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UNITED STATES DEPARTM ENT OF LABOR
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,
1,1938
VOLUM E V
South Atlantic Cities
Prepared by the
DIVISION OF CONSTRUCTION A N D
PUBLIC EM PLO YM ENT
Herman B. Byer, Chief
B u lletin
7s[o.
684
U N IT E D ST 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
For sale by the Superintendent o f Documents, Washington, D . C.
Price 10 cents
UNITED STATES D EPARTM EN T OF LABOR
F ran c es P e r k in s , Secretary
BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
I sador L tjbin,
A. F. H inrichs,
C o m m issio n er
A s sis ta n t C om m issio n er
Donald Davenport, Chief, Employment and Occupational Outlook
Branch
Henry J. Fitzgerald, Chief, Business
Management Branch
Hugh S. Hanna, Chief, Editorial and
Research
Aryness Joy, Chief, Prices and Cost
of Living Branch
N. Arnold Tolies, Chief, Working
Conditions and Industrial Relations
Branch
Sidney W. Wilcox, Chief Statistician
CHIEFS OF DIVISIONS
Herman B. Byer, Construction and
Public Employment
J. M. Cutts, Wholesale Prices
Swen Kjaer, Industrial Accidents
John J. Mahaney, Machine Tabula
tion
Robert J. Myers, Wage and Hour
Statistics
Florence Peterson, Industrial Rela
tions
Charles F. Sharkey, Labor Law
Information
Boris Stern, Labor Information Bulle
tin
Stella Stewart, Retail Prices
Lewis E. Talbert, Employment Sta
tistics
Faith M. Williams, Cost of Living
+
STATE, COUNTY, AND M UNICIPAL SURVEY
Jesse M. H adley ,
D irector
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____________________________
Perquisites supplied to firemen_______________________________________
Vacations with pay___________________________________________________
Promotions of lower-grade privates___________________________________
Percentage distribution of employees and salaries:
All employees_________________________________________________________
Supervisory employees________________________________________________
Per capita salary cost of fire protection and distribution of employees. _
Appendix:
T a b l e A.— Cities covered by this report_____________________________
T a b l e B.— Number of employees and annual salaries, by individual
cities and occupations__________________________________
T a b l e C.— Average hours and days on duty, by occupational divisions.
T a b l e D.— Total salaries and total number of employees____________
hi
1
3
5
9
11
15
16
17
17
19
19
21
22
30
32
Letter of Transmittal
U n ited S ta tes D epar tm ent of L a b o r ,
B u r e a u of L abor S tatist ic s ,
Washington, D. C., September 25, 1940.
The S ec retary of L a b o r :
I have the honor to transmit herewith the fifth of a series of nine
reports on Salaries and Hours of Labor in Municipal Fire Depart
ments. This report covers cities in the South Atlantic 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 oj Labor.
Bulletin 1S[o. 6 8 4 ( V o l. V ) o f the
U nited States Bureau o f Labor Statistics
Salaries and H ours o f Labor in Fire Departments o f
39 South A tlantic Cities, July 1, 19381
S u m m a ry
On July 1, 1938, the fire departments 2of 39 South Atlantic Division
cities 3 employed 5,818 people whose annual salaries totaled about
$11,104,000.
Of every 100 employees 95 were in the fire-fighting divisions and 5
were in the fire-prevention, apparatus, fire-alarm, and clerical divi
sions. Of the 95 in the fire-fighting divisions, 74 were privates,
fire-engine engineers, and drivers; 16 were captains, lieutenants, and
sergeants; 3 were chiefs, battalion chiefs, and assistants to the chiefs;
and 2 were in other occupations.
One out of every 5 employees was an officer or held a supervisory
position of some kind.
On the basis of the United States census of population for 1930,
the large cities had a relatively greater number of firemen than the
small cities. For every 10,000 inhabitants the group of the 9 largest
cities in the South Atlantic Division had 17 fire-department em
ployees, the group of the 14 medium-sized cities had 14 fire-depart
ment employees, and the group of the 16 small cities had 13 firedepartment employees.
The annual salaries of all the employees in the 39 fire departments
did not show the wide variations found in private industry. The
annual salaries ranged between $900 and $8,000 but 84 percent of
the employees received between $1,550 and $2,450 a year. This
1Analysis and presentation by Arthur Dadian. 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 of
salaries and working conditions of fire department employees in 1934 was made by the Bureau of Labor
Statistics and was published in the Monthly Labor Review for November 1935. In the present study the
Bureau of Labor Statistics, in cooperation with the Work Projects Administration, undertook to compile
this information, as of July 1, 1938, for cities in the United States having a population of 25,000 or more.
This report for 39 South Atlantic Division cities is one of a series which is being issued by geographic divi
sions.
2 This report covers only cities having a population of 25,000 or more, the United States census of popula
tion for 1930 being used to determine the size of the cities. See appendix for list of the States in the South
Atlantic Division and the cities included in this bulletin.
1
2
SALARIES AND HOURS, FIRE DEPARTMENTS
concentration was due mostly to the small differences between the
salaries of officers or those holding supervisory positions and the rest
of the employees.
The supervisory employees, who constituted 20 percent of all
employees, received 23 percent of the total salaries, a ratio of only
1.00 to 1.16.
Of every $100 spent in salaries $95 went to the fire-fighting divisions.
Of this $95, $71 went to privates, drivers, and fire-engine engineers;
$18 went to captains, lieutenants, and sergeants; $4 went to chiefs,
assistants to the chiefs, and battalion chiefs; and $2, to those in other
occupations.
The annual salaries were higher in the large than in the small cities.
This was especially so among the higher-ranking occupations which
entailed greater responsibility in the large cities.
Because of the higher salaries and the relatively greater number of
firemen in the large cities, the per capita salary cost of fire protection
was higher in the large than the small cities. The actual per capita
cost was $3.43 for the 9 largest cities, $2.29 for the 14 medium-sized
cities, and $2.06 for the 16 small cities.
The annual salaries of firemen are affected by such factors as
vacations with pay, payments for uniforms, injuries resulting in
incapacity, and the promotion policy of fire departments.
The 39 fire departments gave their employees an average of 16
days of vacation with pay. M any of the 39 cities supplied their
firemen with uniforms and other items such as rubber boots and
rubber coats.
In this study data were obtained regarding promotions only for
the lower-grade privates. Of the 39 fire departments 3 had no pro
motion system for their lower-grade privates while 32 promoted their
lower-grade privates after a specified period of service and 4 after
civil-service examination.
Of the 39 fire departments, 4 operated under the single-platoon
system of assignment of men on duty, 34 operated under the 2-platoon
system, and 1 city had a volunteer fire department.
The single-platoon system included 3 percent and the 2-platoon
system included 92 percent of all employees. The remaining 5
percent of the employees did not work under any platoon system,
less than 1 percent of them were on continuous duty and the rest
had other working hours prevailing in the other city departments.
Under the single-platoon system the firemen were on duty, on the
average, between 112 and 134 hours per week. Under the 2-platoon
system, 76 percent of all employees were on duty an average of 84
SOUTH ATLANTIC' CITIES
3
hours per week, 15 percent an average of 72 hours per week, and 1
percent 81 hours. The employees having the hours prevailing in
the other city departments worked an average of 52 hours per week.
The average number of hours on duty was lower in the large than
in the small cities mostly because none of the large cities operated
under the single-platoon system and none of the small cities operated
under the variation of the 2-platoon system which averaged 72 hours
on duty per week.
The average number of days on duty per week varied between 4.7
and 5.6 days under the single-platoon system and between 3.4 and 7.0
days under the 2-platoon system. Under the 2-platoon system the
averages of 3.5, 6.1, and 6.5 days on duty per week predominated and
included 30, 25, and 11 percent of all employees, respectively.
Some small cities in the United States still have volunteer fire
departments and “ call” men who receive a nominal remuneration.
Among the 39 South Atlantic Division cities only 1 small city had a
volunteer fire department with 14 full-time engineers, and 1 small city
had 41 call men in addition to its 35 regular, full-time employees.
A n n u a l S a la r ie s
General Level of Salaries
Annual salaries in the fire departments of the 39 South Atlantic
cities did not show wide variations. Forty-nine percent of all employ
ees received between $1,550 and $1,850, 34 percent between $1,850 and
$2,450, 11 percent under $1,550, and 6 percent $2,450 and over. In
the large cities the annual salaries were considerably higher than in
the small cities.4 In cities having a population of 100,000 or more,
only 12 percent of the fire department employees received less than
$1,750, compared with 83 percent in cities having a population of
50,000 and under 100,000, and 87 percent in cities having a population
of 25,000 and under 50,000.
For the sake of brevity and comparability with other reports in this
series, the group of largest cities mentioned above will be here desig
nated as Group I,6 the medium-sized cities as Group II, and the smaller
cities as Group III.
* Usually the difference in annual salaries between large and small cities is not so great. The unusual
difference in South Atlantic Division was due mostly to the comparatively high salaries in Washington,
D. C., which had 15 percent of all the employees in the division.
1 Baltimore, Md., with a population of 804,874, has been included in this group because it was the only
city in the South Atlantic Division with a population over 500,000 and the data for it did not vary suffi
ciently from the data for the other cities in Group I to justify a separate treatment.
