Does Cal Fire Hire Felons?
Does Cal Fire hire felons? The answer may surprise you. Although a criminal record may not disqualify someone from being hired as a firefighter, it will undoubtedly be considered during the hiring process.
Every case is unique, and there are no guarantees, but applicants with a felony may have a better chance of being hired if they can demonstrate that they have paid their debt to society and are now reformed.
Regardless of your criminal history, presenting yourself in the best light possible is crucial and shows that you are qualified for the position.
Many programs are available to help ex-offenders reintegrate into society, and it is up to you to take advantage of them.
If you are felon and looking for job at CAL Fire, then you may expect some good news.
Do not be upset, felony conviction does not prevent you from getting your dream job.
You could be a firefighter, driver, cleaner, storekeeper and so on, there’s huge opportunity already there.
Keep reading to know whether Cal Fire hire people with felony conviction or not.
Cal Fire Overview:
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection is the state agency responsible for fire protection in California. The agencies headquarter located in Sacramento. Source – Wikipedia
The agency is divided into two main divisions:
- Fire Protection
- Law Enforcement
The agency is responsible for the following:
- Providing fire protection and prevention services to 31 million Californians living on more than 33 million acres of land
- Managing the state’s firefighting forces
- Investigating the cause of all significant fires
- Enforcing fire safety laws and regulations
The agency also has its law enforcement division responsible for investigating arson cases.
Does CAL Fire Hire Felons?
Though there’s no official statement from Cal fire whether they hire felons or not but they encourage you to apply for job. However, the hiring process is very competitive, and a limited number of positions are available.
Here’s what CAL fire officially stated about felony conviction:-
FELONY DISCLOSURE
Pursuant to California Penal Code 4571, any individual interested in seeking employment that requires working with inmates at a conservation camp must disclose of any prior felony status up front, so CALFIRE/CDCR can provide informed consent to a former felon to be on the conservation camp/prison grounds. Any person/employee who has been convicted of a felony, and has not received written consent, is committing a felony. [Source]
If you are a felon interested in working for CAL fire, your best bet is to start by applying for a job with the agency’s law enforcement division.
While the competition is stiff, your chances of getting hired are much higher if you have law enforcement experience.
Cal Fire Jobs Salary Range
Here’s a table showing the average salary for for Cal Fire position.
| Job Title | Annual Salary | Monthly Pay | Weekly Pay | Hourly Wage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fire Security Engineer | $152,157 | $12,679 | $2,926 | $73.15 |
| Senior Fire Alarm Engineer | $134,128 | $11,177 | $2,579 | $64.48 |
| Fire Safety Engineer | $122,217 | $10,184 | $2,350 | $58.76 |
| Chief Fire Officer | $116,404 | $9,700 | $2,238 | $55.96 |
| Fire Master | $116,386 | $9,698 | $2,238 | $55.95 |
Cal fire firefighter 1 salary
Above 100K (est)
Cal fire seasonal firefighter salary
Salary (Monthly) Base salary $3,600.00 – $4,550.00 Plus $1,788 – $2,260 Extended Duty Week Compensation (paid every 4 weeks). The typical work week consists of three consecutive 24-hour days on (72-hour shift) with overtime compensation for additional time worked.
Top 10 Highest Paying Cities for Cal Fire Jobs
| City | Annual Salary | Monthly Pay | Weekly Pay | Hourly Wage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Berkeley, CA | $103,607 | $8,633 | $1,992 | $49.81 |
| Renton, WA | $102,075 | $8,506 | $1,962 | $49.07 |
| Santa Monica, CA | $101,430 | $8,452 | $1,950 | $48.76 |
| Merced, CA | $101,286 | $8,440 | $1,947 | $48.70 |
| Daly City, CA | $100,174 | $8,347 | $1,926 | $48.16 |
| Boston, MA | $99,842 | $8,320 | $1,920 | $48.00 |
| San Mateo, CA | $99,724 | $8,310 | $1,917 | $47.94 |
| Clovis, NM | $99,544 | $8,295 | $1,914 | $47.86 |
| Wausau, WI | $98,626 | $8,218 | $1,896 | $47.42 |
| Gilroy, CA | $98,065 | $8,172 | $1,885 | $47.15 |
How much does a Cal Fire make?
As of Sep 30, 2023, the average annual pay for a Cal Fire in the United States is $84,687 a year.
Do firefighters make good money in California?
Entry Level Firefighter Salary in California. $39,400 is the 25th percentile. Salaries below this are outliers. $59,600 is the 75th percentile.
Does Cal fire Drug Test?
Yes, as a fire department Cal fire does a drug test to ensure the safety.
How do you know?
It’s a good idea to determine if your prospective employer drug tests before you go through the hiring process. That way, you can be prepared and know what to expect.
But unfortunately, not all employers are forthcoming about their drug testing policies.
So, what do you do if you’re interested in working for CAL FIRE and want to know if they drug test?
The best way to find out is to ask. You can call the human resources department of CAL Fire or stop by the office and inquire about the drug testing policy. If you cannot get a straight answer, you can do a few other things.
Conclusion:
Being one of the most renowned fire department Cal Fire accept application from ex offenders like felony but you must disclose your felony beforehand.
