Firefighter

Position Requirements

• Must be 18 years of age on or before September 25, 2026.
• Must be eligible to work in the United States.
• Must have no felony and limited misdemeanor convictions.
• Must possess a valid driver’s license; out‑of‑state drivers must obtain a North Carolina license within 30 days of employment.
• No loss of license within the past year and must meet the City of Fayetteville Driving Standard.
• Must be in good physical condition as required by the essential job functions and be willing to submit to drug screening and a complete physical (upon conditional offer and while employed).
• Must be able to meet standards for NC EMT certification within one year of employment.

Certified‑Inexperienced Firefighter

• Must meet all general position requirements.
• Must possess a NC Firefighter II certification (ProBoard/IFSAC accredited).
• Must possess Hazardous Materials Operations certification (ProBoard/IFSAC accredited).
• Must possess a current State of North Carolina EMT certification.
• Must possess a current Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) certification.

Starting salary: $46,700 per year (based on verification of certifications).

Lateral Hire Firefighter

• Must meet all general position requirements.
• Must possess a NC Firefighter II certification (ProBoard/IFSAC accredited).
• Must possess Hazardous Materials Operations certification (ProBoard/IFSAC accredited).
• Must possess a current State of North Carolina EMT certification.
• Must possess a current Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) certification.
• Must have a minimum of two years paid full‑time firefighting experience with a state, county, or municipal fire department, or be a retired or recently laid‑off full‑time firefighter (within the last 12 months).

Starting salary range: $48,400 – $52,310 per year (based on verification of experience, education, certifications, and alignment with the FFD Career Development program).

Application Process

Submit an online application by 4:00 PM on Friday, September 25, 2026. Participation in each step of the process is by invitation only; candidates will be notified via e‑mail of the date, time, and location for each step.

• Written Exam: Thursday Oct 15 2026, Friday Oct 16 2026, Saturday Oct 17 2026 (location TBD).
• Practice Physical Ability Test: Tuesday Nov 03 2026.
• Physical Ability Test: Wednesday Nov 04 2026 – Saturday Nov 07 2026.

Selected candidates will undergo a pre‑employment drug screen, physical examination, comprehensive background investigation, reference checks, and driving‑history checks.

Pay

• Entry‑level (inexperienced) Firefighter: $45,000 per year.
• Certified‑Inexperienced Firefighter: $46,700 per year (subject to certification verification).
• Lateral Hire Firefighter: $48,400 – $52,310 per year (subject to experience, education, and certifications).

Schedule

• 24‑hour shifts, including holidays and weekends.
• Work conditions include office/field environments, emergency firefighting, work at heights on scaffolding and ladders, water operations, confined spaces, site‑to‑site travel, and exposure to electrical, noise, radiant energy hazards, and inclement weather.

Benefits

• Health and dental insurance for employees working 30 + hours/week; coverage begins the first day of the month after 30 days of service.
• Employer‑paid leave:
  • Vacation accrual from day one (based on years of service).
  • Sick leave: 8 hours per month for full‑time employees; unlimited accumulation.
  • 12 paid holidays per year (13 when Christmas falls on a Wednesday).
  • Bereavement leave: 24 hours per year.
• Retirement:
  • Participation in the NC Local Governmental Employees’ Retirement System (6 % employee contribution).
  • City contributes 4 % of base salary to the NC 401(k) plan; optional NC 457 plan also available.
• Supplemental cafeteria plan options (employee‑paid through payroll deduction):
  • Flexible Spending Accounts (healthcare and dependent‑care).
  • Short‑term and long‑term disability insurance.
  • Optional life & accidental death & dismemberment insurance.
• Employee Assistance Program at no cost to employees and household members.
• Bi‑weekly pay (every other Friday) with mandatory direct deposit.

Training

The recruitment is for a Fire Training Academy scheduled to begin early 2027. Certified‑Inexperienced and Lateral Hire candidates may be contacted throughout the calendar year and will be eligible for an abbreviated academy schedule.