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U N IT E D S T A T E S D E P A R T M E N T OF L A B O R
Frances Perkins, Secretary
B U R E A U OF L A B O R ST A TISTIC S
Isador Lubin, Commissioner
in cooperation w ith
W O R K PROJECTS A D M IN IS T R A T IO N

+

Salaries and Hours o f Labor in
M unicipal Fire Departments
July 1,1938
VOLUM E IX
Pacific Cities
+
Prepared by
Division o f Construction and Public Employment




H E R M A N B. B Y E R , Chief

Bulletin T^o. 684

U N IT E D

S T A T E S

G O V E R N M E N T P R IN T IN G OFFICE
W A S H IN G T O N : 1941

U N ITED STATES D EPARTM ENT OF LABOR
F r an c es P e r k in s , Secretary

+
B U R E A U OF L A B O R S T A T IS T IC S
I sador L ubin , Commissioner
A. F. H inrichs, Assistant Commissioner
Aryness Joy, Chief, Prices and
Cost of Living Branch

D onald
D avenport,
Chief,
Em ploym ent and Occupa­
tional Outlook Branch

N. Arnold Tolies, Chief, W ork­
ing Conditions and Indus­
trial Relations Branch

Henry J. Fitzgerald, Chief,
Business
Management
Branch

Sidney W. W ilcox, Chief Stat­
istician

Hugh S. Hanna, Chief, Edi­
torial and Research
CHIEFS

OF

DIVISIONS

Herman B. Byer, Construction
and Public Em ploym ent

Charles F. Sharkey, Labor Law
Inform ation

J. M. Cutts, Wholesale Prices

Boris Stern, Labor Inform a­
tion Bulletin

Swen Kjaer, Industrial A cci­
dents

Stella Stewart, Retail Prices

John J. M ahaney,
Tabulation

M achine

Lewis E. Talbert, Em ploym ent
Statistics

R obert J. Myers, Wage and
Hour Statistics

Em m ett H. Welch, Occupa­
tional Outlook

Florence Peterson, Industrial
Relations

Faith M. Williams, Cost of
Living

S T A T E , C O U N T Y , A N D M U N IC IP A L S U R V E Y
Jesse M. H adley , Director
ii




CONTENTS
Page

Summary__________________________________________________________________
Annual salaries:
General level of salaries-----------------------------------------------------------------------Salaries in selected occupations_______________________________________
Salaries of privates____________________________________________________
Hours and working conditions:
Average hours and days on duty per week____________________________
Items supplied firemen________________________________________________
Vacations with p a y ------------------------------------------------------------------------------Prom otion of lower-grade privates-------------------------------------------------------Percentage distribution of employees and salaries:
All em ployees_________________________________________________________
Supervisory em ployees________________________________________________
Appendix:
T able A.— Cities covered by this report--------------------------------------------T able B.— Number of employees and annual salaries in cities of
100.000 or more, by occupation_________________________
T able C.— Number of employees and annual salaries in cities of
50.000 to 100,000, by occupation_______________________
T able D .— Number of employees and annual salaries in cities of
25.000 to 50,000, by occupation________________________
T able E.— Average hours and days on duty, by occupational di­
visions_____________________
T able F.— Total salaries and total number of em ployees---------------------




in

1
2
3
7
9
13
13
13
14
15
17
18
21
22
24
26




Letter o f Transmittal

U n ited S tates D epar tm en t of L a b o r ,
B u r e a u of L ab or S tatistics ,

Washington, D. C., October 16, 191fi.
The S ecretary

of

L abor:

I have the honor to transmit herewith the last of a series of nine
reports on Salaries and Hours of Labor in Municipal Fire Depart­
ments. This report covers cities in the Pacific Division States. An
explanation of the purposes of the survey was given in the preface to
the first report, volume I, New England Cities.
I sador L u b in , Commissioner.

Hon. F rances P e r k in s ,
Secretary of Labor.







B u lletin

A[o.

684

(Vol. DC) o f

the

U n ited States B u rea u o f Labor Statistics

Salaries and H ours o f Labor in M unicipal Fire
Departments, Pacific Cities, July 1, 1 9 3 8 1

Summary
Employment in the fire departments2 of the 27 Pacific cities having
a population of 25,000 3 or more was 6,580 persons on July 1, 1938,
and the total annual salaries amounted to $15,623,000. Four-fifths
of the persons employed and salaries paid were in the 9 largest cities
and nearly half in the 2 largest, Los Angeles and San Francisco.
The cities studied included all cities in California, Washington, and
Oregon which had a population in excess of 25,000, except the urban
township of Belvedere, which had a volunteer department. They
ranged in size from Los Angeles, with about one and a quarter million
inhabitants, to Bakersfield, Calif., with just over 26,000. Los Angeles
had a department of 1,782 persons, or 14 for each 10,000 residents,
and the annual expenditures for fire department salaries amounted to
$3.63 per capita.
The smallest city, Bakersfield, in an oil-producing district, spent a
relatively large amount for fire protection. The per capita cost for
salaries was $4.78, and the fire department employed 23 persons per
10,000 residents. In San Bernardino, Calif., with the smallest depart­
ment consisting of 31 employees the comparable figures were 8 em­
ployees and $1.43. For the entire 27 cities the average figures were
$3.76 per capita and 16 employees per 10,000 inhabitants.
Ninety-four out of every one hundred employees were in the fire­
fighting divisions. Of the 94, 63 were privates, 7 were engineers,
4 were drivers, 11 were captains, and 6 were lieutenants; the rest were
1 Analysis and presentation b y Arthur Dadian, Gerald M . Whitright, and M . F. Thurston. Editing
and tabulation of data by Mahlon B. Buckman. Carol P. Brainerd, technical adviser.
2 Relatively little general information is available on employment and salaries in city fire departments,
in spite of the importance of their functions and the considerable number of their employees. A study on
the Salaries and Working Conditions of Fire Department Employees, 1934, by the Bureau of Labor Statistics
was published in the M onthly Labor Review of November 1935. In the present study the Bureau of Labor
Statistics, in cooperation with the W ork Projects Administration, has undertaken to compile this informa­
tion, as of July 1,1938, for cities in the United States having a population of 25,000 or more. This report for
the cities in the Pacific States is one of a series which is being issued b y geographic divisions.
3 The U. S. Census of Population for 1930 was used to determine the size of the cities. See appendix for
list of the States in the Pacific Division and the cities included in this bulletin.




1

2

SALARIES AND HOURS IN MUNICIPAL FIRE DEPARTMENTS

battalion chiefs, chiefs, and their assistants. The 6 percent not in
the fire-fighting divisions were engaged in such activities as fire-alarm
operation, fire prevention, maintenance, and clerical work.
Sixteen of the twenty-seven cities promoted privates of lower grades
automatically after 1 year of service, 10 made promotions on the basis
of civil-service appointments, and 1 had no system of promotions.
Vacations with pay were granted to nearly all employees, and the
average length of the vacation was 14.5 days.
The highest individual salary was the. $7,200 received by the chiefs
of the Los Angeles and San Francisco Fire Departments, and the lowest
was $1,200 paid to fire-alarm operators in Glendale, Calif., and a
stenographer in Oakland, Calif. M ore than nine-tenths of all salaries
were between $1,650 and $2,750. The spread between the salaries
for most grades of supervisory officers and those of privates was rela­
tively narrow.
A bout 94 out of every 100 employees worked under some form of
the two-platoon system requiring periods of duty totaling from 70 to
84 hours per week.

Annual Salaries
General Level o f Salaries

Almost three-fifths of the fire-department salaries in the 27 Pacific
cities were between $2,150 and $2,450. M ost of the salaries in and
above this range were received by employees in the larger cities.
These cities had only 9 percent of their fire department employees
receiving below $2,150 as compared with 20 percent in the medium­
sized cities and 76 percent in the small cities.
For the sake of brevity the large cities having 100,000 or more in
population will be designated in this report as group I ; 4 cities from
50,000 to 100,000 will be designated group II ; and 25,000 to 50,000,
group III. The cities with their groupings are shown in appendix
table A.
Maximum salaries were $7,200 for group I cities, $4,800 for group
II, and $3,600 for group III, and in all cases these were salaries paid
to department chiefs. The differences in salaries paid according to
size of city are shown in table 1 and in chart on page 4.
4
Except for Los Angeles and San Francisco, the populations of the cities in group I were below 500,000.
Los Angeles, with 1,238,048 inhabitants, and San Francisco with 634,394 inhabitants have been included in
group I because the data for these cities did not vary sufficiently from the data for the other cities to justify
separate treatment.




3

PACIFIC CITIES
T

able

1.—

D istrib u tio n o f em p lo yees in fire departm ents o f 2 7 P a cific cities, by sala ry
grou p and size o f c ity , J u ly 1, 1 9 3 8
[For a more detailed analysis of data, see appendix tables B, C, and D]
Percentage

Number
Salary group
ip

C ity group 1

C ity grou p 1
All
cities

All
cities
I

All groups..
Under $1,250____
1____________
$1,250 and under $1,350.
$1,350 and under $1,450.
$1,450 and under $1,550.
$1,550 and under $1,650.

III

II

2 6, 576

5, 254

735

6

1

5

10
18
49

2
12

1
3

I

587

100.0

II

100.0

.1

(3)

7
3
49

.2
.3
.7

(3)

III

100.0

100.0

.7
.2

.1
.4

1.2
.5
8. 3

$1,650 and
$1,750 and
$1,850 and
$1,950 and
$2,050 and

under
under
under
under
under

$1,750.
$1,850.
$1,950.
$2,050.
$2,150.