268142°—41-----2
SALARIES AND HOURS, FIRE DEPARTMENTS'
5
SOUTH ATLANTIC CITIES
T a b l e 1. — D istrib u tio n o f em p lo yees in fire departm ents o f 3 9 S ou th A tla n tic cities ,
b y sa la ry grou p and size o f city , J u l y 1, 1 9 3 8
Percent
Number
Salary group
AH
cities
City group
I
All
cities
II
III
City group 1
II
III
5,818
3,903
1,238
677
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
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.
48
30
277
293
684
2
32
16
154
105
248
14
2
112
151
153
0.8
.5
4.8
5.0
11.8
0.1
.3
.3
.9
7.3
2.6
1.3
12.4
8.5
2.1
.3
16.5
22.3
$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.
722
1,462
403
239
429
1,330
321
192
422
468
98
66
22
4
154
34
16
25
3
12.4
25.1
6.9
4.1
7.4
2.6
34.1
$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.
144
96
684
44
64
142
93
676
38
63
1
2
5
4
1
2.5
1.6
11.8
.8
1.1
$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 over_______
17
51
1
84
46
12
49
1
79
440
2
1
3
1
4
1
61
All groups___________
2
12
11
37
283
100
55
20.0
22.6
10.8
37.8
7.9
5.3
1.8
.3
22.7
5.0
2.3
3.7
.4
3.6
2.4
17.3
1.0
1.6
.1
.2
.4
.3
.1
.3
1.3
(3)
2.0
1.0
.2
.1
.4
.2
.3
.4
.2
.2
8.2
4.9
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
United States census of population for 1930.
2 Includes only regular full-time employees.
3 Less than a tenth of 1 percent.
4 Includes 1 at $3,066, 2 at $3,087, 1 at $3,120, 1 at $3,200, 2 at $3,300, 1 at $3,500, 2 at $3,600, 1 at $3,875, 5 at
$4,000, 1 at $4,200, 15 at $4,500, 5 at $5,000,1 at $5,040,1 at $5,600, and 1 at $8,000.
s Includes 1 at $3,110, 3 at $3,300, and 1 at $3,392.
e Includes 1 at $3,300.
Salaries in Selected Occupations
The animal salaries for the various occupations within the same
fire department did not show large differences. When the annual
salaries for every occupation were averaged it was found that the
average annual salary of the chiefs, the highest-paid officers, was only
$1,347 higher than the average annual salary of first-grade privates.
In the case of lower-ranking occupations the differences were much
less. The average annual salary of captains was only $240 more than
that of first-grade privates. These differences were somewhat greater
in the large than in the small cities. This was especially so among the
supervisory occupations which entailed greater responsibilities in the
large cities. The difference between the average annual salaries of
chiefs and first-grade privates in Group I cities was $2,774, compared
with a difference of $1,332 in Group II cities and $942 in Group III
6
SALARIES- AND HOURS, FIRE DEPARTMENTS
cities. Similarly, the differences between the average annual salaries
of captains and first-grade privates were $349 in Group I cities, $179
in Group II cities, and $202 in Group III cities.
On the whole, the annual salaries for the same occupation were
higher in thu large than in the small cities, the differences being more
pronounced among the higher-ranking occupations. The average
annual salary of chiefs in Group I cities, for example, was $1,790
above that of chiefs in Group II cities and $2,112 above that of chiefs
in Group III cities. The differences in the salary of the bulk of the
employees were not so great. In Group I cities the average annual
salary of first-grade privates was only $348 above that of first-grade
privates in Group II cities, and $380 above that of first-grade privates
in Group III cities.
T a b l e 2 , — D istrib u tio n o f fire-d ep a rtm en t em p lo yees in 3 9 Sou th A tla n tic cities , by
selected occu p ation s and sala ry g ro u p , J u ly 1, 1 9 3 8
All occupations
Salary group
Number of cities report
ing—
Total number of employ
ees 3____ __ ____ _ _
All
cities
Chiefs
City group 1
I
All
cities
III
II
City group 1
I
All
cities
III
II
City group 1
I
II
14
16
38
9
14
15
31
7
13
11
677
38
9
14
15
43
12
18
13
1
2
2
3
10
3
3
5
2
2
2
3
5
1
1
1
1
2
2
2
4
2
2
3
2
39
9
32
16
154
105
248
14
2
112
151
153
722
$1,650 and under $1,750___
100
$1,750 and under $1,850___ 1,462 1,330
403
321
$1,850 and under $1,950___
239
192
$1,950 and under $2,050___
422
$2,050 and under $2,150___
429
468
98
66
22
4
154
34
16
25
3
48
30
277
293
684
1
2
$2,250___
$2,350___
$2,450___
$2,550___
$2,650___
144
96
684
44
64
142
93
676
38
63
1
2
5
4
1
1
1
3
2
1
1
3
4
1
1
2
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 over__________
17
51
1
84
46
12
49
1
79
40
2
1
3
1
3
2
1
3
1
4
1
2
1
4
5
1
1
5
15
4
75
1
31
1
8
1
98
$2,150 and under
$2,250 and under
$2,350 and under
$2,450 and under
$2,550 and under
III
5, 818 3, 903 1,238
2
12
11
37
283
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___
Assistant or deputy chiefs
69
1
2
Average annual salary___ $1, 908 $2,041 $1,651 $1,615 $3,194 $4, 727 $2,937 $2,515 $2, 529 $3,683 $2,214 $1,899
See footnotes at end of table.
7
SOUTH ATLANTIC? OITIEiS1
T able
2
. — D istrib u tio n o f fire-d ep a rtm en t em p lo yees in 3 9 Sou th A tla n tic cities , b y
selected occupation s and sala ry g ro u p , J u ly 1 , 1 9 3 8 —
Assistant deputy chiefs
Salary group
Number of cities report
ing _
__ __ _ _
Total number of employ
ees 3_ ________ _____ _
City group
All
cities
I
8
10
Battalion chiefs
1
All
cities
III
II
City group
II
I
Captains
1
All
cities
III
4
2
2
11
6
3
2
6
2
2
66
56
6
4
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
Continued
City group
I
II
1
2
1
1
2
2
1
1
1
8
6
8
6
4
1
1
1
1
4
1
1
103
24
14
3
2
2
2
1
4
li
2
24
III
35
9
14
12
506
297
141
68
16
31
2
1
1
4
12
19
12
25
5
55
38
23
7
12
12
22
28
62
63
46
130
130
9
56
18
9
56
18
47
47
14
Average annual salary___ $2,638 $3,156 $1,940 $1, 785 $3,014 $3,220 $1, 915 $1, 780 $2 , 087 $2,302 $1, 784 $1,775
Lieutenants
Salary group
All
cities
Number of cities report
ing
_
Total number of employ
ees 3 _ ______ _____ _
439
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___
21
30
City group
II
I
8
* 292
All
cities
11
11
91
56
6
27
21
25
31
47
31
48
95
33
95
21
21
$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___
11
11
36
36
49
49
47
47
8
City group
1
III
6
27
$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__
$2,650 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 - _ _ _
Engineers, fire engine
22
7
I
II
19
7
426
273
31
45
19
57
47
82
5
86
8
1
1
56
56
64
24
64
24
52
City group i
1
All
cities
III
17
9
46
82
Drivers
I
II
a7
16
4
67
182
55
23
28
10
5
1
III
8
114
13
6
26
20
88
4
13
7
6
88
29
29
18
18
8
8
Average annual salary___ $2,006 $2 , 216 $1,694 $1,655 $1,864 $2,023 $1,628 $1, 516 $1,758 $2,028 $1,658 $1,491
See footnotes at end of table.
8
(SALARIES AND HOURS, FIRE DEPARTMENTS
T a b l e 2 .— D istr ib u tio n o f fire-d ep a rtm en t e m p lo ye es in 3 9 S o u th A tla n tic cities , b y
selected o ccu p a tion s and sa la ry g r o u p , J u l y l y 1 9 3 8 —
Privates, all grades
Salary group
All
cities
City group
I
II
Auto mechanics
1
All
cities
III
City group
I
II
Continued
Fire-alarm operators
1
All
cities
III
Number of cities reporting----------------------------38
9
Total number of employees 3 _______ _________ _ 3,721 2,625
14
15
17
5
6
6
14
690
406
23
9
7
7
69
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____
30
16
132
42
193
37
28
209
182
569
10
1
24
277
89
$1,650 and under $1,750___
458
$1,750 and under $1,850___ 1,228 1, 214
142
142
$1,850 and under $1,950__
$1,950 and under $2,050___
67
67
175
175
$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__„
50
37
539
7
1
1
City group
I
II
6
647
1
III
6
2
16
6
3
3
2
76
116
99
92
14
277
11
1
1
4
2
2
6
4
1
2
1
2
50
37
539
1
2
1
1
3
3
3
2
2
3
8
3
3
3
3
13
3
11
6
6
11
6
6
13
13
10
$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___ $1, 829 $1,939 $1, 570 $1, 561 $1,875 $2 , 0 0 2 $1, 855 $1, 731 $1,794 $1,927 $1, 624 $1,224
Electricians
Salary group
Number of cities report
ing
_______ _ ___
Total number of employ
ees 3 __________________
All
cities
City group
I
Linemen
1
All
cities
III
II
4
2
1
1
7
7
3
3
1
26
Others
City group
I
II
3
20
1
All
cities
III
City group
I
II
1
III
3
1
33
9
14
10
5
1
262
199
45
18
1
1
6
2
3
1
Under $1,250
2
2
$1,250 and under $1,350
7
2
5
$1,350 and under $1,450
1
1
6
19
13
$1,450 and under $1,550___
3
1
1
2
6
3
12
$1,550 and under $1,650___
11
1
5
5
1
12
5
$1,650 and under $1,750__
6
4
4
24
8
5
$1,750 and under $1,850
37
9
2
2
41
31
1
$1,850 and under $1,950___
11
5
16
$1,950 and under $2,050
1
11
11
27
26
$2,050 and under $2,150
18
17
1
$2,150 and under $2,250
5
5
$2,250 and under $2,350__
1
1
14
13
$2,350 and under $2,450__
1
14
14
$2,450 and under $2,550
13
$2,550 and under $2,650
13
5
5
$2,650 and under $2,750___
1
1
$2,750 and under $2,850__
1
1
$2,850 and under $2,950
6
6
$2,950 and under $3,050
6 12 6
$3,050 and over
(13)
(13)
Average annual salary___ $1, 654 $1,900 $1,420 $1 , 620 $1,894 $1,950 $1, 713 $1 , 680 (13)
0 3)
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
United States census of population for 1930.
