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UNITED STATES D EPARTM EN T OF LABOR
Frances Perkins, Secretary
B U R E A U OF L A B O R ST A TIS TIC 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
J u ly 1, 1938
VOLUM E IV
West N o rth C entral Cities
4
Prepared by the
D IVISIO N OF C O N S T R U C T IO N A N D PUBLIC E M P L O Y M E N T
H E R M A N B. B Y E R , Chief
B u lletin T^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
U N IT E D STA TE S D E P A E T M E N T OF LA B O E
Frances Perkins, Secretary
+
B U R E A U OF L A B O R S T A T IS T IC S
Isador Lubin, Commissioner
A . F. Hinrichs . Assistant Commissioner
Donald Davenport, Chief, Employ
ment and Occupational Outlook
Branch
Aryness Joy, Chief, Prices and Cost of
Living Branch
N. Arnold Tolies, Chief, Working Con
ditions and Industrial Relations
Branch
Henry J. Fitzgerald, Chief, Business
Management Branch
Sidney W . Wilcox, Chief Statistician
Hugh S. Hanna, Chief, Editorial and
Research
C H IE F S
OF d i v i s i o n s
Herman B. Byer, Construction and
Public Employment
Charles F. Sharkey, Labor Law In
formation
J. M . Cutts, Wholesale Prices
Boris Stern, Labor Information Bulle
tin
Swen Kjaer, Industrial Accidents
Stella Stewart, Retail Prices
John J. Mahaney, Machine Tabula
tion
Robert J. Myers,
Statistics
Wage and Hour
Florence
tions
Industrial
Peterson,
Lewis E. Talbert, Employment Sta
tistics
Em m ett H. Welch, Occupational Out
look
Rela
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 . Hadley , 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_____________________________
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:
Table A .— Cities covered by this report________________________________
Table B.— Number of employees and annual salaries by individual
occupations and cities_____________________________________
Table C.— Average hours and days on duty by occupational division.
Table D .— Total salaries and total number of employees______________
in
1
2
5
8
9
14
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
26
28
Letter of 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 abor S tatist ic s ,
Washington, D. C., September 25, 19Jfi.
The S ecr e ta r y
of
L abor :
I have the honor to transmit herewith the fourth of a series of nine
reports on Salaries and Hours of Labor in Municipal Fire Depart
ments. This report covers cities in the West North Central States.
An explanation of the purposes of the survey was given in the preface
to the first report on the New England Cities.
I sador L u b in , Commissioner.
Hon. F rances P e r k in s ,
Secretary of Labor.
Bulletin T^o. 684 (V o l. IV ) o f the
U nited States Bureau o f Labor Statistics
Salaries and H ours o f Labor in Fire Departments
o f 27 W e st N orth Central C ities1
Summary
On July 1, 1938, the fire departments 2 of 27 3 West North Central
Division cities employed 4,265 people whose annual salaries totaled
about $8,327,000.
Ninety-three out of every 100 employees were in the fire-fighting
divisions and the rest were in the fire-prevention, apparatus, firealarm, and clerical divisions. Of the 93 in the fire-fighting divisions,
73 were privates, drivers, and engineers; 17 were captains and lieu
tenants; and 3 were chiefs, assistants to the chiefs, and battalion chiefs.
The annual salaries of all employees were concentrated within a
small range. Of every 100 employees, 86 earned between $1,550 and
$2,250 a year. This concentration was due mostly to the relatively
small differences in the annual salaries of the various occupations
within a fire department.
M ore than one-fifth of all employees were officers or held supervi
sory positions. These employees received slightly less than onefourth of the total salaries.
Of every $100 spent in salaries $93 went to the fire-fighting divi
sions. Of these, $71 went to engineers, drivers, and privates; $18
went to captains and lieutenants; and $4 went to battalion chiefs,
and to chiefs and their assistants.
As a rule the large cities paid higher salaries than the small cities.
This was especially so for the supervisory occupations which entailed
greater responsibility in the large cities.
