At their August 6, 2019, regular meeting the Camden County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved offering a $5,000 sign-on bonus to new Firefighter Paramedics joining Camden County Fire Rescue (CCFR).
“With nationwide shortage of paramedics, we are thankful to the Board of Commissioners for their leadership and support of the sign-on bonus,” said CCFR Chief Terry Smith. “Communities across the country are facing similar shortages, and we are hopeful this bonus makes Camden County attractive to new paramedics; allowing us to compete with other local governments in this tight labor market.”
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that employment for EMTs and Paramedics will grow by 15%, much faster than average, by 2026. A CBS46 analysis estimates that there will be a shortage of approximately 800 EMTs and paramedics in the next six to seven years in the state of Georgia.
The recently approved bonus is a $3,000 increase over the existing $2,000 incentive. This is coupled with a competitive wage adjustment in July that raised the starting hourly pay for Firefighter Paramedics. Two years of employment is required to receive the full sign-on bonus. $1,000 is given to the new Firefighter Paramedic after completing the hiring process and after each six month period until the two year employment anniversary.
Specific information is on the Camden County website at: www.camdencountyga.gov/paramedic.
