This article examines the compensation packages of firefighters in Los Angeles, including the role of overtime pay, pension contributions, and other benefits. It highlights the significant earnings of top overtime earners and analyzes the percentage of firefighters with total compensation exceeding $250,000.
Before we elicit insults and outrage, let’s acknowledge the givens: Firefighters do dangerous, difficult work and they should be paid well for it. It’s unlikely heaven itself could have gotten in front of the wind-whipped fires that have ravaged L.A. Problems with electricity and water pressure likely played a part in the devastation, as did “unhardened” homes and less-than-perfect planning and communications.
that the Los Angeles City Council and Los Angeles Board of Supervisors have embraced, in lieu of hiring more firefighters. A firefighter attaches a hose to a fire hydrant as a market burns behind him along Lake Avenue during the Eaton fire in Altadena Wednesday morning Jan. 8, 2025. Hundreds of homes have burned in the northern and eastern areas of Altadena which sits next to the San Gabriel Mountains north of Pasadena. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)“There’s a point of diminishing returns with that,” said an erstwhile fire chief who doesn’t want to be identified. New hires today get a less-expensive, though still generous, retirement package, thanks to reforms pushed through by then-Gov. Jerry Brown more than a decade ago. But One could argue that hundreds more firefighters could be on the force in L.A. today if only decision-makers had made different choices. Rohan Ali, a videographer for the Lakers, found his family’s house in Altadena reduced to smoldering rubble when he returned to see it for the first time since the Eaton Fire roared through early Wednesday morning. (Photo courtesy of Rohan Ali)First, some definitions to avoid confusion. “Total wages” is the money that lands in a firefighter’s bank account. It includes regular pay, overtime pay, lump sum pay and “other” pay, for special skills and whatnot. “Total compensation” includes those wages — plus all the other costs of actually employing workers. That’s what the city/county pays for pension contributions, health benefits, deferred compensation (which the worker will get at a later date) as well as wages. We’ll be referring to both in this story. Let’s start with wages — and how big a role overtime plays in L.A., overtime took a much smaller bite. It accounted for less than one of every five dollars spent on wages, or $223.5 million out of total wages of almost $1.2 billion.In the city’s Los Angeles Fire Department, more than 50 times as many workers —101 — made more than $200,000 in overtime. City fire’s top overtime earner banked $485,357 in overtime alone, earning him total wages of $719,931 for the year. (That doesn’t include the value of his benefits; all told, his total compensation was $796,977.) In the county fire department, 77 workers made more than $200,000 in overtime. The county’s top overtime earner banked $332,937 in overtime alone, earning him total wages of $544,219 for the year. (With benefits, his total comp was $627,447.)Two people walk along a road in a fire-ravaged community in the aftermath of the Palisades Fire in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, Monday, Jan. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/John Locher) “We pushed for an overtime cap,” said one former firefighter who also didn’t want to be named. “We didn’t want 1 to 2% making an ungodly amount of money — it makes others look bad, and it’s not good for them. They’re always on duty. They don’t have quality of life. They die young.”Los Angeles County firefighters put out a hot spot along the 100 block of Altadena Dr. during the Eaton Fire in Altadena on Friday, Jan. 10, 2025. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/ SCNG)Of the more than 4,400 pensioned personnel in the Los Angeles County Fire Department, 1,724 – nearly 40% – had total compensation of $250,000 or more, according to 2023 data from the state controller. That includes 1,071 in excess of $300,000; and 314 in excess of $400,000; and 53 in excess of $500,000; and four in excess of $600,000.Of the 4,740 pensioned positions in the city-run Los Angeles Fire Department, 1,614 — 34% — earned total comp of more than $250,000. That includes 855 in excess of $300,000; and 190 in excess of $400,000; and 30 in excess of $500,000; and three in excess of $600,000; and one in excess of $700,000 (almost hitting $800,000).The state department is more thrifty. Of the 12,738 pensioned positions, a far smaller fraction of the total — 1,582, or about 12.4% — had total comp of more than $250,000. A Cal Fire aircraft drops fire retardant on a vegetation fire in San Diego (K.C. Alfred / The San Diego Union-Tribune) That includes 463 in excess of $300,000; and 35 in excess of 400,000; and three in excess of $500,000; and one in excess of $700,000.A spokesman for Cal Fire said it’s not typical to have employees with successive annual earnings exceeding $250,000. The data shows that its highest earners did, indeed, receive hundreds of thousands of dollars in “lump sum” payments, often from years of unused leave time that’s cashed out when they retir
Firefighter Compensation Overtime Benefits Pension Los Angeles Fire Department Cal Fire
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Biden Signs Social Security Fairness Act into LawPresident Joe Biden signed the Social Security Fairness Act into law, eliminating provisions that reduced benefits for some public pensioners. The law will increase Social Security benefits for nearly 3 million public workers, including teachers, firefighters, and police officers. The Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO), enacted over four decades ago, reduced benefits for workers who received pensions from employment where Social Security payroll taxes were not withheld. The act will provide a lump-sum payment to over 2.5 million Americans and increase monthly benefits for 2.1 million beneficiaries by $360 on average.
Read more »
Texas Southern Tops Grambling in OvertimeZaire Hayes led Texas Southern to victory over Grambling with 24 points in an overtime thriller.
Read more »
Islanders' Overtime Win Over Bruins Hints at Potential with Shift in StrategyThe New York Islanders snapped their losing streak with an overtime victory against the Boston Bruins. Coach Patrick Roy emphasized a new strategy focused on aggressive shot attempts and creating traffic in front of the net. This approach resulted in a season-high number of shot attempts for the Islanders, with contributions from both offensive and defensive players. The increased offensive pressure and puck possession proved effective, leading to a crucial win and offering a glimpse of the team's potential.
Read more »
Ohio State Wins Overtime Thriller Against MinnesotaOhio State defeated Minnesota in a thrilling double overtime game on Monday night. Bruce Thornton led the Buckeyes with 18 points, including five in the second overtime period, while Devin Royal added 19 points.
Read more »
Ohio State Survives Chaotic Double Overtime Thriller Against MinnesotaIn a game filled with lead changes and tension, Ohio State edged out Minnesota in a double overtime thriller, showcasing a dominant free-throw performance.
Read more »
Sacramento Kings Defeat Miami Heat in Double Overtime ThrillerThe Sacramento Kings secured a hard-fought victory over the Miami Heat in a double overtime game on January 6, 2025, with a final score of 123-118. Domantas Sabonis played a key role in the Kings' triumph.
Read more »