1 Analysis and presentation b y 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 b y the Bureau of Labor
Statistics and was published in the M onthly 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 27 West North Central Division cities is one of a series which is being issued b y geographic
divisions.
3 This report covers only cities having a population of 25.000 or more. The U. S. Census of Population for
1930 is used to determine the size of the cities. See appendix for list of the States in the West North Central
Division and the cities included in this bulletin.
1
2
SALARIES AND HOURS, FIRE DEPARTMENTS
The annual salaries of firemen are affected by such factors as vaca
tions with pay, items supplied to firemen by the city without any
charge, and the promotion policies of the fire departments.
The 27 fire departments gave their employees an average of 16 days
of vacation with pay each year, sleeping quarters for firemen on night
duty, and various items such as helmets, rubber coats, and rubber
boots.
In this study data were obtained only for promotions of lower-grade
privates. Of the 27 fire departments, 21 automatically promoted
their lower-grade privates after a specified period of service, and 3
after civil service examinations. Only 3 cities had no promotion
system for their lower-grade privates.
Twenty-five of the 27 fire departments and 92 percent of all em
ployees worked under the 2-platoon system of assigning firemen to
duty which averaged 84 hours on duty per week for 78 percent of all
employees and 78 hours for 14 percent. The rest of the employees
worked between 46 and 168 hours per week.
Seventy-three percent of all employees were on duty between an
average of 3.3 and 3.5 days per week. The rest of the employees
worked between 4.7 and 7 days per week.
On the basis of the 1930 population figures the fire departments of
the 27 cities had approximately 12 employees for every 10,000 inhabi
tants, at a per capita salary cost of about $2.39. The per capita salary
cost was higher in the large than in the small cities because the large
cities as a rule had a relatively greater number of firemen and paid
higher salaries.
None of the 27 cities covered by this release had volunteer fire
departments or fire departments with small permanent staffs supple
mented by call men.
Annual Salaries
General Level of Salaries
The annual salaries in the fire departments of the 27 cities showed
great concentration. Of all employees 3 percent received less than
$1,550 a year; 51 percent received between $1,550 and $1,950; 10 per
cent, between $1,950 and $2,150; 25 percent, between $2,150 and
$2,250; and 11 percent, $2,250 and over. Concentration was due
to the relatively small differences in salaries of the various occupations
within a fire department and of the same occupation with the 27 fire
departments.
The annual salaries were somewhat higher in the large than in the
small cities. Of every 100 employees in the group of cities having a
population of 100,000 or more, 24 received less than $1,850 a year,
268141
EMPLOYEES IN FIRE DEPARTMENTS OF 2 7 WEST NORTH CENTRAL CITIES
BY SALARY AND SIZE OF CITY
PERCENT OF EMPLOYEES
JULY 1 ,1938
PERCENT OF EMPLOYEES
IOO
to
60
40
WEST NORTH CENTRAL CITIES
80
20
0
CO
4
SALARIES AND HOURS, FIRE DEPARTMENTS
compared with 82 in the group of cities having a population of 50,000
and under 100,000; and 87 in the group of cities having a population
of 25,000 and under 50,000.
These somewhat higher salaries in the large cities were due, among
other factors, to higher cost of living, more opportunities for other
employment, greater ability of the cities to pay, and great responsi
bility entailed in supervisory positions in the large cities.
For the sake of brevity, and comparability with bulletins for the other
geographic divisions, hereafter the group of largest cities mentioned
above will be designated as group 1 4, the medium-sized cities as group
II, and the smaller cities as group III.