2 The fire department of Hagerstown, Md., is a volunteer organization with the exception of 14 paid en
gineers.
3 Includes only regular, full-time employees.
4 Includes 49 sergeants at $2,600 in Washington, D. C.
6 Includes 1 chief fire-alarm operator at $1,920.
» Includes 1 at $3,500, 2 at $3,600, 1 at $4,000, 1 at $4,200, 1 at $5,000, 1 at $5,040, 1 at $5,600, and 1 at $8,000.
7 Includes 1 at $3,110, 3 at $3,300, and 1 at $3,392.
8 Includes 1 at $3,300.
» Includes 1 at $3,066, 1 at $3,875, 4 at $4,000, and 2 at $5,000.
Includes 2 at $3,087 and 1 at $4,500.
« Includes 14 at $4,500.
12 Includes 1 at $3,120,1 at $3,200, 2 at $3,300, and 2 at $5,000.
» No averages computed because such a heterogeneous group.
SOUTH ATLANTIC! CITIES
9
Salaries of Privates
In the fire departments of 38 South Atlantic cities which reported
privates, these officers constituted 64 percent of all employees and
received 61 percent of the total salaries. Some cities do not dis
tinguish among privates, engineers, and drivers, but classify them all
as privates. Of the 38 cities 19 reported engineers and 16 reported
drivers. For purposes of comparison, therefore, these 3 occupations
should be combined. Usually these 3 occupations include approxi
mately three-fourths of all employees in a fire department. In the
South Atlantic Division they constituted exactly 75 percent of all
the employees.
Eighty-four percent of all privates were “ first-grade” privates, 6
percent were in the second grade, and the rest were scattered between
the third and seventh grades. Because of their large numbers of
privates, the large cities maintained a greater number of grades of
privates than the small cities. In many instances, however, the
lower-grade privates in the large cities received higher salaries than
first-grade privates in the small cities. Sixth-grade privates in Wash
ington, D . C., for example, received more than the first-grade privates
in all but 2 of the 38 cities.
On the whole, the annual salaries of privates did not vary greatly.
Seventy-one percent of the privates received between $1,350 and
$1,850 a year; 27 percent received between $1,850 and $2,450; and
2 percent, between $1,050 and $1,350. The annual salaries of privates
were noticeably higher in the large than in the small cities.6 Eightyfive percent of the privates in Group I cities received $1,750 or more,
as compared with only 3 percent in Group III cities, and none in
Group II.
6 Because of the relatively higher salaries in Washington, D. C., the differences resulting from the size of
the cities were more pronounced in the South Atlantic Division than in most other geographic divisions.
10
(SALARIES' AND HO'URS, EIRE DEPARTMENTS!
T a b l e 3. — D istrib u tio n o f privates in fire departm ents o f 8 8 South A tla n tic D iv isio n
cities b y sa la ry group and grade , J u l y 1 , 1 9 3 8
All grades
Number
Percent
Salary group
All
cities
All groups_____
City group 1
I
II
III
All
cities
City group 1
I
II
III
_________________
3, 721
2, 625
690
406
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
$1,050 and under $1,150_ _ ___ ____
$1,150 and under $1,250
_ _ ____ _
$1*250 and under $1,350___ _______
$1,350 and under $1,450____________
$1,450 and under $1,550______ _____
5
32
28
209
182
10
1
24
4
26
16
132
42
1
6
2
76
116
.1
.9
.8
5.6
4.9
.4
(2)
.9
.6
3. 8
2.3
19.1
6.1
.2
1. 5
.5
18.7
28.6
$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__ _____ _
569
458
1,228
142
67
277
89
1,214
142
67
193
277
99
92
14
15.3
12.3
33.0
3.8
1.8
10.6
3.4
46. 2
5.4
2.6
28.0
40.1
24.4
22.7
3.4
175
50
37
539
175
50
37
539
4.7
1.3
1.0
14.5
6.7
1.9
1.4
20.5
$2,050 and under $2,150
$2,150 and under $2,250
$2,250 and under $2,350
$2,350 and under $2,450
__ ___ ___
__ ___
__
__________
__ ______ _
Number of privates in specified grade
First
Second
Salary group
City group 1
All
cities
I
All groups.
-----------------------------
$1,050 and under $1,150__ _ _ _ ___ _
$1,150 and 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 and under
$2,250 and under
$2,350 and under
$2,150___ ________
$2,250___ _______
$2,350____________
$2,450____________
See footnotes at end of table.
3,143
2, 216
158
128
506
341
1, 222
106
220
1,208
106
122
122
21
539
21
539
II
III
All
cities
600
327
231
loi
34
57
94
191
274
95
67
14
City group 1
I
II
III
163
36
4
6
25
24
16
5
18
8
13
101
11
78
2
3
9
9
33
16
33
16
32
4
1
7
20
11
SOUTH ATLANTIC CITIES
T a b l e 3. — D istrib u tio n o f privates in fire departm ents o f 8 8 Sou th A tla n tic D iv isio n
cities by sala ry group and grade , J u l y
I,
1938—
Continued
Number of privates in specified grade—Continued
Fourth
Third
Fifth through seventh
Salary group
All
cities
All groups------------------
131
$1,050 and under $1,150
$1,150 and under $1,250_
$1,250 and under $1,350
$1,350 and under $1,450
$1,450 and under $1,550
City group 1
I
107
III
10
All
cities
City group 1
I
II
III
All
cities
City group i
II
82
III
29
10
12
15
$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..
44
5
$2,050 and under $2,150
$2,150 and under $2,250
$2,250 and under $2,350
$2,350 and under $2,450
26
17
44
5
6
2
6
6
4
10
26
17
10
10
27
27
11
11
26
48
26
48
f 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
United States census of population for 1930.
2
Less than a tenth of 1 percent.
Hours and Working Conditions
Average Hours and Days o n D u ty per W eek
A large majority of the employees in a fire department, in fact 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 whereby the hours of duty of the firemen are
so arranged as to insure protection to the city at all times. It is anal
ogous to the shift systems in industries operating 24 hours a day.
There are 3 different types of platoon systems: (1) Single-platoon
system, (2) 2-platoon system, and (3) 3-platoon system.
Under the single-platoon system each fireman stays on duty contin
uously for two or more days, depending upon the variation of the sys
tem in use in the particular locality, and then has a day off. The off
days are so arranged that the fire department is equally staffed at
all hours.
268142°—41-----3
12
SALARIES AND HOURS, FIRE DEPARTMENTS'
The length of the period on duty between off days determines the
average weekly number of hours and days on duty under the single
platoon system. The shorter the period on duty the shorter the aver
age weekly hours and days on duty. The shortest average hours and
days on duty noted undef the single-platoon system is the one with 2
days on and third day off. It averages 112 hours, or 4.7 days on duty
per week. In no instance, however, does the single-platoon system
ever reach 168 hours or 7 days of duty per week because under all
variations of the single-platoon system the firemen are given a day off
duty at regular intervals.
The single-platoon system used to be the most prevalent system.
A t present a majority of the cities operate under the two-platoon
system.
j* Under the two-platoon system the firemen are divided into two
groups and work in two shifts. While one group is at work the other
is off duty. The firemen, however, do not work on the same shift
constantly but change from day to night shift at regular intervals.
Usually, before shifting from day to night duty, or vice versa, the men
on duty stay on for 24 hours while those off duty remain off for 24
hours. Thus, the full day off duty is balanced by a full day on duty
every shift period. Hence, even with a full day off every other shift
period, each group stays on duty an average of 12 hours a day, or
84 hours a week.
In some fire departments, however, the firemen are given additional
time off duty which is not compensated for by a like period on duty.
In those fire departments the average hours on duty per week is less
than 84, usually 72.
The interval of time between the shifts, or the frequency of the
shifts, is not the same in all cities operating under the 2-platoon
system of assignment. In some cities shifts occur as frequently as
every 24 hours, whereas in others they occur as seldom as every 30
days. The frequency of the shifts does not affect the average hours
on duty per week under the 2-platoon system because under all
variations of the 2-platoon system the firemen average 12 hours a
day, except in cities that give additional time off duty. The fre
quency of the shifts under the 2-platoon system, however, does affect
and determine the average number of days on duty per week in the
given fire department. The more frequent shifts result in a fewer
number of average days on duty per week. The shift with 24 hours
on and 24 hours off averages the least number of days on duty per
SOUTH ATLANTIC CITIES
13
week, 3% days, and the shift with no full 24-hour day off duty averages
the most, 7 days. Thus, the different cities operating under the
2-platoon system and having the same average number of hours on
duty per week, 84 hours if no additional time off duty is given, may
have a different average number of days on duty per week, between
3% and 7 days.