106
164
159
379
163

11
117
43
226
51

2
7
11
39
77

93
40
105
114
35

1.6
2.5
2.4
5.8
2.5

.2
2.2
.8
4.3
1.0

.3
.9
1.5
5.3
10. 5

15.8
6.8
17.9
19.4
6.0

$2,150 and
$2,250 and
$2,350 and
$2,450 and
$2,550 and

under
under
under
under
under

$2,250.
$2,350.
$2,450.
$2,550.
$2,650.

1,185
380
2, 343
264
420

967
190
2,200
200
397

140
160
135
55
22

78
30
8
9
1

18.0
5.8
35.6
4.0
6.4

18.4
3.6
41.9
3.8
7.6

19.0
21.8
18.4
7.5
3.0

13.3
5.1
1.4
1.5
.2

$2,650 and
$2,750 and
$2,850 and
$2,950 and
$3,050 and

under $2,750.
under $2,850.
under $2,950.
under $3,050.
o v e r ..

402
114

350
107

47
5

5
2

6.1
1.7

6.7
2.0

6.4
.7

.9
.3

278
136

265
* 115

9
817

4
#4

4.2
2.1

5.1
2.2

1.2
2.3

.7
.7

1 Group I includes cities having a population of 100,000 or more; group II, cities having a population of
50,000 and under 100,000; group III, cities having a population of 25,000 and under 50,000, based on TJ. S.
Census of Population for 1930.
2 Includes only regular full-time employees.
2 Less than Ho of 1 percent.
* Includes 14 at $3,060,1 at $3,120,1 at $3,180, 2 at $3,300, 2 at $3,360, 40 at $3,600,1 at $3,708,1 at $3,780,1 at
$3,900, 1 at $4,050, 26 at $4,200, 2 at $4,500, 18 at $4,800, 1 at $5,000, 2 at $5,400, and 2 at $7,200.
* Includes 3 at $3,120, 2 at $3,180, 3 at $3,420, 2 at $3,600, 1 at $3,840, 4 at $4,200, 1 at $4,500, and 1 at $4,800.
6 Includes 1 at $3,300 and 3 at $3,600.

Salaries in Selected Occupations

Salaries were distributed over a wider range in those cities which
paid the higher salaries, and in most instances these were the larger
cities. Spreads between the salaries for different occupations were also
wider and the range of salaries for the same occupation greater in the
cities with higher average salary levels.
Salaries of all chiefs and nearly all of their immediate assistants in
group I and group II cities were above $2,950, but 4 out of 12 chiefs
in group III cities had lower salaries. Of 495 captains in the largest
cities 220 had salaries between $2,950 and $3,050, and 245 had salaries
between $2,550 and $2,850. A majority of the captains in group II
cities and all of those in the smallest cities had salaries lower than
$2,550. Salaries of privates varied from $1,380 to $2,400 but were
generally concentrated in the upper part of this range, except in the
smallest cities. Differences between the average salaries of privates
and captains were fairly wide. For example, salaries of first grade
privates averaged $494, $278 and $195 lower, respectively, than
captains’ salaries in the 3 groups of cities.
2 8 6 0 8 5 ° — 4 1 ------- 2




BY SALARY AND SIZE OF CITY
PERCENT OF EMPLOYEES

JULY I, 1938

PERCENT OF EMPLOYEES

IOO

80

60

40

20

U. S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS




SALARIES AND HOURS IN MUNICIPAL FIRE DEPARTMENTS

EMPLOYEES IN FIRE DEPARTMENTS OF 2 7 PACIFIC DIVISION CITIES

5

PACIFIC CITIES
cities ,

T a b l e 2 . — D istrib u tio n o f fire departm ent em p lo yees in

2 7 P a cific
selected o ccu p ation s a nd sa la ry g r o u p , J u l y 1, 1 9 8 8

by

[For a more detailed analysis of data, see appendix tables B, C, and D]
Chiefs

All occupations
Salary group

C ity group 7

Assistant or deputy chiefs

C ity group i

All
cities

C ity group i

All
cities
I

II

III

All
cities
II

I

III

I

II

III

9

6

12

27

9

6

12

24

8

5

11

6,576 5,254

735

587

27

9

6

12

39

17

6

16

6

1

5

10
18
49

2
12

1
3

7
3
49

under $1,750___
under $1,850....
under $1,950___
under $2,050___
under $2,150___

106
164
159
379
163

11
117
43
226
51

2
7
11
39
77

93
40
105
114
35

$2,150 and under $2,250___
$2,250 and under $2,350___
$2,350 and under $2,450___
$2,450 and under $2,550___
$2,550 and under $2,650___

1,185
380
2, 343
264
420

967
190

140
160
135
55

30
8

397

22

9
1

$2,650 and under $2,750___
$2,750 and under $2,850___
$2,850 and under $2,950 . . .
$2,950 and under $3,050___
$3,050 and o v e r _______ _

402
114

350
107

47
5

2

5

1

278
136

265
115

9
• 17

4
4

4
19

Number of cities reportings
T otal number of
ployees 3_ ___

em­
__

Under $1,250.. _ __ _ __
$1,250 and under $1,350___
$1,350 and under $1,450___
$1,450 and under $1,550___
$1,550 and under $1,650___
$1,650
$1,750
$1,850
$1,950
$2,050

and
and
and
and
and

27

2 ,2 0 0
200

1

1

3
3

3
3

78

3

3
1

2
•9

4
84

76

1
1

1
1

8

2

6

3

3
1
16

2

9 11

1

10 5

Average annual salary i7_ _ $2,376 $2,428 $2, 326 $1,972 $3,980 $5,042 $4,350 $2,998 $3, 111 $3,702 $3,480 $2,344
Battalion chiefs

Assistant deputy chiefs
Salary group

C ity group i

C ity group i

All
cities

All
cities
I

III

II

10

2

4

4

13

Total number
ployees 3.
_

21

11

5

5

98

em­

C ity group i

All
cities
I

Number of cities reporting.
of

Captains

III

II

8

88

I

II

III

4

1

27

9

6

8

2

710

495

107

12
108

Under $1,250_____________
$1,250 and under $1,350___
$1,350 and under $1,450.._
$1,450 and under $1,550..
$1,550 and under $1,650___
$1,650 and under $1,750..
$1,750 and under $1,850___
$1,85 0 and under $1,950 __
$1,950 and under $2,050___
$2,050 and under $2,150
$2,150 and under $2,250___
$2,250 and under $2,350___
$2,350 and under $2,450. .
$2,450 and under $2,550.
$2,550 and under $2,650.
$2,650 and
$2>750 and
$2,850 and
$2,950 and
$3,050 and

under $2,750
under $2,850___
under $2,950___
under $3,050___
o v e r ______ .

1

1

1

1

1

1

2

2

8
7
23
19

12

6

1
2

13

1
2
i i 11

U2

2

2

2
31
57

2

4

29
13 55

2
2
14 2

28
50

20

8

13

7
23
6

17

16

28
17

27

7

34
107

107

76
106

32
106

220

220

12

20

44

Average annual salary 17_ _ $3,669 $4,664 $3,024 $2,124 $3,431 $3,503 $2,895 $2,400 $2,659 $2,811 $2, 536 $ 2 ,

gee footnotes at end of table,




087

6
T

SALARIES AND HOURS IN . MUNICIPAL FIRE DEPARTMENTS
able

2 .— D istrib u tio n o f fire departm ent em p lo yees in 2 7 P a cific citiesf
selected occu p ation s and sala ry g ro u p , J u l y 1, 1 9 3 8 — Continued
Lieutenants

Salary group

Engineers, fire engine

C ity group i
I

III

II

Drivers

C ity group 1

All
cities

All
cities

C ity group i

All
cities
I

III

II

by

I

II

III

Number of cities reporting.

11

7

3

1

18

7

4

6

9

5

2

2

T otal number of employees 3--------------------

363

319

37

7

415

306

60

49

268

246

16

6

under $1,750___
under $1,850___
under $1,950___
under $2'050___
under $2,150 _ _

23

23

10
12

2

$2,150 and under $2,250
$2^250 and under $2,350___
$2^350 and under $2,450 . . .
$2^450 and under $2,550___
$2^550 and under $2,650___

27
22
80
57

17
68
57

$2,650 and under $2,750___
$2,750 and under $2,850 . . .
$2350 and under $2,950___
$2,950 and under $3,050___
$3,050 and o v e r __________

154

154

Under $1,250_____________
$1,250 and under $1,350___
$1,350 and under $1,450___
$1,450 and under $1,550___
$1,550 and under $1,650___
$1,650 and
$1,750 and
$L850 and
$1,950 and
$2,050 and

4

4
10
10

17
10
15
12

7

26
57
14
16
106

86

157

157

14
10

47
14

17

16

12

2
2

16
20

61
183

14

2

2
2
61 183

Average annual salary 17. . $2,476 $2, 497 $2,327 $2,340 $2,503 $2,602 $2,400 $2,011 $2,516 $2,557 $2,123 $1,860
Privates, all grades
C ity group *

Salary group

Number of cities reporting.
em­
-----

Under $1,250
_________
$1,250 and under $1,350___
$1,350 and under $1,450___
$1,450 and under $1,550___
$1,550 and under $1,650___
$1,650 and
$1,750 and
$1,850 and
$1,950 and
$2,050 and

under
under
under
under
under

$1,750___
$1,850___
$1,950___
$2,050___
$2,150___

$2,150 and under $2,250___
$2,250 and under $2,350___
$2,350 and under $2,450___
$2,450 and under $2,550
$2 550 and under $2,650

Fire alarm operators

C ity group 7

All
cities

C ity group 1

All
cities
I

T otal number of
ployees 3--------------

A uto mechanics

II

All
cities
I

HI

III

II

I

II

III

9

6

12

7

4

2

1

17

6

5

6

4,158 3,412

413

333

16

11

3

2

4 78

35

28

15

27

5

5
3
10
49

7

76
121
74
332
106

2
101
4
201
46

10
39
60

902
1,038
206
98
2,143 2,051

104
108
92

$2 650 and under $2,750
$2 750 and under $2,850
$2,850 and under $2,950___
$2 950 and under $3,050.
$3,050 and over ________

3
3
49

4

74
20
60
92

3
9
4
2

32

2

2

6
2

6

4
1

4
1

1

2

10
13
10
14
4

4

3
1

6

2

4
2

4
9
10
7
4

6

4
7

1

Average annual salary17. _ $2, 253 $2,294 $2,220 $1,865 $2,298 $2,329 $2,460 $1,884 $2,126 $2,378 $2,016 $1, 742
See footnotes at end of table.