T
able
1 .— Distribution of employees in fire departments of 27 W est North Central
cities , by salary group and size of city , J u ly 1, 1988
Number of employees
Percentage of employees
C ity group 1
Salary group
C ity group i
All
cities
All
cities
I
All groups___ ___________
___
II
III
100.0
100.0
8
201
3
1
38
36
69
.2
.2
1.8
1.2
13.0
.1
(3)
1.2
.3
8.7
1.3
32.9
■8
.2
9. 9
9.4
18.0
405
45
626
240
130
109
172
56
29
4
126
59
27
10
6
15.0
6.5
16.6
6.5
3.3
12.4
1.4
19.1
7.3
4.0
17.8
28. 2
9.2
4.7
.7
32.8
15.4
7.0
2.6
1.5
1,051
174
103
87
7
1,040
173
97
84
7
8
3
1
1
24.7
4.1
2.4
2.0
.2
31.8
5. 3
3.0
2.6
.2
1.3
.8
.3
.3
7
20
13
19
37
3
18
10
17
4 37
2
2
.2
.5
.3
.4
.9
.1
.6
.3
.5
1.1
3, 270
___________________
$1,350_____________
$1,450 _ __
_ _
$1,550____________
$1,650 _ ___________
8
11
76
52
556
5
1
38
8
280
$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___ __ __
640
276
709
279
140
$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___ ________
$2,650 and
$2,750 and
$2,850 and
$2,950 and
$3,050 and
under
under
under
under
over
$2,750__
$2,850__
$2,950__
$3,050. _
__
611
I
?84
2 4, 265
Under $1,250..
$1,250 and under
$1,350 and under
$1,450 and under
$1,550 and under
___ __ _
__ ___
___ ___
. . ___
__ __
III
II
9
5
3
2
3
2
100.0
1.5
.8
.5
.3
.5
.3
10.1.0
.5
.5
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 Includes only regular full-time employees, with the exception of the commissioner in Kansas City, M o.
3 Less than Mo of 1 percent,
4 Includes 4 at $3,120, 3 at $3,180, 1 at $3,181, 2 at $3,192, 1 at $3,240, 1 at $3,300, 12 at $3,420, 1 at $3,567, 2 at
$3,600, 2 at $3,720, 1 at $3,900, 1 at $3,960, 3 at $4,000, 1 at $4,020, 1 at $5,000, 1 at $5,600.
4
Except for St. Louis, the populations of the cities in this group were all under 500,000. St. Louis with a
population of 821,960 in 1930, has been included in this group because the data for St. Louis did not vary
sufficiently from the data for the other cities to justify separate treatment.
WEST NORTH CENTRAL 'CITIES
5
Salaries in Selected Occupations
The differences in annual salaries among the various occupations
within a fire department were not great. Starting with the chief,
the salary differences decreased sharply to a point where the occupa
tions including a large majority of the employees (privates, engineers,
drivers, auto mechanics, and fire-alarm operators) received approxi
mately the same salaries. When the annual salaries for every
occupation in table 2 were averaged, it was found that the chiefs,
the highest-paid officers, received only $955 more than the captains,
$1,030 more than the lieutenants, and $1,158 more than the first-grade
privates. The lieutenants, on the other hand, received only $128
more than the first-grade privates.
As has been indicated, salary differences among the various occupa
tions within a fire department were somewhat more pronounced in
the large than in the small cities owing in part to the fact that in the
large cities supervisory occupations entail greater responsibility.
The difference between the average annual salaries of chiefs and cap
tains was $1,928 in group I cities compared with $1,027 in group II
cities and $546 in group III cities. Similarly, the difference between
the average annual salaries of lieutenants and all privates was $187
in group I cities, $183 in group II cities, and $149 in group III cities.
For the same occupation, moreover, the large cities paid a somewhat
higher salary than the small cities, the differences being more pro
nounced in the supervisory occupations. The average annual salary
of chiefs in group I cities was $1,290 higher than that of chiefs in
group II cities, and $1,804 higher than that of chiefs in group III
cities. The average annual salary of lieutenants in group I cities
was $258 above that of lieutenants in group II cities, and $354 above
that of lieutenants in group III cities.
The salary ranges for the same occupation in the same city groups,
however, clearly show the existence of many exceptions to the generali
zation that the annual salaries were higher in the large cities. For
the same occupation some fire departments in group III cities paid
higher salaries than some in group I cities. These exceptions were due
mostly to factors such as proximity of the small city to a metropolitan
center paying relatively high wages, the working hours of the fire
department, and the wealth or ability of the given small city to pay
high salaries.