In a very few fire departments a small number of the officers work
under a different platoon system than the rest of the firemen, which
fact results in a combination of two types of platoons in the same fire
department. However, such cases are rare. Almost every fire
department operates wholly under either one of the three platoon
systems (single-platoon, 2-platoon, or 3-platoon).
Almost every fire department has a small number of employees not
included under the platoon system. These employees fall into two
groups— those on “ continuous” duty and “ other.” In most of the
fire departments the chief and a few of his immediate assistants, in
cluding those in charge of the various divisions within the fire de
partments, such as the superintendent of fire-alarm division, are
subject to call any moment and are therefore considered to be on duty
continuously. The “ other” group includes mostly nonuniformed
employees such as clerks and maintenance men who are not required
to fight fires. These employees usually have the working hours prev
alent in private industry or in the other departments of the city
government.
The single-platoon system included 3 percent and the 2-platoon
system included 92 percent of all employees. The remaining 5
percent of the employees did not work under any platoon system but
were either on continuous duty or had other hours prevailing in the
other departments of the city government.
Under the single-platoon system the firemen were on duty between
an average of 112 and 134 hours per week. Under the 2-platoon
system they were on duty between an average of 72 and 84 hours per
week. Those having “ other” hours were on duty an average of 52
hours per week.
There were two types of 2-platoon systems— the regular type, and
the one under which the firemen received additional time off duty.
The regular 2-platoon system with an average of 84 hours on duty
per week included 76 percent of all the employees. The 2-platoon
system with additional time off duty included 16 percent of all em
ployees, 1 percent of whom were on duty an average of 81 hours a
week and 15 percent were on duty an average of 72 hours per week.
14
(SALARIES AND HOURS, FIRE DEPARTMENTS
The average number of hours on duty per week were shorter in the
large than in the small cities. This was due to three facts: (1) None
of the Group I cities operated under the single-platoon system,
whereas one Group II and three Group III cities did operate under
the single-platoon system, (2) none of the Group III cities operated
under the variation of the 2-platoon system with additional time off
duty, and (3) continuous duty included only 0.3 percent of all em
ployees in Group I cities, as compared with 0.7 percent in Group II
cities, and 1.8 percent in Group III cities.
The average number of days on duty per week ranged between
4.7 and 5.6 days under the single-platoon system and between 3.4
and 7.0 days under the 2-platoon system.
Under the regular 2-platoon system 3.5, 6.1, and 6.5 days pre
dominated and included 30, 25, and 11 percent of all employees,
respectively. Under the 2-platoon system with additional time off
duty an average of 5.5 days per week predominated and included 15
percent of all employees.
The most popular platoon system was the variation of the regular
2-platoon system with 24 hours on duty followed by 24 hours off duty.
Seventeen of the 39 fire departments and 30 percent of all the employ
ees operated under this variation. Under this variation the second
platoon comes on duty when the first goes off duty so that the city
has the same number of firemen on duty at all hours.
In addition to the 17 fire departments mentioned above, another
fire department operated under the variation of the 2-platoon system,
with 24 hours on and 24 hours off duty. However, that city gave
an additional 0.2 day off duty per week. W ith this additional time
off duty the men under this variation were on duty an average of
81 hours and 3.4 days per week.
The 24 hours of continuous duty is the least desirable feature of
this type of 2-platoon system. This disadvantage, however, is
partly compensated for by the fact that the average number of days
on duty per week under this system is shorter than under any other
system.
15
SOUTH ATLANTIC CITIES'
T a b l e 4.— Average hours and days on duty per week in fire departments of 39 South
Atlantic Division cities, July 1, 1938
System of operation
Aver
age
hours
on
duty
per
week
Aver
age
days
on
duty
per
week
168
7.0
112
126
134
4.7
5.3
5.6
Number of cities
reporting
Number of employees Percent of employees
All City group 1
cit
ies I II III
Two-platoon—regular4___
On 24 hours, off 24
hours_____________
Shift 3rd day-----------Shift 4th day________
Shift 5th day________
Shift 7th day________
Shift each week______
City group 1
I
II
25,818 3,903 1, 238
All systems..
Continuous duty............ .
Single platoon3__________
On 2 days, off 1 d ay ..
On 3 days, off 1 day._
All
cit
ies
6
25
4
1
1
2— -
8
1
32
7
11
17
1
2
1
6
5
5
6
84
84
84
84
84
84
3.5
5.8
6.1
6.3
6.5
7.0
Two-platoon—with addi
tional time off duty 8—
Shift 7th day, off 1 day
per week---------------On 24 hours, ofE 24
hours—off 0.2 day
per week........... .......
72
5.5
81
3.4
1
Other6
52
6.0
27
1
1
2
2
2
1
1
1
11
3
1
1
1
9
46
46
506
920
840
80
840
840
80
7
278
I
II
III
677 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0
12
129
55
40
34
.6
3.0
.9
.7
1.4
.3
.7 1.8
3.7 19.0
8.1
5.9
3.7 5.0
517 75.8 73.1 84.2 76.4
15.8 21.5
6.5
14.4 21.5
1.4
80
199
City group 4
248 30.2 25.7 40.9 36.6
2. 5 3.8
52 24.9 35.8
7. 7
63
1.1
5.1
258 ""73 10.9 "7.8 20.8 10.8
216 144 6.2
17.4 21.3
6 1, 757 1,003
1
146 146
1 1, 450 1, 398
63
3
637 306
3
360
1
11
11
14 4,413 2,853 1,043
1
9
32
175
55
40
80
III
All
cit
ies
60
19
4.8
6. 5
5.1
4.9
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
United States census of population for 1930.
2 Includes 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 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 num
bers of days on duty per year by 52.143.
4Under each variation of the regular 2-platoon system the employees work in 2 groups, 1group 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.
3
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.
8 The average number of working hours and days per week is arrived at by dividing the total number of
weekly man-hours and man-days by the total number of employees under “ other.”
Perquisites Supplied to Firemen
All the 39 cities supplied sleeping quarters, and 15 of them supplied
the necessary beds, bedding, linen, and laundry. Twenty-two cities
supplied full uniforms and 3 supplied the cloth and trimmings for
uniforms. Some cities supplied other items such as rubber boots,
helmets, and rubber coats. The small cities, as a rule, supplied more
items than the large cities.
16
-SALARIES AND HOURS, FIRE DEPARTMENTS!
T a b l e 5.— Perquisites supplied, to firemen in 89 South
Atlantic Division cities,
July 1, 1988
Number of cities supplyingNum Sleeping Beds,
ber of
bed
cities quarters
Uni
for men ding, Hel Rubber Rubber
boots forms
on night linen, mets coats
laundry
duty
City group 1
Minor
items
All cities___________________________
39
39
15
15
14
16
225
20
Group I _______________ ___________
Group I I _______________ _________ .
Group III_____________ ____ ________
9
14
16
9
14
16
1
5
9
3
3
9
4
5
5
2
7
7
5
8
12
6
5
9
1 Group I includes cities having a population of 100,0C0 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
United States census of population for 1930,
21 Group I city and 2 Group III cities supplied only the cloth and trimmings for uniforms.
Vacations With Pay
Almost all the employees, 5,803 out of 5,818, in the fire departments
of the 39 cities received vacations with pay. For those receiving paid
vacations, the average vacation period was little over 16 days (16.4)
a year. Vacation periods of 14, 15, and 26 days predominated and
included 31, 29, and 15 percent of the employees, respectively.
In spite of the fact that the large cities paid higher salaries than the
small cities, the paid vacation periods were longer in the large than
in the small cities. Group I cities gave paid vacations of an average
of 18 days a year compared with 14 and 13 days for Group II and
Group III cities, respectively. Vacation periods in Group II and
Group III cities ranged between 10 and 15 days while the vacation
periods in Group I cities ranged between 10 and 26 days, 23 percent
of the employees receiving 26 days.
T a b l e 6.— Number of employees receiving specified vacation with pay in fire depart
ments of 89 South Atlantic Division cities, July 1, 1988
City group 1
Number of employees having—
Total
num
Num ber
ber of emof No
va 10
cities ploy
12
14
16
21
15
18
19
26
20
31
30
ca days days days days days days days days days days days days
ees tion
All cities _ __
39 25,818
Group I _______
Group II______
Group I I I ..
9
14
16
3,903
1,238
677
15
488
166 1,830 1,702
191
27
1
14
10
280
198
1,391
242
47
119
197
191
27
896
658
148
1
1
333
172
886
329
4
172
886
6
1
1
6
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
United States census of population for 1930.
2 Includes only regular full-time employees.
17
SOUTH ATLANTIC CITIES
Promotions o f Lower-Grade Privates
Thirty-two of the thirty-eight fire departments having paid privates
automatically promoted their lower-grade firemen after a specified
period of service, after 6 months in 6 cities, and after 1 year in 26
cities. In 4 cities promotions were by civil-service examination.
Only 2 cities had no promotion system.
T a b l e 7 . — Promotion of lower-grade privates in fire departments of 88 South Atlantic
Division cities, July 1, 1938
All cities_________________________
6 months
38
3,721
6
26
4
2
9
14
15
2, 625
690
406
1
2
23
6
10
10
1
1
2
1
1
Number
of cities
City group1
_ _
Group I --------------- --------------------------Group II--------- ---------- --------------------- Group III
_________ _ - ___
Number of cities with pro
motion after—
Total
number
of pri
vates
1 year
Civilservice
examina
tion
No pro
motion
system
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 II, cities having a population of 25,000 and under 50,000, based on
United States census of population for 1930.
