Fire/EMT Trainee
Salary
$46,125.00 - $48,460.08 Annually
Location
Burlington Fire Department, 215 S. Church St., Burlington, NC
Job Type
Full-time
Job Number
2026-00117
Department
Fire
Opening Date
06/12/2026
Closing Date
6/26/2026 11:59 PM Eastern
Hiring Range
$46,125.00 - $48,460.08 (Firefighter at 12 months end of probation)
- Description
- Benefits
- Questions
Job Description
Fire/EMT Trainee (Paid Training Provided)
Burlington Fire Department
We'll help you build a career that matters!
The Burlington Fire Department is looking for motivated individuals ready to serve their community, learn lifesaving skills, and grow into a professional Firefighter/EMT-no prior experience required.
If you're driven, dependable, and ready to be part of something bigger than yourself, we'll provide the training, support, and path to get you there.
What You'll Do
As a Firefighter Trainee, you'll be paid to train and become a certified professional firefighter, one of the most respected and rewarding careers in public service. Upon completion of the Fire Academy, you will become a certified firefighter with a placement in the Burlington Fire Department.
You will:
- Attend Fire Academy and EMT training to earn your NC Firefighter and EMT certification
- Train alongside experienced firefighters in real-world scenarios and drills
- Learn how to respond to fires, medical emergencies, rescues, and other critical incidents
- Build hands-on skills like operating hoses, ladders, and life-saving equipment
- Develop the physical and mental readiness required for emergency response
- Maintain and inspect equipment to ensure readiness at all times
Once certified, you'll advance to a Firefighter/EMT role within the Burlington Fire Department, responding directly to emergencies and protecting lives and property.
What We're Looking For
We're looking for people with the right mindset who can be trained in Fire and EMT functions.
Successful candidates are:
- Committed to serving others in high-pressure situations
- Team-oriented and dependable
- Physically and mentally prepared for demanding work
- Willing to learn, train, and meet certification requirements
- Professional in their interactions with the public and coworkers
- We are seeking a diverse workforce of men and women to serve the Burlington community.
Minimum Requirements
- At least 18 years old
- High school diploma or GED
- Valid North Carolina driver's license
- Ability to obtain a NC Class B license during training
No prior firefighter or EMT certification required-we'll train you.
Pay & Career Path
- Starting pay: $46,125 - $48,460
- Be paid to train through Fire & EMT Academy at no cost to the employee
- Promotion to Firefighter/EMT upon successful certification with starting pay of $46,125
- 6 and 12 months increases for acceptable performance
- $48,460 after 12 months
- Educational pay incentives ranging from 2.5% - 5% pay for: 1 year Fire Diploma, Fire Management Certificate, Associate's and Bachelor's Degree for Fire and Non-Fire educational achievements.
- The Burlington Fire Department offers 33 different stipends for various certifications to supplement the annual pay.
- Burlington Fire Department Pay Plan outlines 4-5% raises annually until the mid-point of the range.
- Promotional opportunities exist throughout the course of a career in the Burlington Fire Service.
- The Burlington Fire Department has:
- A strong training culture and commitment to personal development
- A Drone as a First Responder Program
- Modern apparatus and state-of-the-art firefighting equipment designed to enhance safety, efficiency, and operational effectiveness
- Community engagement opportunities
Generous Benefit Package
The City of Burlington has a robust benefit package that takes care of you now and in the future!
- A NEW and improved pay plan with developmental increases
- Free medical health insurance for the employee
- Employee Occupational Health Clinic for employees and covered dependents
- Health, Dental and annual eye exam coverage
- Paid Parental Leave
- Local Governmental Employees' Retirement System
- 401k - 5% city contribution- no match required
- Generous accruals of paid time off for Vacation, Sick and Holiday hours
- Longevity Pay when eligible
- Milestone Leave Program- Employees earn 40 hours of leave at 8, 15 and 25 years
- City Provided Life Insurance
- Tuition reimbursement
- Education incentive
- Language incentive
- Ability to transfer NC local government earned sick leave
- Voluntary Flexible Spending Account election
- Voluntary Short-Term Disability, Accident and Cancer Insurance elections
- Sick to service time conversion for LGERS retirement
- NC Firefighters and Rescue Squad Workers Pension Fund
- Other voluntary insurances and deferred compensation plans
The Work
This is a physically demanding, high-impact role. You'll:
- Lift heavy equipment (100+ lbs at times)
- Work in extreme conditions (heat, cold, smoke, confined spaces)
- As a Fire/EMT Trainee the schedule is Monday-Friday 8am-5pm. When going on shift as a Firefighter the schedule is a 24/48 work schedule.
- Respond to emergencies in all weather conditions
- Operate in environments that require focus, resilience, and teamwork
This position is classified as weather essential personnel.
Why Burlington Fire?
At Burlington Fire Department, you're not just getting a job-you're building a career with purpose. Our department is built on teamwork, training, and a commitment to keeping our community safe through emergency response, risk reduction, and professional service.
Ready to step up? Apply today and start your journey to becoming a Firefighter/EMT Trainee.
Benefits for full-time employees of the City of Burlington (with the exception of full-time sworn police officers) are as follows:
- Paid vacation and sick leave
- Ability to transfer North Carolina local government earned sick leave.
- Paid holidays for New Years Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Good Friday, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veterans Day, Memorial Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas
- Enrollment in the Local Government branch of the North Carolina State Retirement System
- Enrollment in Empower 401k
- Health and dental insurance coverage for employee and children; spouses may be added to the policy if they are not offered coverage at their own place of employment
- Voluntary enrollment in a Flexible Spending Plan
- Life insurance
- Long-term care insurance
- Other voluntary insurances and deferred compensation plans
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Required Question
Employer City of Burlington NC
Address PO Box 1358
Burlington, North Carolina, 27216-1358
Phone 336-222-5105
Website http://www.burlingtonnc.gov