SALARIES AND HOURS, FIRE DEPARTMENTS!
T a b l e 2 . — D istrib u tio n o f fire departm ent em p lo yees in 2 7
W e s t N orth
cities , b y selected occu p ation s and sa la ry g r o u p , J u l y 1 , 1 9 8 8
All occupations
Salary group
All
cities
I
II
9
Number of cities reporting.
27
Total number of employees_______________ 34, 265 3, 270
All
cities
III
I
m
II
11
27
9
7
11
25
9
7
9
27
9
7
11
32
13
10
9
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
3
1
4
3
2
3
1
3
1
2
2
3
2
2
8
201
3
1
38
36
69
$1,650 and under
$1,750 and under
$1,850 and under
$1,950 and under
$2,050 and under
640
276
709
279
140
405
45
626
240
130
109
172
56
29
4
126
59
27
10
6
$2,150 and under $2,250___ 1,051 1.040
$2,250 and under $2,350___
174
173
$2,350 and under $2,450___
97
103
84
$2,450 and under $2,550___
87
7
7
$2,550 and under $2,650___
8
3
1
1
9
5
3
2
3
18
10
17
37
13
19
37
III
II
City group1
384
5
1
38
8
286
7
20
I
All
cities
7
8
11
76
52
556
$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
City group 1
611
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___
$1,750___
$1,850___
$1,950__
$2,050___
$2,150___
Assistant or deputy
chiefs
Chiefs
City group 1
Central
2
2
3
2
1
1
3
2
3
2
3
2
1
9
39
2
2
1
3
1
2
2
1
1
2
1
i
3
9
3
49
Average annual salary___ $1,952 $2, 022 $1, 745 $1,690 $3,057 $4,127 $2,837 $2,323 $2, 584 $3, 289 $2, 239 $1,951
City group i
Salary group
cities
Number of cities reporting.
Total number of em
ployees______________
I
City group 1
cities
III
II
I
II
8
2
3
3
7
7
14
7
4
3
51
51
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___
___
III
City group i
cities
I
III
II
26
9
7
10
513
389
84
40
15
15
1
1
1
1
1
1
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___
2
2
1
1
1
2
1
1
2
1
10
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____ _____
1
3
1
3
12
6
11
11
12
6
11
8 11
1
Average annual salary___ $2, 364 $2,683 $2,199 $1,840 $2,895 $2,895
See footnotes at end of table.
Captains
Battalion chiefs
Assistant deputy chiefs
40
18
111
53
95
76
40
92
23
10
71
77
23
10
71
77
37
11
27
9
3
7
8
4
3
$2,102 $2,199 $1, 810 $1, 777
7
WEST NORTH CENTRAL CITIES
T a b l e 2 . — D istrib u tio n o f fire departm ent em p lo yees in 2 7
W e s t N orth C entral
cities , b y selected occu p ation s and sala ry g r o u p , J u l y 1, 1 9 3 8 — Continued
Engineers
Lieutenants
Salary group
Number of cities reporting
Total number of employees_______________
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 and under
$1,850 and under
$1,950 and under
$2,050 and under
$1,750__
$1,850 ___
$1,950___
$2,050___
$2,150__
$2,150 and under
$2,250 and under
$2,350 and under
$2,450 and under
$2,550 and under
$2,250
$2,350__
$2,450__
$2,550__
$2,650
All
cities
City group 1
I
II
City group i
All
cities
III
Drivers
I
All
cities
III
II
City group i
I
II
III
12
4
4
4
10
4
3
3
16
4
5
7
212
147
42
6 23
7 293
229
44
20
337
222
36
79
3
36
36
6
10
4
24
4
8
3
17
39
37
13
26
26
77
77
11
29
15
18
13
12
11
10
16
4
12
11
10
141
41
100
37
37
72
72
141
51
141
51
50
50
35
21
6
20
$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___ $2, 027 $2,117 $1, 859 $1, 763 $2,062 $2,183 $1, 591 $1, 719 $1, 810 $1,881 $1, 730 $1,647
Privates, all grades
Salary group
All
cities
Auto mechanics
City group 1
I
Number of cities reportings
27
9
Total number of em
ployees_______________ 2, 492 1, 973
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___
3
9
57
38
455
33
5
257
$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 __
381
155
515