2 Newport News, Va., up to third grade, 6 months; third to second grade, 2 years; second to first grade,
5 years.
Percentage Distribution of Employees and Salaries
A ll Employees
Ninety-five percent of all employees in the fire departments of the
39 South Atlantic cities were in the fire-fighting divisions 7 and the
rest were in the fire-prevention, apparatus, fire-alarm, and clerical
divisions. Of the 95 percent in the fire-fighting division, 75 percent
were privates, drivers, engineers 8; 16 percent were captains and lieu
tenants; 3 percent were battalion chiefs, chiefs, and their assistants;
and 1 percent miscellaneous.
The higher-ranking occupations constituted a smaller percentage of
the employees in the large than in the small cities. In Group I cities,
chiefs formed 0.2 percent of all employees compared with 1.1 and 2.2
percent in Group II and Group III cities, respectively. Captains and
lieutenants constituted 15, 19, and 18 percent of the employees in
Group I, II, and III cities, respectively. On the other hand, a greater
proportion of the employees were privates, drivers, and engineers in
7 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 sometimes
done by the local telephone company or by a separate city bureau.
8 These 3 occupations (privates, drivers, and engineers) are combined because some of the cities classify
all 3 as privates.
18
SALARIES AND HOURS, FIRE DEPARTMENTS
the large than in the small cities, 76 percent in Group I cities and 72
percent in Group II and III cities.
Ninety-five percent of the total salaries went to the fire-fighting
division and the remaining 5 percent, to the other divisions in almost
the same proportion as the distribution of the employees in those
divisions. Although the percentage of all employees in the fire
fighting division and the percentage of total salaries received by them
were almost identical, the percentages varied for the different occupa
tions within the division, the higher-ranking occupations receiving a
percentage of salaries higher than their percentage of numbers. Chiefs
constituted 0.7 percent of the employees and received 1.1 percent of
total salaries. Captains and lieutenants formed 16 percent of em
ployees and received 18 percent of total salaries. Privates, on the
other hand, constituted 64 percent of all employees and received 61
percent of the total salaries. These characteristic differences were
more pronounced in the large than in the small cities. In the large
cities the chiefs received a smaller proportion of the total salaries and
privates received a greater proportion of total salaries than in the
small cities.
T a b l e 8 .— Percentage distributions of employees and salaries in specified divisions in
fire departments of 39 South Atlantic region cities, July 1, 1938
Percent of employees
Division 1and occupation
All
cities
Percent of salaries
City group 2
I
II
III
All divisions________________
3100.0
100.0
100.0
Fire fighting________________
Chiefs....... .........................
Assistant or deputy chiefs.
Assistant deputy chiefs__
Battalion chiefs_________
Captains_______________
Lieutenants_____________
Sergeants________ ______
Pilots__________________
First mates_____________
Engineers, fire-engine____
Engineers, marine_______
Drivers_________________
Privates________________
Miscellaneous___________
94.7
.7
.7
.2
1.1
8.7
6.7
.8
.1
.2
7.3
.4
3.1
64.0
.7
94.8
.2
.3
.2
1.4
7.6
6.2
1.3
.1
.3
7.0
.6
1.4
67.3
.9
94.2
1.1
1.5
.2
.5
11.4
7.4
95.4
2.2
1.9
.3
.6
10.0
8.3
6.9
9.9
9.2
55.7
.3
Fire prevention_____________
Apparatus__________________
Fire alarm__________________
Clerical____________________
.9
1.3
2.6
.5
1.0
1.2
2.6
.4
1.0
1.4
2.7
.7
City group 2
All
cities
100.0 *100.0
I
n
III
100.0
100.0
100.0
94.6
.5
.6
.2
2.3
8.6
6.7
1.6
.1
.3
6.9
.6
1.4
63.9
.9
94.0
2.0
1.9
.2
.6
12.3
7.5
95.5
3.4
2.2
.3
.7
11.0
8.5
6.9
9.3
1.9
60.0
.3
94.6
1.1
1.0
.2
1.8
9.5
7.0
1.1
.1
.2
7.1
.5
2.9
61.3
.8
9.3
53.0
.3
1.8
58.0
.3
.7
1.5
1.9
.5
1.0
1.4
2.5
.5
1.1
1.4
2.5
.4
.9
1.6
2.8
.7
.8
1.6
1.7
.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, for example, 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
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.
3 Includes only regular full-time employees.
19
SOUTH ATLANTIC CITIES
Supervisory Employees
The comparative ratio of the total number and salary of super
visory employees is worthy of note. Supervisory employees consti
tuted 20 percent of all employees and received only 23 percent of the
total salaries.
The differences were less in the small than in the large cities as
shown in table 10.
T a b l e 9 .— Number and salaries of supervisory employees 1 as percent of total fire-
department employees and total salaries, in 89 South Atlantic Division cities, July
1, 1938
City group 2
Item
All cities
I
Supervisory employees as percent of all employees_________ .
Supervisory salaries as percent of total salaries. . . . ------ _ _
Ratio of salaries to employees-------------------------- -----------------
20.0
23.1
1.16
18.2
21.7
1.19
II
III
23.4
26.2
1.12
24.5
27.4
1.12
1 Supervisory employees are those employees who have others working under them. The group includes
the chiefs, assistant chiefs, assistant deputy chiefs, battalion chiefs, captains, lieutenants, sergeants, mar
shals or wardens, superintendents, chief fire-alarm operators, assistants to these officers and others who
direct other employees.
2 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
United States census of population for 1930.
Per Capita Salary Cost o f Fire Protection and Distribution
o f Employees
In proportion to their population the large cities had more firemen
than the small cities. Group I cities had a fire-department employee
for every 595 inhabitants; Group II cities, for every 722 inhabitants;
and Group III cities, for every 860 inhabitants.
Similarly, the per capita salary costs of fire protection were higher
in the large than in the small cities. The per capita salary cost was
$3.43 in Group I cities, $2.29 in Group II cities, and $2.06 in Group
III cities. This was due to two factors— the proportionately greater
number of firemen employed by the large cities, and the relatively
higher salaries paid by the fire departments of the large cities.
Appendix
The listing of the 1930 populations of the cities covered by this
report, along with the ratios of employees to population and per
capita costs, is shown in table A. The South Atlantic Division
includes the States of Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, North
Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, and the District
of Columbia.
T a b l e A. — Fire department employees and salary costs in relation to population in
cities with a population of 25,000 1 or more in South Atlantic States, July 1, 1938
City
Em Per
Popula ploy
ees capita
tion 3
per salary
10,000 cost
All cities . . . . __________ 3, 767, 926
316 3$2.97
Group I—cities of 100,000
and over _ _ ______ 2, 322,692
17
3.43
Atlanta, Ga._ __ ___
Baltimore, Md _____
Jacksonville, Fla_____
Miami, Fla__________
Norfolk, Va__________
Richmond, V a... __
Tampa, F la.. ______
Washington, D. C ____
Wilmington, Del ___
270,366
804, 874
129, 549
110, 637
129, 710
182, 929
101,161
486,869
106, 597
12
18
15
15
19
20
9
18
15
2.66
3. 42
3.48
2.98
3. 50
3. 34
1.67
4.46
2.86
Group II—cities of 50,000
and under 100,000.
893, 634
14
2.29
50,193
60, 342
62, 265
60, 408
82.675
51, 581
52, 037
53, 569
75, 572
13
16
15
12
19
12
12
9
12
2. 25
2. 36
2. 21
1.99
3.37
1.99
2. 03
1.58
2.00
Asheville, N. C ______
Augusta, Ga_________
Charleston, S. C _____
Charleston, W. Va____
Charlotte, N. C_ _ __
Columbia. S. C______
Durham, N. C .
_
Greensboro, N. C____
Huntington, W. Va___
City
Em Per
Popula ploy
ees capita
tion 2
per salary
10,000 cost
Group II—cities of 50,000
and under 100,000—Con.
Macon, Ga_________
Roanoke, Va. ______
Savannah, Ga________
Wheeling, W. Va_____
Winston-Salem, N. C__
53,829
69, 206
85,024
61, 659
75, 274
Group III—cities of 25,000
and under 50,000_______
551, 600
Clarksburg, W. Va___
Columbus, Ga____ .
Cumberland, M d___
Greenville, S. C
Hagerstown, M d . 4___
High Point, N. C____
Lynchburg, Va. _ .
Newport News, Va___
Orlando, Fla_________
Parkersburg, W. V a ...
Petersburg, Va. _____
Portsmouth, Va______
Raleigh. N. C ________
St. Petersburg, Fla___
Spartanburg, 8. C ____
Wilmington,. N. C____
28,866
43,131
37.747
29,154
30, 861
36, 745
40, 661
34, 417
27, 330
29,623
28, 564
45. 704
37, 379
40, 425
28. 723
32, 270
14
.17
16
13
11
$2. 41
2. 92
2. 29
2. 32
1.85
313 32.06
9
14
9
14
1.43
2. 30
1.56
2.16
10
17
12
14
9
14
8
14
12
16
19
1.61
2.94
2 29
2.16
1.45
2.00
1.46
2. 21
1. 94
2. 54
2.87
includes all South Atlantic cities of 25.000 or more except Pensacola, Fla. (31,579), and West Palm
Beach, Fla. (26,6i0). for which data were not available.