7

PACIFIC CITIES
T

able

2 . — D istrib u tio n o f fire departm ent em p lo ye es in 2 7 P a cific cities , by
selected occu p ation s and sala ry g ro u p , J u l y 1, 1 9 8 8 — Continued
Linemen

Others

City group 1

Salary group
All
cities2
I
Number of cities reporting.. . .
Total number of employees 3. . .
Under $1,250___ _
_
.. .
$1,250 and under $1,350________
$1,350 and under $1,450 _______
$1,450 and under $1,550 _ _
_
$1,550 and under $1,650.______
$1,650 and under $1,750 _ __ __
$1,750 and under $1,850________
$1,850 and under $1,950. _______
$1,950 and under $2,050 _______
$2,050 and under $2,150._ ____
$2,150 and under $2,250________
$2,250 and under $2,350________
$2,350 and under $2,450 ........... .
$2,450 and under $2,550 _______
$2,550 and under $2,650 _______
$2,650 and under $2,750 _______
$2,750 and under $2,850 _______
$2,850 and under $2,950.______
$2,950 and under $3,050________
$3,050 and over_______________
Average annual salary 17______

8
520

City group 1

All
cities
II
7
18

I

1
2

27

9

6

287

44

1
8

2

7
9

15
16
18

2

22
9
45
18

2

7
9

$2,160

(18)

3

9
15

2
1
1

12
12

5
36

16
u 29
(18)

4
5

10
1

3
4
3
11
5
2

12

20

12
32

1

5

53
65
7
7
1

31
$2,399

1
2

66
70
10
8
3

$2,375

III

363

3

2

II

5
3
2

1
1

2
4
18 2
(18)

(18)

1 Group I includes cities having a population of 100,000 or more; group II, cities having a population of
50,000 and under 100,000; and group III cities having a population of 25,000 and under 50,000, based on U. S.
Census of Population for 1930.
2 N o persons in this occupation in cities of group III.
3 Includes only regular full-time employees.
4 Includes 7 telephone operators and 1 radio operator in city group I. Does not include chief operators.
« Does not include helpers.
« Includes 1 at $3,180,1 at $3,600, 2 at $4,500, 1 at $4,800, 1 at $5,000, 1 at $5,400, and 2 at $7,200.
7 Includes 4 at $4,200,1 at $4,500, and 1 at $4,800.
8 Includes 1 at $3,300 and 3 at $3,600.
• Includes 2 at $3,600,1 at $3,708, 1 at $4,056, 2 at $4,200, 4 at $4,800, and 1 at $5,400.
io Includes 2 at $3,420, 2 at $3,600, and 1 at $3,840.
n Includes 1 at $3,300 and 10 at $4,800.
12 Includes 1 at $3,120 and 1 at $3,180.
13 Includes 32 at $3,600 and 23 at $4,200.
14 Each recieves $3,120.
is Includes 14 at $3,060, 1 at $3,120, 1 at $3,300, 2 at $3,360, 5 at $3,600, 1 at $3,780, 1 at $3,900,1 at $4,200,
and 3 at $4,800.
i« Includes 1 at $3,180 and 1 at $3,420.
17 Average annual salary is derived b y dividing the total salaries received by the number of employees.
See table F.
1®N o average computed because such a heterogeneous group of occupations.

Salaries of Privates
Privates constituted 63 percent of all the employees and received
60 percent of salary payments. In most cities there were several
grades, each having different salary ranges. Only 3 privates were
paid a salary as low as $1,380 and none received more than $2,400.
While this $1,000 range represented a fairly large spread, 8 out of
every 10 salaries were concentrated in the $300 salary range, $2,150
to $2,450. In group I cities, nine-tenths were in this range, in group
II, three-fourths, and in group III, one tenth.
As a rule, the larger cities had more grades of privates and a larger
number in the lower grades. Salaries for the lower grades averaged
definitely lower than for the first grade, though some second- and




8

SALARIES AND HOURS IN MUNICIPAL FIRE DEPARTMENTS

third-grade privates in the largest group I cities received higher
salaries than some first-grade privates in the smaller cities of the
same group.
T

able

3 . — D istrib u tio n o f privates in fire departm ents o f 2 7 P a cific cities , b y sala ry
group and grade , J u ly 1, 1 9 3 8
All grades
Number

Percentage

Salary group
C ity group 1

C ity group i

All
cities

All
cities
I

All groups-------------------

. 4,158

$1,350 and under $1,450.
$1,450 and under $1,550.
$1,550 and under $1,650.
$1,650 and under $1,750.
$1,750 and under $1,850.
$1,850 and under $1,950.
$1,950 and under $2,050.
$2,050 and under $2,150.
$2,150 and under $2,250.
$2,250 and under $2,350.
$2,350 and under $2,450.

3
10
49
76
121
74
332
106
1,038
206
2,143

II

3,412

III

413

7
2
101
4
201
46
902
98
2,051

10
39
60
104
108
92

I

333

100.0

3
3
49
74
20
60
92

.1
.2
1.2
1.8
2.9
1.8
8.0
2.5
25.0
5.0
51.5

32

III

II

100.0

100.0

100.0
.9
.9
14.7
22.2
6.0
18.0
27.7

.2
.1
3.0
.1
5.9
1.3
26.4
2.9
60.1

2.4
9.4
14.5
25.2
26.2
22.3

9.6

Num ber of privates by specified grade
First

Second

Third

Salary group
C ity grou p 1

C ity group 1

All
cities

All
cities
I

All groups .
$1,350 and
$1,450 and
$1,550 and
$1,650 and
$1,750 and
$1,850 and
$1,950 and
$2,050 and
$2,150 and
$2,250 and
$2,350 and

3,583 2.990

under $1,450_.
under $1,550..
under $1,650..
36
under $1,750..
63
under $1,850..
93
93
under $1,950..
43
under $2,050..
207
115
59
under $2,150..
841
under $2,250..
731
under $2,350..
98
under $2,450..
___ 2,143 2,051

II

III

329

264

36
63
43
92
59
80
98
92

30

I
212
3
7
2
7
17
1
39
28
108

C ity group 1

All
cities
II

149

III

28

I

35

224

187

3
7

7
5
4
17
1
14
7
169

7

2
7
16

1
1
39
9
98

II

2

17
10

III

14

23

5
4
13
1

4
8
6
162

6
1
7

Number of privates b y specified grade— Continued
Fourth

Fifth

Probationary

Salary group
All
cities
All groups.
$1,350 and under $1,450. _
$1,450 and under $1,550..
$1,550 and under $1,650..
$1,650 and under $1,750.
$1,750 and under $1,850..
$1,850 and
$1,950 and
$2,050 and under $2,150..
L
$2,150 and under $2,250.
$2,250 and under $2,350 .
$2,350 and under $2,450..

108

C ity group 1
I
66

II
32

III
10

3

3

7

7

All
cities
27

C ity group *
I
16

II

III

10

1
8
89
1

65
1

8
24

5
21

1

All
cities

C ity group 1
I

II

4

4

4

4

III

1
3
13

2
8

1 Group I includes cities having a population of 100,000 or more; group II, cities having a population of
50,000 and under 100,000; and group III, cities having a population of 25,000 and under 50,000, based on
TJ. S. Census of Population for 1930.




PACIFIC CITIES

9

Hours and Working Conditions
Average Hours and Days on D uty Per Week
A large majority of the employees in a fire department— all of the
uniformed men except a few officers— work under a platoon system of
assignment. The rest of the employees are either on “ continuous”
duty or have the working hours prevailing in the other city bureaus.
A platoon is a system of assignment to duty at stated hours, so as to
provide equal protection at all times. It is analogous to the systems
of shifts in industries operating 24 hours a day, and the platoon itself
corresponds to the group working a given set of hours.
The single-platoon system operates 24 hours a day on a single tour.
Each fireman remains continuously on duty for 2 or more days and
then has a day off. The off days are so arranged that the department
is equally staffed at all times. Under the single-platoon system the
average weekly days and hours on duty are determined by the fre­
quency of days off. The shortest workweek under this system aver­
ages 112 hours and 4.7 days on duty; this occurs in the variation in
which the fireman has 2 days on duty with the third day off. As the
period between days off increases, the length of the workweek also
increases and approaches the limit of 168 hours, or the length of a full
week of continuous duty. The only variation of the single-platoon
system occurring in the Pacific Division is the one with 144 hours
and 6 days on duty per week.
The single-platoon system was formerly the most prevalent, but
most cities in the United States now operate under the double-platoon
system. In the simplest form of the double-platoon system one group
or platoon works a full 24-hour day and is then relieved by the second
platoon which works the next 24 hours. Each platoon is on duty
seven 24-hour periods in 14 days, or an average of 3.5 such periods per
week. Hours on duty for this and other two-platoon systems which
do not provide for extra or additional days off average 84 per week.
Under improved forms of the double-platoon system the day is divided
into 2 periods or tours of duty— a day tour of 10 or 11 hours and a cor­
responding night tour of 14 or 13 hours. While one group is on duty
the other is off duty. The firemen, however, do not work the same
tour constantly but are shifted at regular intervals from day to night
duty and vice versa. T o effect the shift, the platoon working the day
tour continues on duty through the night, working a full 24-hour day,
after which it goes off duty until the following night, when it begins
the night tour and continues to work nights until the next shift. The
other platoon meanwhile has 24 consecutive hours off duty, reporting
on the day tour the following day. Thus one platoon has a 24-hour
period of duty and the other a 24-hour period of leave at each shift.