67
284
13
502
67
$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___
812
812
II
III
All
cities
Fire-alarm operators
City group i
I
II
All
cities
III
City group 1
I
II
III
7
11
12
3
4
5
13
7
4
2
342
177
832
21
5
6
953
39
9
5
3
3
1
1
1
1
5
8
8
150
42
134
3
1
24
25
48
55
8
13
1
9
8
3
5
1
2
3
10
1
10
2
1
1
1
3
i
5
8
14
3
15
4
1
15
4
1
7
7
1
3
5
$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, 872 $1, 930 $1, 676 $1, 614 $1, 929 $1,971 $1,978 $1, 738 $1,856 $1, 918 $1, 673 $1, 704
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 departm ent em p lo ye es in 2 7 W e s t N orth C entral
c ities , by selected o ccu p ation s and sa la ry g r o u p , J u l y 1, 1 9 3 8 —
Electricians
cities
Number of cities reporting.
Total number of emp lo y e e s ...___________
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.._.
Linemen
City group 1
Salary group
I
II
Continued
All others
City group i
cities
III
I
II
III
City group 1
cities
I
II
III
5
2
2
1
3
2
1
19
9
6
4
8
3
3
2
19
io 18
1
182
149
24
9
2
2
5
3
9
4
3
8
17
6
26
26
12
10
3
18
20
10
4
2
8
4
1
15
18
10
5
6
13
18
9
5
6
2
3
2
4
2
2
4
3
118
1
i
i
3
1
1
2
1
2
1___
1
1
11
11
2
1
1
1
7
7
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__________
3
8
Average annual salary___ $1, 823 $1, 772 $1,973 $1,674 $1, 905 $1, 889 $2,200
0s)
2
1
(12)
1
1
1
3
1
2
1
1
(“ )
0*)
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 Includes only regular, full-time employees, with the exception of the commissioner in Kansas City, Mo.
s Includes 1 at $3,420, 2 at $3,600, 1 at $3,900, 2 at $4,000, 1 at $4,020, 1 at $5,000, and 1 at $5,600.
<Includes 3 at $3,180, 2 at $3,192, 1 at $3,567, 2 at $3,720, and 1 at $4,000.
5 Includes 11 at $3,420.
6 Includes 3 sergeants in Burlington, Iowa, at $1,560 each.
7Includes 51 junior engineers in city group I and 7 in city group III. The rest are senior engineers.
8Includes 1 assistant mechanic in city group III. Does not include master or assistant master mechanics.
2Includes 4 telephone operators in city group I. Does not include chief operators.
10 Includes helpers.
11 Includes 4 at $3,120, 1 at $3,181, 1 at $3,240, 1 at $3,300, and 1 at $3,960.
13 No averages computed, as this was such a heterogeneous group.
Salaries of Privates
Privates of all grades constituted 58 percent5 of all employees
and received 56 percent of the total salaries in the 27 fire departments.
Ninety-six percent of the privates received between $1,550 and
$2,250 a year. As in the case of the other occupations, the salaries
of privates usually were higher in the large than in the small cities.
Tw o percent of the privates in group I cities, as compared with 5
percent in group II cities and 30 percent in group III cities, received
less than $1,550 a year.
5 Usually privates form a larger percentage of the total number of employees because most cities do not
distinguish between privates, drivers, and engineers, but designate them all as privates. Of the 27 cities
in West North Central Division, 16 reported drivers and 10 reported engineers. The three occupations
combined usually constitute about H o f all employees. In the West North Central Division they con
stituted 73 percent of all employees.
9
WEST NORTH CENTRAL 'CITIES
Ninety-one percent of all privates were first-grade privates and the
rest were mostly of the second and third grades. Because of the
relatively small numbers of their employees the small cities did not
have so many grades as the large cities.