2 Based on United States census of population for 1930.
3Data for Hagerstown not included in calculation.
4 Small full-time staff, supplemented by volunteers. Full-time staff included in this study.
21
22
SALARIES AND HOURS, FIRE DEPARTMENTS
T a b l e B .— Distribution of salaries and employees in fire departments of each of 39
July 1,
9 Group I cities (population of 100,000 or over)
Division and occupation
Delaware
District of
Columbia
Wilming
ton
Washing
ton
her of
em
ploy
ees
No.
1
All occupations
2
3
4
Fire fighting:
Chiefs
_______ _
Assistant or deputy chiefs__ __ _ _
Assistant deputy chiefs
_ _
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
__ _
Battalion or district chiefs
Captains. _
_ __
Lieutenants __ _
Sergeants _ _
_____
Pilots__ __
First mates
Engineers, fire-engine _.
Engineers, assistant fire-engine___
Engineers, marine
Drivers _ _ _ __ _ _
Privates—
1st grade____ ___ _ _ __
2d grade____
3d grade____ ____ _ __ _
4th grade___ _
5th grade__ _ _ _ _ _
6th grade________ _ _ __
7th grade __ __ _____
Miscellaneous:
Deckhands
Drillmasters
Pipemen__ ______ _______ _ _
Stokers
Tillermen. _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _
Physicians. _. _ _ __
Helpers__
Fire prevention:
Marshals or wardens____
Assistant marshals___
Chief inspectors. _
Inspectors___ _______
_
__
Fire investigators._
_
_ ___
See footnotes at end of table.
Florida
Total
2
3,903
9
12
6
157
Sala
ry
rate
No.
886
_____
1 $3,600
2 2, 725
14
11
2, 400
2,165
10
1, 825
4
1,815
2, 216
163
107
53
60
26
105
1,815
4
2
2
18
10
6
3
3
24
1
Sala
ry
rate
_
No.
195
--
1 $8,000
2 5,000
1 4,500 (
l
56
297
243
49
3
11
213
60
24
55
Jackson
ville
l
14
4, 500
47
47
49
2
3,000
2, 840
2,600
2,600
Sala
ry
rate
Miami
No.
______
1 $5,040
1 3, 875
2,992
9
3,087 J
2
Sala
ry
rate
167
1 $4,000
6
2, 520
18
18
2, 520
2, 363
9
21
2,280
2,100
1
1
24
2,961
2, 677
2, 299
1
1,980
2
2, 460
2,600
1
1
18
2,647 )
2,709 J
2,299
539
16
17
27
48
26
2,400
2, 300
2,200
2,100
2,000
1,900
21
33
26
10
2,268
2,172
2,079
1,984
106
11
1,920
1,620
l
l
2
9
3
1
2
2,173
2, 268 J----2,520
2,551
2,100
2
31
31
1,815
1
1
2, 725
2,165
1
1
5.000
3.000
5
1, 815
7
2,460
\
2,205
600
1
2,615 1
1
2, 520
2,173
2,268 jr
1
23
SOUTH ATLANTIC CITIES
South Atlantic Division cities with population of 25,000 or over,1 by occupations,
1938
14 Group II cities (population of
50,000 and under 100,000)
9 Group I cities (population of 100,000 or over)
Florida—
Con.
Georgia
Mary
land
Virginia
Georgia
Total
num
Rich
Baltimore
Norfolk
Atlanta
ber
of Augusta
Macon Savannah
Tampa
mond
em
ploy
SalaSalaSala ees
SalaSalaSala
Sala
Sala
No.
No. ry No. ry
ry No.
No. ry No. ry No. ry
No.
ry
ry
rate
rate
rate
rate
rate
rate
rate
rate
329
93
1 $4, 200
1 3,000
1 2, 580
12 2,000
8 1,900
7
21
5
8
1
1,800
1, 700
1,620
1, 524
1, 392
360
1, 238
1 $5,000
1 3,066
1 2, 688
1 $5,600
4 4,000
1 $3,600
1 $3, 500
1 2,800
14
18
2
4 2, 688
24 3,000
4 2,436
4 2,424
6
42 2, 373
18 2, 352
96 2,100
95 1, 975
34 2,056
25 1,920
25 1,860
141
91
36 1,800
60
26
1, 763 220 1,620
1, 689 16 1, 500
1, 616 10 1, 320
1, 554
600
36
14
21
13
2
4
64 2,226
25 1,V64
248
1,468
8 2, 352
122
9
10
6
11
2,100
2,000
1, 900
1, 800
1, 700
10
56
60
f 14
l 4
1,900
22 1,860
2,050
1,900
1, 900 1
2,065 1
936 1,800
53 1, 700
34 1, 600
160
4
5
2
1 $2, 460
2 1, 860
12 1,530
8 1,480
77
1 $2, 500
1 2,280
1
134
1 $3,300
58 1, 440
5 1, 380
1 1, 200
1
34 1, 620
14
34
13
11
11
11
2
4
1, 458
1, 404
1, 350
1, 296
1, 242
1,188
1,080
f 1 1,600 \
1 15 1,800 I "
u) - -
1
1
2
1
1
2, 352
2, 352
2, 352
2,100
2,352
26
1 3, 000
1
4 2,100
2
9
1 2,056
4 1, 620
1 1,440
1 1,800
1 1,680
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
1 1, 800
3
1 2,100
2
3
4
f 1 1,890 1
1, 998 l 5
1 1 2,100 I
8 1,800 10 1, 620
6
8 1,680 10 1, 512
7
8
9
10
9 1, 566 11
9 1,458 12
22 1, 680
114
1 2, 352
8 2, 226
96
30
3 1, 458
27
28
29
31
32
33
24
T
SALARIES AND HOURS, FIRE DEPARTMENTS
able
B . — Distribution of salaries and employees in fire departments of each of 39
July l y
9 Group I cities (population of 100,000 or over)
Division and occupation
Total
num
ber of
em
ploy
ees
Delaware
District of
Columbia
Wilming
ton
Washing
ton
No.
Sala
ry
rate
Apparatus:
Superintendents of machinery-------Assistant superintendents of machin
ery____________________________
Machinists_______________________
Auto mechanics.
General mechanics:
Blacksmiths____________
Carpenters_____________
Mechanics_____________
Molders________________
Painters_______________
Plumbers______________
Miscellaneous:
Engineers, high-pressure..
Hydrant inspectors_____
Fire alarm:
Superintendents__________
Assistant superintendents..
Chief fire-alarm operators.
Operators, fire-alarm______
Operators, telephone.
Inspectors__________
Electricians________
Linemen___________
Linemen’s helpers___
Miscellaneous:
Battery testers____
Box testers_______
Painters__________
Repairmen.
Assistant repairmen.
Clerical:
Secretaries----------------Clerks_______________
Stenographers_______
See footnotes at end of table.
Sala
ry
rate
No.
Florida
Jackson
ville
1
5.000
1
2
1,815
{ i
1
1
Sala
ry
rate
No.
1
2,709
1
3.000
2.371
2, 454 J
1, 664
2.371 V . . .
2,520
2,500
Sala
ry
rate
No.
1
1
1
2,080
2,080
2,709
{ 1 2,646
1
Miami
1.980
1.980
1.980
}.___
J .
1
1
1
3,200
2,600
1, 920
\ 1,440
611 < to
1 1, 860
1
6
1,980
1
1,980
2,000
,
> ( 4)
1
1
1, 320
1,440
f
73 <
l
1
1,440
to
1,860
1,320
1,620
{ 11 2,000
/
2,000
1
2,929
1,500
{ 1 1,200
25
SOUTH ATLANTIC1 CITIES'
South Atlantic Division cities with population of 25,000 or over,1 by occupations,
1938— Continued
14 Group II cities (population of
50,000 and under 100,000)
9 Group I cities (population of 100,000 or over)
Florida—
Con.
Mary
land
Georgia
Virginia
Georgia
Total
num
Rich ber
Norfolk
of Qugusta
Macon
Atlanta
Balrimore
Tampa
mond
em
ploy
Sala ees
Sala
Sala
Sala
Sala
Sala
Sala
Sala
No. ry No.
I
No.
No.
No.
ry No. ry
ry No. ry
ry
No.
ry
ry
rate
rate
rate
rate
rate
rate
rate
1 2, 625
1 3,000
1 2,436
1 2,226
1 2,600
1,900
6 2, 050 1
1 2,056
l
1 2,100
5
1
3
1 1, 950
1 1,680
2 2,100
1,900
2 2,220
1 2,280
{
1 2,160
1,890
34
1,782
35
36
1 1,740
7
37
\
1 2, 050 f
38
39
40
41
42
43
(5)
___ 1
1
1 1,480
1 1,480
44
45
1 2,100
1 2,100
1 2,625
1 2,373
{
6 2,352 {
l
1 3, 300
1 2,844
2,400 | 1 2, 240
1 3,000 1
1,800
7
7 2,400 )1
1 2,373
ii 2,100
10 1,460
1 3,120
1 2,400
1,680
3 1,444 fl ^
3 1,920 If
2 1,860
4 1,800
1 2,040
5 1,740
7
2
13
3
46
47
48
3 1,440
3
5
0)
49
50
51
52
53
54
(5)
55
56
57
l 2,008
58
59
l
| „
1,500
f1
1
(
l
l
1
l
3
3, 300
1,800
2,100
1,800
1 1,224
1 1,518 }
1
2,000
7
2
1 1,860 |
1,500
j
(4)
::::::
60
61
62
26
T a]
SALARIES AND HOURS, EIRE DEPARTMENTS:
B .— Distribution of salaries and employees in fire departments
14 group II cities (population
North Carolina
Division and occupation
Ashville
No.
i
2
3
4
5
6
7
11
12
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
28
29
31
32
34
35
36
37
42
43
44
46
47
49
50
52
53
60
61
All occupations________________
Fire fighting:
Chiefs_______________________
Assistant or deputy chiefs_____
Assistant deputy chiefs_______
Battalion or district chiefs_____
Captains_____________________
Lieutenants__________________
Engineers, fire engine________
Engineers, assistant fire engine..