10

SALARIES AND HOURS IN MUNICIPAL FIRE DEPARTMENTS

The frequency of shifts under this type of double-platoon system
varies from as often as once in 3 days to once in 30 days, resulting in
average number of days on duty varying from 5.8 to 6.8 days per week;
the less frequent the shifts, the larger the number of days or work
periods per week. The following illustrates the variation used in
Seattle, Wash.
T w o -P la to o n System (S hift on F o u rth D ay)
D ay

1
2
3
4

First platoon

x x x x x x x x x x ---------------------------------x x x x x x x x x x --------------------------------x x x x x x x x x x ---------------------------------xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
-

xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
6 ---------------------x x x x x x x x x x x x x x
7 ---------------------x x x x x x x x x x x x x x
8 ------------------------------------------------

5

Second platoon

xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
-----------------------------------------------------------

x x x x x x x x x x ---------------------------x x x x x x x x x x ---------------------------x x x x x x x x x x ---------------------------xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

N ote.—Each X represents 1 hour on duty. Each - represents 1 hour off duty.

It will be noted that on the fourth day the members of the first
platoon work a full 24 hours, and the second platoon is off duty 24
hours. This 24-hour period of time on and off duty results in the
first platoon changing to the night tour on the fifth day, and the
second platoon changing to day duty. Thus, the 24-hour tours are
always a signal for a shift in the platoons.
Some variations of the two-platoon system eliminate 24-hour
periods of duty, and the present trend is toward the three-platoon
system, which divides the day into three 8-hour tours of duty in order
to make the hours on duty shorter and to avoid the long 24-hour
tours. However, there were no instances of this system in the Pacific
cities.
In most departments, the entire fire-fighting division operates
wholly under one of the three general types of platoon systems, but
certain officers— mainly chiefs or other high ranking officers— are
reported on “ continuous duty,” which simply means that they are
subject to call at any time. There are other employees not in the
uniformed force, such as clerks and maintenance men, who usually
work the hours prevailing in private industry or in the other depart­
ments of the city government.
Average days on duty in the Pacific cities ranged from 3 to 7 days
per week, according to the type of system used. Ninety-four out of
one hundred employees worked under some form of the two-platoon
system. Sixty of these worked under variations of the system which
required from 3.5 to 6.8 days on duty in a workweek averaging 84
hours. The remaining 34 were employed under systems which varied
from 3 to 6 days, and averaged fewer than 84 hours per week. The
other 6 percent of the employees were engaged in clerical, main-




PACIFIC CITIES

11

tenance, and similar types of work, with an average workweek of
5.5 days and 44.5 hours.
A considerable number of cities in the Pacific Division, including
some of the largest, were using the form of double-platoon system
which required firemen to be on duty a full 24 hours, followed by 24
hours off, either with or without additional time off. Nineteen of
the twenty-seven cities reported this arrangement of hours. Fire
department employees in these cities constituted 58 percent of total
employees in the cities studied. The remaining employees worked
under two-platoon systems in which the day was divided into day and
night tours of duty.




able

4. —

A verage hours and days on d u ty per week in fire departm ents o f 2 7 P a cific cities , J u ly 1 , 1 9 3 8

12

T

[For a more detailed analysis of data, see appendix table E]

System of operation

City group 1

C ity group 1

All
cities

144

2-platoon—regular3-------------On 24 hours, off 24 hours.
Shift 3d day____________
Shift 4th day___________
Shift 6th day___________
Shift 7th d a y___________
Shift 15th day__________

84
84
84
84
84
84

2-platoon—with additional time off duty •________
On 24 hours, off 24 hours, off 0.5 day per weekOverlapping-group system, off 1 day per week.
On 24 hours, off 24 hours, off 0.2 day per week.
On 24 hours, off 24 hours, off 0.1 day per week.
10-group system, off 1.2 days per week_______

72
72
78
81
70

Other 7.

44.5

7.0

24
3

3.5
5.8

6.1

1

11
5
1 _______

2
2
4
1 _______

6.4
6.5

6.8

1
1 __________
1 __________
1
3 _______
1
2
1 ____
1 ___

3.0

4

3.3
3.4
5.8

2 _______________
2
2
1
1 _______
1
1 _______________

6.0

5.5

1

24

1 _______

3

1 __________

9

III

II
2 6,576

Single platoon:3
On 6 days, off 1 day.

All
cities

III

All systems______
168

City group 1

All
cities
II

Continuous d uty.