T a b l e 3. — D istrib u tio n o f privates in fire departm ents o f 2 7 W e s t N orth Central
cities, b y sa la ry grou p and grade , J u l y 1, 1 9 8 8
Number in each specified
grade
All grades
Number
Salary group
All
cities
All groups-__ _____
City group 1
I
III
II
___ 2, 492 1,973
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__
12
57
38
455
381
33
5
257
284
$1,750 and
$1,850 and
$1,950 and
$2,050 and
$2,150 and
155
515
67
13
502
67
812
812
under $1,850__
under $1,950__
under $2,050__
under $2,150
under $2,250__
Percentage
342
All
cities
First
City group 1
I
III
II
City group 1
All
cities
I
177 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 2, 266 1, 794
8
8
150
42
134
4
24
25
48
55
.5
2.3
1.5
18. 2
15.3
1. 7
.3
13.0
14.4
8
13
6.2
20. 7
2. 7
.7
25.4
3.4
32.6
41.1
2.3
2.3
43.9
12.3
39.2
III
II
2.3
13.6
14.1
27.1
31.1
24
24
369
337
185
252
4.5
7.3
142
497
61
484
61
812
812
308
164
140
34
24
24
44
51
134
8
13
Number in each specified grade
Second
Fourth
Third
Fifth
Salary group
City group 1
All
cities
All groups _
101
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__
I
II
78
III
14
1
5
74
14
69
2
1
6
1
6
4
2
8
All
cities
City group 1
I
9
84
1
11
26
7
7
16
26
3
17
17
1
3
4
62
16
III
II
18
4
8
3
4
6
1
All
cities
City group1 All
I
22
20
7
7
2
13
cit
ies 2
II
2
19
2
2
3
14
13
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.
* All of these are in group I cities.
Hours and Working Conditions
Average Hours and Days on Duty Per Week
A large m ajority 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.
10
SALARIES AND HOURS, FIRE DEPARTMENTS
Under the platoon system of assignment, the hours of firemen are
so assigned as to insure that the city is protected at all times. This
system is analogous to the tour 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 con
tinuously for 2 or more days, depending upon the variation of the
system 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.
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 number of
hours and days on duty noted under 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,
but now the greater part of the cities operate under the 2-platoon
system.
Under the 2-platoon system the firemen are divided into 2 groups and
work in 2 tours. While one group is at work the other is off duty. The
firemen, however, do not work on the same tour constantly but change
from day to night duty 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 change of tour.
Hence, even with a full day off every other tour, 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 78.
The interval of time between the change of tours is not the same
in all cities operating under the 2-platoon system of assignment.
Some cities change as frequently as every 24 hours whereas others
shift as seldom as every 30 days. The frequency of the change does
not affect the average hours on duty per week under the 2-platoon
system because under all variations of this system the firemen average
12 hours a day, except in cities that give additional time off duty.
The frequency of the changes under the 2-platoon system, however,
WEST NORTH CENTRAL CIITIES'
11
does affect and determine the average number of days on duty per
week in the given fire department. The more frequent changes
result in a fewer number of average days on duty per week. The
tour with 24 hours on and 24 hours off averages the least number
of days on duty per week, 3K days, and the tour with no time off
duty averages the most, 7 days. Thus, the different cities operating
under the 2-platoon system and having the same number of average
hours on duty per week, 84 hours if no additional time off duty is
given, may have different number of average days on duty per week,
between 3 }{ and 7 days.
The present trend is away from the 2-platoon system and to the 3platoon system with shorter hours and days on duty per week. Under
the 3-platoon system the 24-hour day is divided into 3 tours. Thus,
56 is the maximum average hours and 7 the maximum days on duty
per week under the 3-platoon system. In fire departments that do
not give time off duty, the firemen are usually divided into three groups
each of which works 8 hours a day. In fire departments that periodi
cally give time off duty, the three tours are divided among more
than three groups of firemen so as to fill the gap left by those having
the time off duty. At present no cities in the West North Central
Division operate under the 3-platoon system.
