Firefighters have the opportunity to work in a diverse range of duties and specialized skills.  The Santa Clara Fire Department is an “all hazard” department.  There are opportunities to work on a Fire Engine, Truck, Rescue, Ambulance, and Hazardous Materials Apparatus.  We have personnel that specialize in technical rescue, paramedicine, hazardous materials, and wildland firefighting.  We also have personnel that are on FEMA’s California Task Force 3 as Rescue Specialists, Medical Specialists, Hazmat Specialists, and Operations.

In the event of any conflict between the information in this summary and the applicable official plan documents, City Manager’s Directives (CMD’s), Personnel and Salary Resolution, or Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), the applicable official plan documents, CMD’s, Personnel and Salary Resolution, or MOU will prevail over this summary. Benefits are subject to change.


Salary

The range of annual salary for Firefighter I in Santa Clara is $94,911.84 - $118,094.16. (Firefighters are paid 4 different salary steps. You will receive the last step increase after 3 years on the job)
Firefighter II salary after 3 years on the job is $127,017.36 - $162,020.52 per year.
The promoted position of Driver/Engineer salary range is $136,706.28 - $174,645.60 per year.
The promoted position of Fire Captain salary range is $154,437.72 - $197,419.32 per year.
Paramedic premium pay for those assigned to perform as fire paramedics is an additional $15,936 per year added to your position salary.


Benefits

Retirement:

  • Membership in the California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS)

    • Classic Employees: 3.0% @ age 50 formula - employee pays 9.00% of gross pay

    • New Employees: 2.7% @ age 57 formula – employee pays 11.75% of gross pay

  • Medicare and Social Security (FICA)

    • Employee does not participate in Social Security

    • Employee pays 1.45% of gross salary for Medicare only if hired after 3/31/86

Vacation:

  • Vacation is accrued bi-weekly, cannot use vacation during first 12 months of City service 8 hour shift employees

    • For 1-9 years of service: 15 days (120 hours)/year

    • For 10-20 years of service: 20 days (160 hours)/year

    • For 21+ years of service: 24 days (192 hours)/year

Maximum vacation accrual is 400 hours 24 hour shift employees

  • For 1-9 years of service: 8 shifts (192 hours)/year

  • For 10-19 years of service: 10 shifts (240 hours)/year

  • For 20+ years of service: 12 shifts (288 hours)/year

  • Maximum vacation accrual is 672 hours

Psychological Counseling:

  • Confidential psychological counseling is available. Maximum up to 20 visits per year. Employee is responsible for $10 copay per session. After any insurance coverage and the employee’s copay is subtracted, the remainder of the sessions will be covered by the fire department.

Health Insurance:

  • City contribution up to $859.20/month, based on enrollment in a CalPERS health plan

  • Employees electing health coverage with premiums above the City health contribution will pay additional premium costs from salary on a pre-tax basis

  • Coverage is effective the first of the month after date of hire

  • If an employee enrolls in a plan with a premium that is less than $859.20/month, they will be paid the difference in cash

Sick Leave:

  • Sick leave is accrued bi-weekly for equivalent of 12 days or shifts per calendar year with no maximum accrual 8 hour shifts:

    • Employees accrue 12 days (96 hours) of sick leave per year

    • Up to 48 hours/year of accumulated sick leave may be used for family illness

    • Up to 32 hours/year of accumulated sick leave may be used for personal leave 24 hour shifts:

    • Employees accrue 12 shifts (288 hours) of sick leave per year

    • Up to 6 shifts (144 hours)/year of accumulated sick leave may be used for family illness

    • Up to 60 hours/year of accumulated sick leave may be used for personal leave

    • Employee may convert sick leave to vacation once per calendar year

      • 8-hour shift employees: Annual maximum conversion is 96 hours sick to 48 hours vacation

      • 24-hour shift employees: Annual maximum conversion is 216 hours sick to 72 hours vacation

  • Partial sick leave payoff provision on retirement depending on years of service and sick leave cap (or 3,000 hours for 24-hour shift employees)


Every effort is made to keep the information on this page current, please double check all salary information and benefit information with the City of Santa Clara Human Resource Department’s page. Firefighters in the Santa Clara Fire Department are represented by the Santa Clara Firefighters, International Association of Firefighters (IAFF) Local 1171 (www.iaff1171.org)
Link to Firefighters Memorandum of Understanding