Percentage of employees

Number of employees

5, 254

735

II

587

4

1

3

3,958
2,861
78
548
48
318
105

3,010
2,462

586
362
229
170
78 _______

2,211
334
1,110

1,954

59
542
166
379

100.0

11

548
174
105

211
1,110

75

467
166

75

278

69

48
144
182
123

100.0
.2

III

100.0
.7

100.0
1.4

W
60.2
43.5
1.2
8.3
.7
4.9
1.6

57.3
46.9

33.6
5.1
16.9
.9

37.2
4.0

8.2
2.5

5.7

5
79.7
31.1
10.6

10.4
23.7
14.3

21.1
8.9
3.2

10. 2

___

31.0

21.0

~~~ io.'o

10.2 ____

5.4

1 Group I includes cities having a population of 100,000 or more; group II, cities having a population of 50,000 and under 100,000; and group III, cities having a population of
25,000 and under 50,000, based on U. S. Census of Population for 1930.
2Includes only regular, full-time employees.
3 The average number of hours on duty per week for employees in each variation of the single-platoon system is arrived at b y dividing the total number of hours on duty per
year for each variation b y 52.143. The average number of days on duty per week for each variation is arrived at b y dividing the total number of days on duty per year by 52.143.
i Less than a tenth of 1 percent.
« Under each variation of the regular 2-platoon system the employees work in 2 groups, 1 group is on duty while the other is off duty. Over a period of days, therefore, each group
is on duty as many hours as the other, or an average of 12 hours a day and 84 hours a week. Each variation of the 2-platoon system, however, spreads these 84 hours into different
numbers of days on duty per week. The average number of days on duty per week for each variation is arrived at by dividing the number of days on duty per year b y 52.143.
6 Under the 2-platoon system with additional time off duty the employees are on duty less than an average of 84 hours per week. The average number of hours on duty per week
under this system is arrived at b y deducting the number of additional weekly hours off duty from 84. The average number of days on duty per week is arrived at b y dividing the
number of days on duty per year by 52.143.
7 The average number of hours and days per week is arrived at by dividing the total weekly man-hours and man-days by the total number of employees under “ other.”




SALARIES AND HOURS IN MUNICIPAL FIRE DEPARTMENTS

Number of cities reporting
Average Average
hours on days on
duty per duty per
week
week

13

PACIFIC CITIES

Items Supplied Firem en

All cities supplied sleeping quarters for men on night duty and all
except two cities furnished the necessary beds, bedding, linen, and
laundry service. Fire helmets were supplied by 12 cities and 1 or
more minor items by 19. The smaller cities, which paid lower salaries,
generally supplied more items than the larger cities, and a group III
city, Stockton, Calif., was the only one to supply uniforms or material
for uniforms.
T a b l e 5 .— Item s supplied to firemen o f 27 Pacific cities, J u ly 1, 1988
Number of cities supplying
City group

1

Number
of cities

Sleeping
Beds,
quarters bedding,
for men
linen,
on night laundry
duty

All cities _________

27

27

25

Group I_
___-_
Group II
Group I I I .-. _ ___

9

9

9
5

6
12

6
12

Helmets

Rubber
coats

Rubber
boots

3

12

3

Cloth and
trim­
mings for
uniform

Minor
items

1

1

19

1

1

10

5
4

1

2

7

11

2

1 Group I includes cities having a population of 100,000 or more; group II, cities having a population of
50,000 and under 100,000; and group III, cities having a population of 25,000 and under 50,000, based on
U. S. Census of Population for 1930.

Vacations w ith Pay

All but 42 of the 6,576 employees of Pacific cities fire depart­
ments received vacations with pay. M ore than half had vacations
of 15 days and more than a third had 14-day vacations. There were
no significant differences between the 3 groups of cities in the average
length of vacation granted.
T a b l e 6. — Number of employees receiving specified vacation with pay in fire depart­
ments of 27 Pacific cities , J u ly 1 , 1988

City group i

Number
of cities

All cities__________

27

Group I ____ - ...........

9

Grnnp TT
G rnnp TTT

6
12

Total
number
of em­
ployees
2

Number of employees having—
No vaca­
tion

6,576

42

5,254
735
587

42

12

days

14 days

15 days

205

2,322

3,779

205

1,747
387
188

3, 237
143
399

16 days

21

days

200

28

200

28

1 Group I includes cities having a population of 1 0 0 , 0 0 0 or more; group II, cities having a population of
50,000 and under 1 0 0 ,0 0 0 ; and group III, cities having a population of 25,000 and under 50,000, based on
U. S. Census of Population for 1930.
2 Includes only regular full-time employees.

Prom otion o f L ow er Grade-Privates

Promotion of lower-grade privates after 1 year of service took place
automatically in 16 cities; while in 10 others promotion was by civilservice appointment, and in 1 by non-civil-service appointment.




14

SALARIES AND HOURS IN MUNICIPAL FIRE DEPARTMENTS

Promotion from grade to grade is to be distinguished from increases
in pay based upon length of service within a given grade. Where
promotions were not automatic civil service was the general rule, with
group III cities making the greatest use of this mode of promotion.
T able

7 .— Promotion of lower-grade privates in fire departments of 27 Pacific

cities, July 1, 1988

City group

1

Total
number
of privates

Total
number of
cities

Number of cities with promotion—
By
civil-service
examination

After
year

1

All cities_____________________

4,158

27

Group I ______•________________
Group I I __________ __________
Group I I I .___________________

3,412
413
333

9
6
12

16

By
appointment

10

6

3

5
5

6

1

1
1

i Group I includes cities having a population of 100,000 or more; group II, cities having a population of
60,000 and under 100,000; and group III, cities having a population of 25,000 and under 50,000, based on
U. S. Census of Population for 1930.

Percentage Distribution of Employees and Salaries
A ll Employees

Ninety-four percent of the employees of fire departments in the 27
Pacific cities studied were in the fire-fighting divisions; and these
divisions accounted for almost exactly the same percentage of total
salaries.
Of each 94 men engaged in fire-fighting work, 63 were privates, 11
engineers and drivers, 16 were captains and lieutenants, 3 chiefs,
assistants to chiefs, and battalion chiefs; the remainder were engaged
on miscellaneous work. The higher ranking officers were a larger
proportion of all employees in the smaller cities than in group I cities.
This situation was due to the fact that in the larger cities each officer
was in charge of a greater number of men.
As would be expected, the officers and administrative staffs received
a somewhat larger share of total salaries than would be indicated by
the percentage of their number to the total number of employees.
For example, chiefs were 0.2 percent of the employees in group I
cities and received 0.4 percent of the salaries; for group II the cor­
responding figures were 0.8 and 1.5; and for group III cities they were
2.1 and 3.1 percent. These differences between the personnel and
salary percentages were less for the small cities, where the total range
of salaries was narrower; and the salary differences were also less for
officers of lower grades. Captains and lieutenants were 16 percent
of all employees in group I cities, and received 17 percent of the salaries
In the other two groups of cities they constituted 20 percent of the
total personnel and received 21 percent of the salaries. In contrast,
all privates, who constituted 63 percent of total employees, received
60 percent of the salaries.




15

PACIFIC CITIES

T a b l e 8 .— Percentage distributions of employees and salaries in specified divisions
in fire departments o f 27 Pacific cities , J u ly 1, 1938
Percentage of employees
Division 1 and occupation

All divisions __

______

All
cities

________

Fire fighting_______ ___________
Chiefs_______________________
Assistant or deputy chiefs_____
Assistant deputy chiefs __ ____
Battalion chiefs. __ ______ _ _
Captains_______________ ___
Lieutenants______ _____ ____
Pilots and first mates___ _____
Engineers, fire engine-------------Engineers, marine_____ ____ _
D riv ers._____ ____ ____ _ _ _
Privates, all grades--------- ___
Miscellaneous_____ ________ _
Fire prevention__________________
Apparatus______________________
Fire alarm. ............ .............. ........
Clerical ___ _______ ______ _____ Miscellaneous _
______ ___ _

1 0 0 .0

93.8
.4
.6

.3
1.5
1 0 .8

5.5
.4
6.3
.3
4.1
63.2
.4
1.3
1 .6
2 .1

.9
.3

City group

Percentage of salaries

2

D

II

III

1 0 0 .0

1 0 0 .0

1 0 0 .0

94.5
.2

.3
.2

1.7
9.4
6 .1

90.1
.8
.8

.7
1 .1

14.6
5.0

91.7
2 .1

2.7
.9
.3
18.4
1 .2

.4
5.8
.3
4.7
65.0
.4

2 .2

1 .0

56.2
.5

56.7

8 .2

1 .1
1 .6

2 .2
1 .6

1.5

4.6

1 .0

1 .0

.3

City group

All
cities

8.4

1 0 0 .0

94.0
.7
.8

.5

2 .1
1 2 .1

5.8
.4
6 .6

.3
4.3
60.0
.4

2.4
1.7
3.7
.5

.5

1.3
1 .6
2 .0
.8

.3

I

II

1 0 0 .0

1 0 0 .0

94.6
.4
.5
.4
2.4
10.9
6 .2

.5

2

III

90.6
1.5
1 .2

.9
1.4
15.9
5.0
8.4

6 .2

.4
4.9
61.4
.4

1 0 0 .0

91.7
3.1
3.2
.9

.4
19.5
1.4
8.5

2 .0

1 .0

53.7

53.7

.6

2.3

1 .1
1 .6

1 .8

1.5
.9
.3

4.2
.7

2.5
1 .8

3.5
.5

.4

1 All fire departments assign men from the fire-fighting division to the other divisions and carry these
assigned men on the fire-fighting division list. This is done to provide the fire department with a reserve
for cases of emergency. As a result of this method of assignment, the fire-fighting division is always shown to
be larger than it actually is on a routine day. Some other factors are also responsible for the small size of
