Pay Disparity: Colorado DFPC vs. Federal
We are asking for equal pay for equal work.
The federal government is the premier wildland firefighting service in the country. It employs the majority of wildland firefighters in the nation, over 10,000 employees, combating wildfires in all 50 states and internationally. In addition, the federal government provides advanced-skill units not offered by state or private entities, such as Hotshot Crews, Smokejumpers, Rappellers, Helitack Crews, and Wildland Fire Modules -- along with the engines and hand crews it staffs at higher levels than its non-federal counterparts. Every major fire in the U.S. relies on federal firefighters and the vital services their specialized crews provide.
All wildland firefighters work hard and put their lives on the line. Colorado Division of Fire and Prevention (CDFP), private contractors, and municipal fire departments are equal partners in managing our increasingly extreme fire seasons. We respect and value their work; we simply request equal pay for ours.
See for yourself in the graphs below. Considering the pay disparity, it's no surprise that the federal government has a costly retention problem with its wildland fire workforce.
Entry level federal wildland firefighters earn roughly 60% of their Colorado counterparts.
When looking towards a career with the federal fire service, the prospects are equally as gloomy, with federal engine captains earning only 68% of what their Colorado engine captains earn.
But what about the benefits? Colorado wins there, too.
| Retirement | Medical Coverage for Heart Diseases and Cancer |
|
|---|---|---|
| Federal | 1.56% @ 25 years | No |
| Colorado Division of Fire and Prevention | 2.5% @ 25 years | Yes |
Retirement Pension
Retirement for Colorado is not linear. At 25 years, you are at 2.5% per year worked, and that continues until your retirement date. This percentage is nearly double what federal fire receives. Combine this with the much higher salary, and it is potentially millions of dollars in additional earnings that Colorado Wildland Firefighters will receive than a federal employee in retirement.
For fun, let’s compare a Colorado Handcrew Captain vs. a Federal Handcrew Captain (GS-8 step 4):
Colorado - 30 year career ending up at $68,580: 2.5% * 30 years * $68,580 = $51,435 salary in retirement
Over a 30 year retirement this pensioner has earned $1.54M!
Federal Fire - 30 year career ending up at $53,216 - 1.5% * 25 years * $53,216 = $19,956 salary in retirement at age 57 (Mandatory Retirement Age)
30 years retired (Age 87) this federal pensioner has earned $598,680.
The difference in pension benefits here is nearly 1M dollars!
Sources for pay come from Colorado Pay Scale, Firefighter Job Classifications, and the Federal Office of Personnel Management