Drivers______________________
Privates—
1st grade______________________
2nd grade_____________________
3rd grade_____________________
4th grade_____________________
5th grade_____________________
6th grade_____________________
7th grade_____________________
8th grade______________________
Miscellaneous:
Drillmasters__________________
Helpers_______________________
Fire prevention:
Marshals or wardens_____________
Chief inspectors_________________
Inspectors______________________
Apparatus:
Superintendents of machinery____
Assistant superintendents of ma
chinery_______________________
Machinists______________________
Auto mechanics_________________
Sal
aryrate
65
Charlotte
No.
Sal
ary
rate
Durham
No.
Sal
ary
rate
156
Greens
boro
No.
Sal
ary
rate
47
$3,000
2,400
$3, 300
2,700
$3,300
2,400
$3,000
2,100
1, 920
1,800
1,920
1,836
1, 740
1,800
1,680
1,!
1,800
1,680
1,512
1,740
{ ?
1,665
1,680
1,740
1,680
23
1
2
1,620
1,500
1,410
1,242
10
1,680
1,920
(4)
(4)
1,980
1, 920
1,680
1,800
m
General mechanics:
Painters_______________
Plumbers______________
Assistant mechanics____
Fire alarm:
Superintendents__________
Aissistant superintendents..
Operators, fire alarm______
Operators, telephone______
1, 920
" 1,740
1, 980
1,680
'(»)
Electricians..
Linemen__
Clerical:
Secretaries.
Clerks____
at end of table.
1, 740
1,680
900
}«
1,665
}(*)
27
SOUTH ATLANTIC CITIES
3 9 S ou th A tla n tic D iv isio n cities with po p u latio n o f 2 5 ,0 0 0 or over,
1 9 3 8 — Continued
Virginia
Columbia
Charleston
Sal
ary
rate
N o.
1 $3,110
1 2,340
1 1,900
2 1,790
1 $2, 760
1 2,040
1 1,980
1 1,920
9 1,592
9 1,501
8 1,477
8 1, 429
1,408
5 1, 429 I
43 1,376
5 1, 740
10
2
Sal
ary
rate
No.
119
63
93
{
Sal
ary
rate
No.
Roanoke
Florida
Total
num
Peters
Wheeling ber
Charleston HuntingOrlando St.burg
ton
of
em
Sal
Sal
Sal ploy
Sal
Sal
ees N o . ary N o . ary
N o. ary N o. ary N o . ary
rate
rate
rate
rate
rate
83
87
1 $3,000
1 1, 900
1 $2 , 400
1 1,980
2 677
1 $2,600
2 1,914
38
15
13
50
1 $2,400
1 1,800
1 $2,700
1 2,040
2
4
1,800
1.740
9 1.740
9 1 , 680
10
11
1,704
1 , 620
27 1, 560
5 1 , 260
West Virginia
73
1 $3, 392
2 2,479
occu p ation s,
16 group III cities (population
of 25,000 and under 50,000)
of 50,000 and under 100 ,000)— Continued
South Carolina
1 hy
70 1 , 620
13 1, 770
16 1 , 860
5 1,800
21
1,782
68
56
67
18 1, 575
22
1,680
26 1, 716
13
37 1, 575
30 1 , 680
2 1, 560
31 1, 650
327
32
6 1, 716
4 1, 650
6 1,620
29 1,500
10
8
27 1, 584
4 1, 380
1 1 , 260
15
3
9
2
2
3 1,740
{
i
1,592
1, 376
1
1,900
(4)
1 1
1
1,800
1
1, 782
jo
5 (4)
1,980
2
1
1
1,980
2,448
1,848
3 1, 560
1
1
2 ,10 0
1 , 620
1,800
1
1,800
1
1,920
1
7
1,8 8 8
1,20 0
|ii
r
i
1,380
(4>
1
1, 500
1, 560
I, 380
1, 740 — -
—
600
1
1,920
5
1
1,716
3 1,680
6
3
900
1
1,20 0
1 ....
J
1
1
1, 716
81
3 1,680
(9)
{
1
1
1
1
1
1
1 , 620
1
1,950
1
1,800
}«)
{
f
"
(4)
28
SALARIES AND HOURS, FIRE DEPARTMENTS'
T
able
B.—
D istr ib u tio n o f salaries and em p lo ye es in fire d epa rtm en ts o f each
b y o ccu p a tio n s ,
16 Group III cities (population of 25,000 and under 50,000)
Maryland
Georgia
Division and occupation
Columbus
N o.
All ocupations______________
Fire fighting:
Chiefs_____________________
Assistant or deputy ch iefs..
Assistant deputy chiefs-----Battalion or district chiefs..
Captains__________________
Lieutenants_______________
Cumber
land
High
Point
10 14
34
1 $3,300
1 $2 ,10 0
1 1,800
6 1,980
4 1.740
4 1.740
6 1,740
■{ S
Hagers
town
Raleigh
Sal
Sal
Sal
Sal
Sal
ary N o. ary N o. ary N o. ary N o. ary
rate
rate
rate
rate
rate
61
Engineers, fire engine...
4
Drivers_______________
Privates—
9
1 st grade____________
2 d grade_____________
3
3d grade_____________
4th grade____________
4
5th grade____________
6 th grade____________
3
7th grade____________
7
8 th grade____________
2
Miscellaneous:
Drillmasters_________
Fire prevention:
Marshals or wardens. _.
;} ( « )
Inspectors_____________
Apparatus:
Superintendents of macl
Assistant superintendents of
machinery--------------1
Auto mechanics_______
Fire alarm:
1
Superintendents______
3
Operators, fire-alarm...
Electricians__________
1
Linemen_____________
Clerical:
Secretaries____________
>
Clerks________________
North Carolina
1.560 ) . . .
1,620 /
1.560
35
1,500
1, 476
N o.
53
1 $2,820
1 1,920
6
14 1,500
Sal
ary
rate
62
1 $2,400
1 $2,700
1 1,860
1 1,800
5 1,740
6 1,680
u6
1,620
1,660
1,740
1,600
6 1, 560
4 1,560
1,800
20 1, 440
34 1,500
3 1,440
20 1.440
1
6 1.440
19 1,620
1 1,260
22 1,740
1 1,2 0 0
1,548
W ilm ing
ton
1,428
1,404
1,380
r.__
{
1
0)
1,740
1,980 0 )
1,920
1,548
1,680i i
■CO
1
(9)
11
r
i
1,920
1,740
1
m
1
1,600
1
1,2 0 0
| 1 1,800
1
r~
o
1 Based on United States census of population for 1930.
2 Totals include only the regular, full-time employees. Totals do not include part-time employees, call
men, or volunteers.
3Call men.
4 M en from uniformed force assigned to this work.
« W ork performed b y a separate city bureau.
« Includes 5 at $1,440, 4 at $1,800, and 2 at $1,860.
7 Includes 1 at $1,440,1 at $1,680, and 1 at $1,860.
8 Part-time employee.
9 W ork performed b y a separate city bureau or private company.
10 Volunteer fire department, except for 14 paid engineers.
SOUTH ATLANTIC' CITIES'
' 3 9 S o u th A tla n tic D iv is io n cities with p o p u la tio n o f 2 5 ,0 0 0 or over,1
uly 1 , 1 9 3 8 — Continued
16 Group III cities (population of 25,000 and under 50,000)—Continued
South Carolina
Greenville
N o.
Sal
ary
rate
Virginia
Spartansburg
Sal
ary
rate
N o.
$2, 520
1,890
1, 770
N o.
Sal
ary
rate
Newport
News
No.
Sal
ary
rate
$2, 700
$2 , 280
1 860
2,100
1,860
1,650
1,'
1,620
Petersburg
No.
Sal
ary
$2, 205
1,980
1.500
1, 380
1.440
1.440
1.500
1, 380
1,809
1,380
1, 236
22 1,704
1,560
1, 770
1,710
1,650
1,560
1, 530
1,740
1,680
Clarks
burg
No.
Parkers
burg
Sal
Sal
ary No. ary
rate
rate
1
27
$2, 500
1 , 800
1, 500
1, 560
No.
$3,000
2, 400
1,890
1,440
1,200
Sal
ary
rate
Ports
mouth
40
70
45
41
Lynchburg
West Virginia
$ 2,000
2,100
1 , 680
1,500
1,740
2
3
4
5
6
7
11
1,744
14
22 1,500
19 1,620
1,
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
1,170
23
(4)
(4)
{-i
1, 770
1,620
CO
00
00
1,740
1 , 620
(4)
1,200
{"(4)
29
32
34
35
1.809
1,830
u
1.809
37
46
49
52
53
60
61
30
T
jSALARIEIS AND HOURS, FIRE DEPARTMENTS
able
C .—
A v era g e hours and d a y s on d u ty p er week in fire d epa rtm en ts o f 3 9 S ou th
A tla n tic D iv isio n c ities , b y fu n c tio n a l d iv isio n s , J u l y 1 , 1 9 3 8
Num ber of employees working under specified systems in—
System of operation
A ver A ver
age
age
hours days
on
on
duty duty
per
per
week week
C ity group 1
All
cities
I
Single p latoon 6______ _______
On 2 days, off 1 d a y_____
On 3 days, off 1 d a y ... _
On 4 days, off 1 day _ .