the non-fire-fighting divisions. In some cities, the maintenance work is let to private contractors; part of
the fire-prevention work is done by the building inspector’s office; and the fire-alarm work is done by the local
telephone company or by a separate city bureau.
2 Group I includes cities having a population of 100,000 or more; group II, cities having a population of
60,000 and under 100,000; and group III, cities having a population of 25,000 and under 50,000, based on
U. S. Census of Population for 1930.

Supervisory Employees

Supervisory employees included 19 percent of the total in group I
cities, 25 percent in group II, and 29 percent in group III cities.
Percentages of total salaries were in all cases somewhat higher, but
the ratio of the salary percentage to the percentage of personnel was
smallest in group III cities.
T a b l e 9 .— Number and salaries of supervisory employees 1 as percentage of total
fire-department employees and total salaries in 2 7 Pacific cities , J u ly l f 1938

Item

Supervisory employees as percentage of all employees________________
Supervisory salaries as percentage of total salaries____ _____ __________
Ratio of salaries to employees. __ __ _ ___________________________

All
cities]

2 0 .1

23.1
1.15

City group 2
I
18.5
.6
1.17

21

II
25.3
28.5
1.13

III
28.8
32.1
1 .1 1

1 Supervisory employees are those in all divisions who have others working under them.
The group
includes the chiefs, assistant chiefs, assistant deputy chiefs, battalion chiefs, captains, lieutenants, mar­
shals or wardens, superintendents, chief fire alarm operators, chief clerks, assistants to these officers who
also supervise the activities of others, and others, who direct other employees.
2 Group I includes cities having a population of 1 0 0 , 0 0 0 or more; group II, cities having a population of
50,000 and under 100,000; and group III, cities having a population of 25,000 and under 50,000, based on
U. S. Census of Population for 1930.







Appendix
The Pacific Division includes the States of California, Oregon, and
Washington.
Table A shows cities covered by this report with their populations
in 1930, the proportion of firemen to each 10,000 population, and the
per capita salary costs. Tables B, C, and D give the number of
persons employed and the individual occupational salaries in each of
the cities of groups I, II, and III, respectively. Table E summarizes
total employment and total salaries paid in each division and occupa­
tion for all cities and for each size group. Table F shows average
weekly hours and days on duty under various systems of operation
by divisions for all cities and for each size group. All data in the
tables except population are as of July 1, 1938.
T a b l e A .— Fire department employees and salary costs in relation to population in
Pacific cities with a population of 2 5 ,0 0 0 or more
J u ly 1, 1988

Population

City
All cities

_____

_ ______

_ _ _____ _____ _ _

Group I—cities of 1 0 0 , 0 0 0 and over__

__________________

Long Beach, C a lif_____ _ . _ _ _______ _______ ___
Los Angeles, Calif
_ _ .. _ __ __ ____________ __
Oakland, Calif
________________ _ _ _ _
__ __
Portland, Oreg.
__ __ __ __ ___ _ ___ _____
San Diego, Calif_ __ __ _ __ _ __ _ ___ _____ _____ San Francisco, Calif______
__ ________ __ __
____
Seattle, Wash
__
__ _____ ___ _____ ______ _ __
Spokane, Wash__ __
____
___
Tacoma, Wash
_ _ ________ _ _
Group II—cities of 50,000 to

1 0 0 ,0 0 0

_ ___________

__

Berkeley, Calif.
_ _
_________ ______ _____
Fresno, Calif ______ _ _ _ ______ ___ _____ .
__ _____ ____
Glendale, Calif___ __ _
Pasadena, Calif
____ _ _______ _ ______
__ _
Sacramento, Calif ___ _ __ _______ _ _____ _______
San Jose, Calif
_
_ ________ _ _____ _____ _
Group III—cities of 25,000 to 50,000________________________
Alameda, Calif.
_____ _____ ._
_____ _
Alhambra, Calif _ _ _ _ _ ________ __
_ _
Bakersfield, Calif____ _
...
. . . ___. . .
___ _
Bellingham, Wash ______ ___
_ _______ ______
Everett, Wash
__ .1 _ ____________________ _____
Riverside, Calif __ _____ ____ _______ _______________
Salem, Oreg ______
______________________________
San Bernardino, Calif_______ _ ______________________
Santa Ana, Calif
__________________________________
Santa Barbara, Calif__________________________________
Santa Monica, C a lif____________________________ .. _
Stockton, Calif.
_________________________________ _

2

Employees
per 1 0 , 0 0 0

Per capita
salary cost

4,155,503

16

$3.76

3,336,261

16

3.82

142,032
1,238,048
284,063
301,815
147,995
634,394
365,583
115, 514
106,817

16
14
15
17
14
19
16
13
17

4.02
3.63
3.78
3.90
3.16
4. 71
3. 61
2.45
3.58

424,845

17

4.02

82,109
52, 513
62, 736
76,086
93, 750
57,651

14
27
14
16
14

3.18
6.07
3.00
3. 74
4.99
3.29

394, 397

15

2.94

35,033
29,472
26, 015
30,823
30, 567
29,696
26,266
37,481
30,322
33,613
37,146
47,963

15
13
23
15
14

3. 37
2. 73
4. 78
2. 59
2. 70

20

12

2 .1 1

18

3.04
1.43
2.17
3.08
2.06
4.81

8
12

16
10

23

1 Includes all cities with a population of 25,000 or more.
Belvedere Township (33,023), Calif., classified as
urban by special rule of the U. S. Bureau of the Census, has not been included because the fire department
for Belvedere is composed of volunteers.
2 Based on U. S. Census of Population for 1930.




17

All occupations3 _____________
Fire fighting:
Chiefs___________________
Assistant or deputy chiefs..
Assistant deputy chiefs___
Battalion or district chiefs..
Captains________________
Lieutenants_____________
Pilots___________________
First mates______________
Engineers, fire engine_____
Engineers, marine________
Drivers___ _____ _________
Privates:
1 st grade_____________
2 d grade_____________
3d grade_____________
4th grade____________
5th grade____________
Probationary_________
Miscellaneous:
Drillmasters_________
Foremen of volunteers.
Hosemen____________
Oilers.
Stokers..
Fire prevention:
Marshals or wardens_________
Assistant marshals or wardens.
Inspectors___________________
Miscellaneous:
Fire prevention engineers..




5,254

1,782

228
$4,500
3,600

17
11

$7,200
5,400
4,800
24 3,600
3,000
220
1
1

3,000
2,700

88

495
319

66

16
4

3,600
2,820
2,670

2,964
2,592
2,412

2,580

157

2,460

183

2,580

2,520

2,400
2,340
2,220

901
63
104
38

2,400
2,280
2,160
2,040

2,400
2,280
2,160

2
2

25

18
246
2,990
149
187

$4,500
3,708

3,000
2.700
2.700

21
2

306

$5,400
4,200

10

113
2
6
1
2

2 ,1 0 0

2,040

2,640

47

2

$7,200
4,800
23
75
123
5

4,200
2,820
2,670
3,060

28

2,640
3,060
2,520

813
32
35

2,400
2,280
2,160

, 328

2 ,2 2 0

2,136
2,052
1,956
1,872
1, 776

10

296

$4,800
4,056
3,300
3,000
2,640
2,496
2,520

$5,000

$3,180
2,484

2,520

3,000
2,640
2.400
2.400

1,992
1,860

2,400
2,280
2,160
2,280

2.400
2.400
2.232

2,400
2,640

1,932

2.232
2,160

2,160

1,800
1,662
1, 512

2 ,1 0 0

2,040
1,980

2 ,1 0 0

2,040

2,280
115
1

4

2,040
1,920
1,800

3,000

3,000
(3)

1,920
2,040
2,160
1,920
2,160

2,460
3,000
2,700
2,400

180

586

1,190

200

3,600
2,400

2,964
2, 592
2,328

4,800
2,820
2,400

3,000

3,000

2, 232

2, i.60

1,992
2,040

SALARIES AND HOURS IN MUNICIPAL FIRE DEPARTMENTS

Division and occupation

Washington

Oregon

California

Total
Tacoma
Oakland
Seattle
Spokane
Portland
San Diego San Francisco
number Long Beach Los Angeles
of em­
ployees
Num­ Salary Num­ Salary Num­ Salary Num­ Salary Num­ Salary Num­ Salary Num­ Salary Num­ Salary Num­ Salary
ber
ber
ber
ber
ber
ber
rate
rate
ber
rate
rate
ber
rate
rate
ber
rate
rate
rate

18

T a b l e B . — Number of employees and annual salaries in fire departments of each of 9 Pacific cities with a population of 1 00,000 or m ore 1
by occupations, J uly 1, 1988

Apparatus:
Superintendents of machinery_____
Assistant superintendents of machin­
ery—
Machinists______________________
Auto mechanics__________________
General mechanics:
Plumbers____________________
Painters_____________________

1

1

3,600

1

2,964

1

3,000
2,468
2,496 I
2,468
2, 496

1
1

2.412
2.412

1

2 220

3,000

1

2,580

1

2, 580

(l 5
( l 3l

/
/1 - - -

Operators, telephone.
Operators, radio____
Inspectors_________
Electricians________
Linemen___________
Linemen’s helpers__
Miscellaneous:
Cable splicers___
Clerical:
Secretaries_________
Assistant secretaries..
Chief clerks________
Accountants, senior..
Accountants, junior..
Clerks_____________
See footnotes at end of table.




4,800

1

/l f

2,468
2,496

2
1
2
1
2

}

2,468
2,496
2,468
1.907
1.907

1

2,400

,

2,400

1

2,134

1

2 ,1 1 2

1

2, 519

1

2,051

3,000

1

7

2,400

1, 920
1,680

1

2,376

4,200
3,900
2,460

1

11 ii

2,964

1

3,600

1

2,640
2,232
2,400 /

2 ,2 2 0

2,328
2,412

1
l

_

\

3

1

}

{

1

5
4
7

2,580

2,700

2,400

1
1
1
1
1
1

6 12

2,172

2,400

1

1

5

3.600
3.600
3,300
2,400

1

2.460
2.460
2,280

1

3

2,592

2,400

1

1
1

2,592

4,800

2,400
2,640

1

2,400

1

2,700

1
1

-

2,340

1

1,872

1,500

1

2,484

1

3,120

4

2,280

3,000
2.640

i

2,400
2.640 /

3
1

1

1,776

2,607
1,752

2

1,860

1
2
1

2,640
2,640
2,040

1

3,000

1

2,058

1

2,160

2

1,788

2 ,2 2 0

f 680
to I
12,040 1j

<

1

2,232

1

1

1

2

4

2,280
2,172

1

1

2

2, 712

2,400
1,800

1

1

1
1

2,640

PACIFIC CITIES

Operators, fire alarm_______________

2,400

1

1
1

Blacksmiths_________________ __
Carpenters____________________
Sheet metal workers___________
Machinist’s helpers____________
Blacksmith’s helpers___________
Miscellaneous:
Hydrant repairmen________
Hydrant repairmen’s helpersStorekeepers_______________
Storeroom clerks___________
Woodworkers______________
Fire alarm: 5
Superintendents___________________
Assistant superintendents__________
Chief fire alarm operators__________

3

*

B .—

