Firefighters from the local union were back out with posters in Downtown Lake Charles on Wednesday, July 27. They are continuing efforts to make the public aware of their $11.17 hourly wage. It discourages new recruits, results in understaffing and requires too much overtime and sometimes a second job to make “ends meet,” said Jared Chandler, LCFD firefighter and local union liaison.
Carlyss Firefighters start at $12.45 and Sulphur firefighters start at $12.62, according to Chandler. The population of Beaumont is larger than Lake Charles, but similar in terms of geography and industry. Firefighters make $4,496 paid bi-weekly, according to the department’s recruitment website.
As a response to Monday’s protest, City Administrator John Cardone said the $11.17 hourly wage didn’t provide a complete picture of pay. A more accurate reflection is $39,400 annually because of overtime pay built into the work/pay period cycle plus a city supplement of $6,000.
At the request of the American Press, the city provided the average take home pay for the rank of firefighter with one to three years experience. In 2020, the average was $53,295 before taxes.
Chandler said a firefighter would have to work 4,771.26 hours of overtime to make that amount.
“So you’ve got a guy that’s not been home for days to his wife and kids who’s just trying to make ends meet,” Chandler said.
An example of a firefighter’s shift/pay cycle is a series of 24-hours on and 24-hours off shifts that adjusts to allow...
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