2 -platoon—regular 7 __________
On 24 hours, off 24 hours. _
Shift third d a y_____ __ . . .
Shift fourth d a y____ _____
Shift fifth d a y___ ________
Shift seventh d a y _______
Shift each w eek__________
III
II
C ity group 1
All
cities
I
II
III
25,818
3,903
1, 238
677
5, 511
3, 699
1.166
646
168
7.0
32
11
9
12
32
311
49
5 12
4.7
5.3
5.6
175
55
40
80
46
112
46
129
55
40
34
168
54
39
75
84
84
84
84
84
84
3.5
5.8
6. 1
6.3
6.5
7.0
4,413
1, 757
146
1,450
63
637
360
1,043
506
517
248
4, 383
1, 742
146
1,450
59
636
350
2, 844
994
146
1,398
306
59
258
208
920
840
80
72
5.5
840
840
A ll systems---------------------------Continuous d u ty_____________
Fire-fighting
division
A ll divisions
126
134
2, 853
1,003
146
1,398
52
306
63
258
216
920
840
80
840
840
additional
time off duty 8_______ _____
Shift seventh day, off 1
day per week.
_ __
On 24 hours, off 24 hours—
off 0 .2 day per w eek____
81
3.4
80
O ther 9................................... .......
52
6 .0
278
73
144
43
43
125
54
39
32
1,031
506
508
242
52
72
142
2 -platoon—with
See fo o tn o te s a t en d o f table.
80
199
60
80
19
8
80
4
3
1
31
SOUTH ATLANTIC CITIES
T
C . — A v era g e hours and d a ys on d u ty per week i n fire d epa rtm en ts o f 8 9 S outh
A tla n tic D iv is io n c ities , b y fu n c tio n a l d iv is io n s , J u l y 1 , 1 9 3 8 — Continued.
able
Num ber of employees working under specified systems in—
Fire-prevention
division
Fire-alarm
division
Apparatus
division
Clerical
division
System of operation
City group 1
All
cities
A ll systems_____________
Continuous duty
__
54
I
II
III
37
12
5
76
C ity group i
All
cities
I
II
III
48
18
10
1
1
4
1
1
1
1
2
4
5
4
All
cities
I
150 103
II
III
34
13
27
1
3
1
1
1
1
1
1
City group 1
I
16
II III
8
3
__________
Single platoon 6____ __ _____
On 2 days, off 1 day
On 3 days, off 1 day _
On 4 days, off 1 day_____
2 -platoon—regular 7 ------------.
On 24 hours, off 24 hours.
Shift third d a y _______ _
Shift fourth day
___ _
Shift fifth d a y___ ______ _
Shift seventh day
Shift each week
2 -platoon—with
C ity group 1
All
cities
2
2
5
4
3
3
2
1
I
8
4
4
2
— -
3
—
13
1
—
11
3
2
2
8
2
— -
2
... .
2
2
1
6
—
6
13
4
1
1
1
—
...
1
1
1
1
1
additional
timp. off dntv 8
Shift seventh day, off 1 1
day per week
On 24 hours, off 24 hours— 1
off 0 .2 day per week___ ____
O ther 8______________________
49
34
12
3
61
44
135 10 1
25
9
25
16
7
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
United States census of population for 1930.
2 Includes only regular full-time employees.
3 Includes 6 chiefs and 5 assistant chiefs.
* Includes 8 chiefs and 1 assistant chief.
s Includes 11 chiefs and 1 assistant chief.
e 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.
2 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 m any hours as the other,
or 12 hours a day and 84 hours a week. Each variation of the 2-platoon system, however, spreadsthese 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 b y dividing the number of days on duty per year b y 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. T he average number of days on duty
per week is arrived at b y dividing the number of days on duty per year b y 52.143.
8 The average number of working hours and days per week is arrived at b y dividing the total number of
weekly man-hours, and man-days b y the total number of employees under ‘ ‘other. ’ ’
32
T
able
SALARIES AND HOURS, FIRE DEPARTMENTS
D.—
T otal sdturies and total n u m ber o f em p lo yees o f fire depa rtm ents in 8 9
S o u th A tla n tic c ities , J u l y 1 , 1 9 3 8
Total number of employees
Division and occupation 1
Total salaries
C ity group 2
All
cities
C ity g ro u p 2
A ll
cities
II
I
III
Dollars
I
II
III
Dollars
Dollars
Dollars
All occupations___ _____________ 35,818
3,903 1,238
677 11,103,610
7, 965, 844
2,044,433 1,093,333
Fire fighting___________________
3, 699 1,166
646 10,507,284
7, 541, 329
1, 921, 346 1,044,609
5, 511
Chiefs______________________
38
Assistant or deputy chiefs. __
43
Assistant deputy chiefs_____
10
Battalion chiefs___ _ ____
66
Captains. _ ____ . . . _ _
506
Lieutenants._ _ _ . . . . . .
390
Sergeants ___ ______ ____
49
P ilo ts ..
..
_____ ____ __
3
11
First mates___ ____ __ . . .
Engineers, fire engine 4_____
426
Engineers, m a r in e .___ . . .
24
___ . . .
182
Drivers
_.
Privates, all grades_________ 3, 721
1 st grade_______________ 3,143
2 d grade______________ .
231
_____
131
3d grade___ __
4th g r a d e ______________
82
5th grade and below . _.
134
M iscellaneous__________
__
42
14
18
15
13
2
6
2
86
29
2
121,387
108, 727
26, 384
198, 920
1,055,929
782, 429
127,400
8,161
21, 677
793, 974
50, 336
319, 950
6,807, 532
5,804, 836
402, 540
228,194
141, 550
230, 412
84,478
5
112,186
84, 657
19,140
19, 712
17, 792
1,920
7, 517
10 , 616
71, 989
2,352
7, 517
7, 224
49, 772
2, 352
3,392
13, 828
8,389
9
12
6
56
297
243
49
4
141
91
56
86
67
114
690
600
36
14
13
406
327
32
68
3
11
273
24
55
2, 625
2 , 216
163
107
53
21
10
8
42, 540
44,191
18,934
180, 312
683, 650
535, 590
127,400
8,161
21, 677
552, 390
50, 336
111, 558
5,090, 621
4, 327, 403
300, 852
194, 234
102, 640
165, 492
73,969
41,122
39, 846
3,880
11, 488
251, 580
154,169
37, 725
24,690
3, 570
7,120
120, 699
92,670
140,044
101,540
189,012
1,083,185
963,185
51, 696
18,870
26, 676
22 , 758
7,020
19,380
633, 726
514,248
49,992
15,090
12, 234
42,162
3,489
8 , 389
36
19
4
__.
54
37
12
Marshals or wardens__ __
Assistant marshals or ward
ens___ __ ________________
Chief inspectors____ ______
Inspectors.. . ______________
Miscellaneous______________
7
6
1
3
5
38
3
3
24
9
5
1
1
76
48
18
10
158,355
107, 720
33, 220
17,415
13
6
5
2
31, 539
18,050
9,910
3, 579
7
19
23
1
1
7
7
15,900
38,897
43,124
21,450
7,445
12,402
33,317
18,016
18,490
7,445
1,782
5, 580
12, 988
2,960
3
5
16
9
9
3
149
103
33
13
277,188
202, 047
56,361
18,780
19
7
7
5
6
1
2
14,088
3, 468
46
3
3
16
6
3
5
10
20
10
1
1
7
7
19,689
15,013
1, 920
88,644
6,413
5,700
39,000
14,600
11,068
8,136
8
1
68
41,913
18,481
1,920
121, 968
6,413
11, 580
49,245
14,600
11,068
Clerical_________________________
28
16
9
3
48, 597
Secretaries______ . . . ______
Clerks and b ook k eep ers___
Stenographers and ty p ists.. .
12
12
3
9
4
7
2
1
22,279
18,918
7,400
Fire prevention____
Apparatus _.
___
. . . _. __.
.
Superintendents of machin
ery_____ _______________
Assistant superintendents of
m achinery... ___ __
Machinists
Auto mechanics. _ ___ __ _
General mechanics______ .
Miscellaneous___________ __
Fire a la r m ___ _________________
Superintendents.. ________
Assistant superintendents__
Chief fire alarm operators___
Operators, fire alarm 8______
Inspectors
_____
__ ___
Electricians____________
__
L in e m e n .._ ____ __ ___ __
Helpers, linemen’s .__ _
Miscellaneous_____________
11
3
7
26
4
2
3
2
2
1, 716
1 2 ,1 2 0
25, 980
7,344
4,260
8,565
1,620
1,680
30,091
14,366
4,140
7, 729
14, 962
7,400
11,610
2, 756
2,940
1,2 0 0
1 A ll 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 b y the building inspector’s office; and the fire-alarm work is done b y the
local telephone com pany or b y a separate city bureau.
2 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
United States census of population for 1930.
3 Includes only regular, full-time employees.
4 Includes 60 assistant engineers in C ity Group I and 26 in C ity Group II. The rest are senior engineers.
8 Includes 3 telephone operators in C ity Group II.
O
@FedFRASER