N u m b er o f em p lo yees and annual salaries in fire departments o f each o f 9 P a cific cities with a p op u la tion o f 1 0 0 ,0 0 0 or m ore by
occupations, J u ly 1, 1 9 3 8 — Continued

Division and occupation

Clerical—Continued.
Bookkeepers

4

Stenographers

19

_ _

______

Typists___
_
_ _______
Miscellaneous:
Telephone operators___________
Multigraph operators____ ______
Miscellaneous:
Building inspectors
Assistant building inspectors _ _
Building plans engineers..
__
Draftsmen
.
.........
_____
Physicians
Physiotherapists
....
Supply drivers
_____

$1,800
1,980
fl, 440
\
to
?9
12,040

{ i

2
1
1

1

3

$1 , 2 0 0
1,500

2

$2,700
1,980

1

2 ,1 0 0

1

2 ,2 2 0

1

2,040

1

2,040

1

3,780
2,460
3,360

1

1,500

2
6
2
2

1
1

5
2
1

$2,580

1




} 2 $1,500

3 $1,788

1
1

2,400

(3)
(3)

1
Based on U. S. Census of Population for 1930.
a Totals include regular full-time employees, but do not include part-time employees, call men, or volunteers.
Call men.
Except for duties of superintendent of machinery, work in this division performed by a separate city bureau.
* Work of this division performed by a separate city bureau in Los Angeles and San Francisco.
8 Includes 6 at $1,680, 3 at $1,800, 2 at $1,920, and 1 at $2,040.
7 1ncludes 2 at $1,440, 2 at $1,680, 4 at $1,800, and 1 at $2,040.
3
4

Washington

2

2,232

1

2,280

$3,000
1,920

SALAKIES AND HOURS IN MUNICIPAL FIRE DEPARTMENTS

Oregon

California

Total
Portland
Seattle
Oakland
San Diego San Francisco
Spokane
Tacoma
number Long Beach Los Angeles
of em­
ployees
Num­ Salary Num­ Salary Num­ Salary Num­ Salary Num­ Salary Num­ Salary Num­ Salary Num­ Salary Num­ Salary
ber
ber
ber
ber
rate
ber
ber
rate
ber
rate
rate
rate
rate
ber
rate
rate
ber
rate

20

T able

21

PACIFIC CITIES

C .— Number of employees and annual salaries in fire departments of each of
6 Pacific cities with a population of 5 0 ,0 0 0 and under 1 00 ,0 0 0 ,l by occupations,
J u ly 1, 1988

a b l e

California

2

Qlendale Pasadena Sacramento San Jose

D o l.

_ _ _ _________ 735 115 _____ 143 _____ 87

Fire fighting:
1 4,500
1 4,200
Chiefs__________
____ 6
6
1 3,420
1 3,420
Assistant or deputy chiefs _
5
1 3,120
2 3,000
Assistant deputy chiefs__
2
2,700
Battalion or"district chiefs _ _ 8
107 15 2,460 2 0 2,400
Captains- _ . _ _ _ ____
Lieutenants, ___ ________ _ 37 15 2,340 1 0 2 , 2 2 0
60 1 0 2,280 14 2,160
Engineers, fire engine
16
2 2,280
14 2 , 1 0 0
Drivers.
__
_ _ _
Privates:
1 st grade.
____________ 329 30 2 , 2 2 0 59 2 , 1 0 0
28
7 2,160
2 d grade
_____
14
1 2 ,1 0 0
3d grade „ __ _____
4th grade, __________ ___ 32 15 2,040
1,920 } . . .
10
5th grade_____ _______
(l «8 1,980 J
Miscellaneous:
1 2,400
Drill masters. _ _____
2
Assistant drill masters__
2
Fire prevention: 3
1 3,420
Marshals or wardens
_ __
3
1 2,400
Assistant marshals __ __ __ 2
1
Chief inspectors _ _____ _
Inspectors___ ____ ___ _ 1 0
3 2 ,1 0 0
Apparatus: 4
Superintendents of machin­
1 3,000
ery
________ _______
4
Assistant superintendents of
1 2,400
machinery
_ _
__ _ __ 3
1 2,700
3
2
2,340
Auto mechanics. __________
1
1 2,340
Blacksmiths
__ _
__
1
1 2,400
Hydrant men
__ ____
Fire alarm: 4
Superintendents
_ __ 2
1 2,400
Chief fire-alarm operators___ 2
Operators, fire alarm __ _ _ 28
2 ,2 2 0
6
4 2,280
Linemen _______ ______ _ 2
Clerical:
1 1,500
1
1,920
Secretaries ___________ __ 5
1
2
1,800
Clerks
. _________ ___.
Miscellaneous:
2
Officers, ambulance corps___
2
Drivers, ambulance corps___

1

D o l.

D o l.

118
4,200

D o l.

191

4,800
3,840
3,180
2 3,000
14 2,700

2
3,120
30 2,700

16 2,460

20

58
5
3
4

92 2,400
10
2,280
7 2,160
9 2,040

1
1

1
2

2
2,760
16 2,340

50 2,160
1 2,040

2,280
2,160
2,040
1,920

1
2
1
1
2

2,340
2,160

1

2,340

4,200
3,600

1

3,000

1

2,640

1

2,460

1

2,580

3,180
1
6

2,400
1,800

1
1

2,400
1,500

2,460

1

1 ,2 0 0

7 2,460

2

2,160

1

1,500

2
2

2,160
1,680

1

1,440

Salary rate
4,200
3,000
2,820

12
12

2,520
2,400

40
5
3
4

2,280
2,150
2,040
1,920

1

2,520

1

2, 520

3,000
2,820

4 2,400

1

1

1
1

2,580

3,000
2,460

5

D o l.

81

1

1

Number

Salary rate

Number

Salary rate

Number

I

Salary rate

| Number

Salary rate

Number

Salary rate
D o l.

All occupations

Fresno

j

Berkeley
Number

Division and occupation

| Total number of em|
ployees
|

T

1 Based on U. S. Census of Population for 1930.
2 Totals include regular, full-time employees, but do not include part-time employees, call men, or
volunteers.
3 Men from fire-fighting force assigned to this work in Berkeley.
4 Work of this division performed by a separate city bureau in San Jose.




Alameda Alhambra

o
Division and occupation

H

a3 a&
a

$
o

H

8
2

&
£
a3
£

►
*
a
aJ

1

aS3

GQ

Fire fighting:
Chiefs____________ _ _______
Assistant chiefs_____ . . . ______
Assistant deputy chiefs___
Battalion chiefs____ _______
Captains_______
_ _ _____
Lieutenants_____________ ____
Engineers, fire engine____ _____
Drivers_______ ____________
Privates:
1 st grade_________________
2 d grade__________________
3d grade............................. 4th grade______________ -5th grade_______ _______ __
Fire prevention: 3
Marshals or wardens- __ _..
Assistant marshals or wardens - _
Inspectors___ ____________
Apparatus: 4
Superintendents of machinery. __
Assistant superintendents of
machinery__________
____
Master mechanics. .
_. _ _
Auto mechanics___ _____ ____
Miscellaneous:
Superintendents, hydrants
and water______________




587
12

16
5

51
1
2

la
GQ

3,600
2,760

1

§

GQ

&

1

08

D ol.

1

■a

GQ

&

D ol.

35
3,600
2,700

a

1

S

8

2

2

a
a

GQ

Q

S

D o l.

31

a
•a
GQ

30
2
1

,220
2,160
1, 920

2

9

2 ,1 0 0

1,920
1,860
4 1,800

8
1

1

6
1

5

1

8

2

2

S
GQ

1
0

%

D o l.

53

a
•a

GQ

2, 700

1
1

2,970

1

2

2 ,1 0 0

1

1,980

1

2,400
1,920
1,800

1

2 ,1 0 0

6

1,920

8

1,740

10

1,884

12

2 ,1 0 0

8

2 ,2 2 0

6

1, 752

10

1,920

8

2 ,1 0 0

1

3 ,0 0 0

2

2,520

Salem

<s>
08

1
0

fc

(h
►
»
a
•a

U

J8
0

GQ

Belling­
ham

08

>>
a
•a

a

a

fc

GQ

>>
a
a
GQ

§

D o l.

43

3,600
2,700
2,340

1
1

20

2,190

7 1,800

7 1,860

59 2,040
13 1,920
4 1,830
6
1, 710

36 1,620
3 1,500

25 1,740

2,400
1,980

2

1
0

D o l.

45

2

1
1

S

2
1

D ol.

48

Everett

8

$

GQ

DoZ.
112

1
1

3,000
2,400

Stockton

D o l.

36

1
8
12
2

2,340
2,160
2 ,1 0 0

19 2,040
2 1,920
5 1,800

4 1,800
4 1,740
1,680
3 1,560

12

18 1,680
1 1,620

1,680
3 1,620
1 1,560

8

2,280

1

2,580

2

2 ,2 2 0

1

2,400

1
1

1

2,400

1
1

1,944

16 1,860
1 1,800
4 1,740
1 1,680
1 1 , 620
1

2 ,1 0 0

14 1,980

1
2

2,400
1,980

1

3,000
2,280
2,160

6

2,040

19
4

1,860
1,800
1,620

1

2,040

1

2,040

1

1,980

1
1

1,740

1,860
1
2

6

3 1,380

1

2,190

2

2,040

1

1,740

1

2,700

1

1,980

1,680

1
1
2

a3

D o l.

36

10
1

7

8
M

1

Santa
Monica

2

7 2, 460
7 2,340

6

264
35
23

i

2

2,400
9 2,280

h

03

59
3,300

808

1
0

D o l.

38

2

108
7
49

>>
a

Santa
Ber­
Riverside San
nardino Santa Ana Barbara

03
(-4

2

D o l.

All occupations3 _________________

Bakers­
field

Washington

2,040

1, 884
1

2,190

SALARIES AND HOURS IN MUNICIPAL FIRE DEPARTMENTS

Oregon

California

a©

22

T a b l e D .— Number of employees and annual salaries in fire departments of each of 12 Pacific cities with a population of 2 6 ,0 0 0 and under
6 0 ,0 0 0 ,l by occupations, J u ly 1, 1938

Eire alarm: 5
Superintendents
Assistant superintendents
Fire alarm operators
Miscellaneous:
Radio toohnioians
Clerical: 8
Secretaries
Stenographers

4

1

2

1

15

2

1

2,280
1,920

1,860

1

1

2,040

3 1, 740

1
1

4 1,380

2

1

, 812

2

1,920

2

2,280
2,040

1,920

1

3

1,980

2 ,2 2 0

1

1, 980

(7)

1

1, 710

1

1,860

C)

Based on U. S. Census of Population for 1930.
Totals include regular, full-time employees, but do not include part-time employees, call men, or volunteers.
Work of this division performed by men from fire-fighting force in Salem.
Work of this division performed by men from fire-fighting force in Alameda.
Work of this division performed by separate city bureau in Alameda and by men from fire-fighting force in Stockton. In San Bernardino, except for fire-alarm operators
assigned from fire-fighting force, work of the division is under a separate city bureau. In Everett, fire-alarm operators are assigned from fire-fighting division.
6 Clerical work in Santa Ana performed by separate city bureau.
7 Part time.
1
2

3
4
6

PACIFIC CITIES




fcO
0 0

24

SALARIES AND HOURS IN MUNICIPAL FIRE DEPARTMENTS

T a b l e E . — Average hours and days on duty per week in fire departments o f 2 7 Pacific
cities , by occupational division , J u ly 1 , 1938
All divisions
System of operation

Average Average
hours on days on
duty per duty per
week
week
All cities

City group 1
I

Continuous duty........................................

168.0

Single-platoon: 6
On 6 days, off 1 day________________
2

24

7.0

144

84
84
84
84
84
84

3.5
5. 8
6 .1

6.4
6.5
6 .8

-platoon—with additional time off duty8_.

Other®____ ___________________________

72

3.0

72

6 .0

735

587

5

8

3

1

3, 958

3, 010

586

362

2,861
78
548
48
318
105

2, 462

229
78

170

548

48
144

174
105
1,954

2 ,2 1 1

On 24 hours, off 24 hours, off 0.5 day
per w eek_______ _____ _____ _ _
Overlapping-group system, off 1 day
per week__ _________ _
_ _
On 24 hours, off 24 hours, off 0 . 2 day
per week______ _
________
On 24 hours, off 24 hours, off 0.1 day
perweek... _ . . . __ ________
1 0 -group system, off 1 . 2 days per week, _

III

11

4

6 .0

'platoon—regular7 ____________________
On 24 hours, off 24 hours____________
Shift 3d day. _ _ _______________
Shift 4th day______________________
Shift 6 th day______________________
Shift 7th d a y .______ _____________ _
