people gasp. It's a shame, but given the income range and the fact that firefighters often retire at a younger-than-average age (the standard government retirement plan of which I'm aware starts at age 55), the average firefighter's income projected out over a lifetime isn't much. Speaking of doing good for the community -- maybe my experience in Indiana is unrepresentative of nation-wide statistics, but public servants like firefighters and police officers could use a salary boost.
-- BarbPitman - 20 Apr 2008 |