Shift 15th day_____________________

2

5,254

6,576

Total number of employees 2..... ................

II

334

75

182
123

211

1 ,1 1 0

1 ,1 1 0

78

3.3

59

81
70

3.4
5.8

542
166

467
166

75

44.5

5.5

379

278

69

59

32

Division
Fire fighting

Fire prevention

Apparatus

System of operation
All
cities

City group 1
I

II

III

Total number of employees 2 ____________ 6,165 4,965 662 538
Continuous duty___
Single-platoon: 6
On 6 days, off
2

1

_________ ____ _

day........ .....................

21

4

38

4

5

581 350

On 24 hours, off 24 hours____________ 2, 842 2, 457 224 161
Shift 3d day.
___________________
78
78
Shift 4th day_______________________ 540
540
Shift 6 th day____ __________________
48
48
Shift 7th day_______________________ 315
174 141
Shift 15th day______________________ 105
105
2

-platoon—with additional time off du ty8- 2,195 1,952
On 24 hours, off 24 hours, off 0.5 day
per week_________________ _
Overlapping-group system, off 1 day
per week.. _ __ ___ _____ _
On 24 hours, off 24 hours, off 0.2 day
per week_________ ________
On 24 hours, off 24 hours, off 0.1 day
per week_______________ „
1 0 -group system, off 1 . 2 days per week..

Other®____ ___________________

See footnotes at end of table.




324
1 ,1 1 0

209

69 174

17

88
2

1

I

II

III

58

16

14

2

All
cities

104
1

City group 1
I

II

III

82

12

10

1

... .

10

1

5

4

3

3

10

1

5

4

3

3

2

___

2

2

—

2

115

1 ,1 1 0

59
536
166

City group

3

1

-platoon—regular7 __________________ _ 3, 928 2,997

5 8

All
cities

59
467
166
10 7

69
li

7

12 3

74

55

9

10

100

81

12

7

25

PACIFIC CITIES

T a b l e E .-— Average hours and days on duty per week in fire departments o f 27 Pacific
cities , by occupational division , J u ly 1, 1988 — Continued
Division—Continued
Fire alarm

Clerical

Miscellaneous

System of operation

2

-platoon—regular7 ---------------------------------On 24 hours, off 24 hours______________
Shift 4th day------------------------------------Shift 7th day-------------------------------------

2

135
17
6
8

I

II

III

79

34

22

12

....

^

Total number of employees 2.

City group 1

00

All
cities

—-

3

• 65

City group 1
I
55

II

III

7

3

All
cities

City group 1
I

II

III

15

4 ___

4 ___

4 ___

19

5
2

3

-platoon—with additional time off d u ty 8 __

10

2

___

8

On 24 hours, off 24 hours, off 0.5 day per
week______________________________
On 24 hours, off 24 hours, off 0.1 day per
week______________________________

10

2

....

8

108

65

34

9

Other 9_ ................................... .......................

All
cities

4 ....
65

55

7

3

15

15

1 Group I includes cities having a population of 1 0 0 , 0 0 0 or more; group II, cities having a population of
50,000 and under 100,000; and group III, cities having a population of 25,000 and under 50,000, based on
United States Census of Population for 1930.
2 Includes only regular, full-time employees.
3 Includes 7 chiefs and 1 assistant chief.
* Includes 2 chiefs, 1 assistant or deputy chief, and 2 assistant deputy chiefs.
5 Includes 5 chiefs and 3 assistant chiefs.
6 The average number of hours on duty per week for employees in each variation of the single-platoon
system is arrived at by dividing the total number of hours on duty per year for each variation by 52.143.
The average number of days on duty per week for each variation is arrived at by dividing the total number
of days on duty per year by 52.143.
7 Under each variation of the regular 2 -platoon systemThe employees work in 2 groups, 1 group is on duty
while the other is off duty. Over a period of days, therefore, each group is on duty as many hours as the
other, or an average of 12 hours a day and 84 hours a week. Each variation of the 2-platoon system, how­
ever, spreads these 84 hours into different numbers of days on duty per week. The average number of days
on duty per week for each variation is arrived at by dividing the number of days on duty per year by 52.143.
8 Under the 2-platoon system with additional time off duty the employees are on duty less than an average
of 84 hours per week. The average number of hours on duty per week under this system is arrived at by
deducting the number of additional weekly hours off duty from 84. The average number of days on duty
per week is arrived at by dividing the number of days on duty per year by 52.143.
9 The average number of hours and days per week is arrived at by dividing the total weekly man-hours
and man-days by the total number of employees under “ other.”
10 Includes 1 chief and 6 others.
11 Includes 3 chiefs, 1 assistant chief, 1 assistant deputy chief, and 2 others.
12 3 chiefs.




26
T

SALARIES AND HOURS IN MUNICIPAL FIRE DEPARTMENTS

a b l e

F . — Total salaries and total number o f employees of fire departments in 27
Pacific cities , J u ly 1 , 1938
Number of employees

Division 1 and occupation

All
cities

City group
I

II

2

III

Total salaries
All cities

City group
I

2

II

III

All occupations 3 _________________ 6,576 5,254 735 587 $15,623, 234 $12, 755, 716 $1, 709,830 $1,157, 6 8 8
Fire fighting--------- ----------------- 6,165 4,965 662 538
6
12
9
27
Chiefs_______________________
6
16
39
17
Assistant or deputy chiefs------5
5
11
21
Assistant deputy chiefs___ . . .
88
8
2
98
Battalion chiefs______________
495 107 108
Captains------------------------- _ _ 710
7
363
319 37
Lieutenants___ ____ __ ______
21
21
Pilots_____ ___ _____ _________
2
2
First m a te s ._________ _______
306 60 49
Engineers, fire engine.._ _____ 415
18
18
Engineers, marine____________
6
268
246 16
Drivers. _._______ . ________
Privates:
1 st grade------------------------ _ 3, 583 2,990 329 264
212
149 28 35
2 d grade________________ _
187 14 23
3d grade__________________ 224
32 1 0
66
4th grade________________
108
1
10
5th grade and probationary.
31
20
4
21
Miscellaneous______________ _
25
Fire prevention. ______ ________
88
58 16 14
3
Marshals or wardens_________
16
7
6
2
1
Assistant marshals or wardens __
6
3
1
1
Chief inspectors. . _____
Inspectors___ . . . _. . . . _ . . .
62
45 1 0 " T
Miscellaneous______ ______ _
3
3
82 1 2 1 0
pparatus___________ . _______ _ 104
Superintendents of machinery. _
4
5
16
7
Assistant superintendents of
3
1
machinery______
_______
7
3
Machinists___ _____ __ _
34
34
1
1
Master mechanics____ _ _
3
Auto mechanics____ _ ______
2
16
11
1
General mechanics. _ __ ___ _
17
16
Mechanics helpers___ ___
3
3
Miscellaneous____ ______ . . .
1
1
10
8
Fire alarm_________ ____ _
____
135
79 34 2 2
Superintendents__________ _
2
13
4
7
1
Assistant superintendents. _
3
2
Chief fire alarm operators_____
4
2
~~2 ~
Fire alarm operators 4 _____ __
78
35 28 'l5 '
Inspectors__________
5
5
Electricians_________ ______
8
8
Linemen... .. _________ __ __
2
20
18
Linemen helpers. . ______ _
2
2
1
1
Miscellaneous__________
2
Clerical____ . . . _______________
65
3
55
7
Secretaries__________ _ ____
16
3
8
5
Assistant secretaries__________
2
2
1
1
Chief clerks _______ ________
Accountants. _____ _____ _
2
2
Clerks and bookkeepers_______
21
19
2
Stenographers and typists_____
21
21
Miscellaneous________________
2
2
Miscellaneous.._ . ___________ __
19
15
4
Building inspection _________
10
10
Ambulancemen___
.. _ _ __
4
4
Other miscellaneous employees..
5
5

14,678,472
107,450
121, 320
77,040
336, 216
1,888,140
898,896
55,260
5,400
1,038,852
48, 780
674,184

12,067, 760 1, 549, 450
45,380
26,100
62,940
20,880
51, 300
15,120
308, 256
23,160
1,391,400
271,380
796,416
8 6 ,1 0 0
55,260
5,400
796, 320
144,000
48, 780
629,064
33,960

8,170,932
455,002
466, 740
214,680
59, 880
59, 700
209,082
44,430
14, 652
2, 340
140,676
6,984
250, 295
44,016

6,928,632
330, 252
396,840
134, 280
38, 580
48, 660
140, 988
22,356

17,112
82,720
2,040
36, 764
40, 305
5, 721
21, 617
306, 921
34,848

7,692
82, 720

8 ,2 2 0

10, 440
165,828
12,300
19,680
47, 493
3,792
4, 320
131, 340
37, 728
6,192
3,300
4, 620
39,096
36,864
3,540
47,124
27, 720
7,680
11, 724

8 ,1 1 2

103, 536
6,984
198, 797
22,056

25,616
37,965
5,721
17,027
194, 997
2 0 ,8 6 8

3,900
5,640
83, 244
12,300
19,680
43,173
3, 792
2,400
113, 730
23,418
6,192
3,300
4,620
35,796
36,864
3,540
39,444
27, 720
11, 724

1,061, 262
35,970
37,500
10,620
4,800
225,360
16, 380
98, 532
11,160

742,740
61, 510
29, 460
64,320
19,680
11,040
38,880
8,940
4,860
2, 340
22, 740

499, 560
63, 240
40, 440
16,080
1,620

30, 540
10,980

20,958
10, 980

29, 214
13,134
1,680
14,400

7,440

1,980
2,040
3,768

7,380
2,340
2,400
71,220
5,640

2,190
40,704
8 , 340
4, 320

4,800
56,460

26,124

4, 320
1,920
5,550
5,550

12,060
8,760

3,300
7,680
7,680

________

1

All fire departments assign men from the fire-fighting division to the other divisions and carry these
assigned men on the fire-fighting division list. This is done to provide the fire department with a reserve
for cases of emergency. As a result of this method of assignment, the fire-fighting division is always shown
to be larger than it actually is on a routine day. Some other factors are also responsible for the small size of
the non-fire-fighting division. In some cities, the maintenance work is let to private contractors; part of
the fire-prevention work is done by the building inspector’s office; and the fire-alarm work is done by the
local telephone company or by a separate city bureau.
2 Group I includes cities having a population of 100,000 or more; group II, cities having a population of
60,000 and under 100,000; group III, cities having a population of 25,000 and under 60,000, based on U. S.
Census of Population for 1930.
3 Includes only regular, full-time employees.
4 Includes 7 telephone operators and 1 radio operator in city group I,
1




O