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 different platoon systems in the
same fire department. However, such cases are rare. Almost every
fire department operates wholly under either one of the three systems
(single-platoon, 2-platoon, or 3-platoon system).
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 depart
ments, such as the superintendent of fire-alarm division, are subject
to call any moment and are therefore considered to be on duty con
tinuously. The “ other” group includes mostly nonuniformed em
ployees such as clerks and maintenance men who are not required to
fight fires. These employees usually have the working hours prevalent
in private industry or the other departments of the city government.
Of the 27 fire departments in the West North Central Division
cities, 2 operated under the single-platoon system, 24 operated under
the 2-platoon system, and 1 large city operated under the 2-platoon
system with 12 of its employees under the single-platoon system.
Twenty-three of the 25 cities operating under the 2-platoon system
had the regular type of the 2-platoon system with an average of 84
2 6 8 1 4 1 ° — 41 ------- 3
12
SALARIES AND HOURS, FIRE DEPARTMENTS
hours on duty per week and 2 cities had the type with additional time
off duty with an average of 78 hours on duty per week.
The single-platoon system included 1 percent of all employees and
the 2-platoon system included 92 percent of all employees. The 92
percent under the 2-platoon system was made up of 78 percent under
the regular type and 14 percent under the type with additional time
off duty. Of the remaining 7 percent of all employees approximately
1 percent was on continuous duty and 6 percent had other working
hours.
As shown in appendix table C all but 40 of the 3,988 employees
working under a platoon system of assignment on duty were in the
fire-fighting divisions. All of the employees on continuous duty were
either chiefs or assistants to the chiefs. And all but 7 of the 257
employees having “ other” working hours were outside the fire
fighting divisions.
T a b l e 4 .— Average hours and days on duty per week in fire departments of 27 W est
North Central cities , J u ly 1, 1938
System of operation
Average
hours
on
duty
per
week
A v-
erage
days
Number of cities
reporting
on
duty A l l City group1
per cit
week ies I II III
All systems_____
Continuous duty.
2-platoon—with additional
time off duty:5
On 24 hours, off 24
hours—off 1 day
every 2 weeks______
Other 6
A ll
cit
ies
City group1
I
II
III
Percentage of em
ployees
A ll
cit
ies
City group1
I
II
2 4,265 3, 270
168
7.0
Single-platoon 3______________________
On 2 days, off 1 d a y .. _ 112
4. 7
On 3 days, off 1 d a y .. _ 126
5. 3
2-platoon-Regular 4_______
On 24 hours, off 24
hours______________
Shift 6th day________
Shift 15th day_______
Shift each week______
Shift twice each month.
Number of employees
16
8
5
3 1 ....
2 1 ....
1 _______
20
2
1
1
rn
100.0
.8
10
50 12
28 12
2 2 __
38
16
22
1.2 . 4 ____
.7 . 4 ____
. 5 _________
9.9
4.2
5.7
23
7
7
9 3,320 2, 415
574
331 77.8 73.8 93.9 86.2
84
84
84
84
84
3.5
6.4
6.8
7.0
7.0
18
1
1
1
4
1
1
5
9
379
2
1
331 58.3 54.4 62.0 86.2
9.1 11.8
2. 7 3.6
12.4
1.8
5.9 4.0 19. 5
78
3.3
2
2
45.8
5.7
1
1
1, 779
387 387
117 117
76
251
618
618
257
215
76
119
14.5 18.9
30
12
6.0
6.6
4.9
3.1
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 Includes only regular full-time employees, with the exception of the commissioner in Kansas City, Mo.
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 number
of days on duty per year by 52.143.
4 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 by 52.143.
5 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.
e 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/’
WEST NORTH CENTRAL 'CITIES
13
Under the single-platoon system the firemen were on duty either
112 or 126 hours per week. Under the regular 2-platoon system the
firemen were on duty an average of 84 hours per week and under the
2-platoon system with additional time off duty the firemen were on
duty an average of 78 hours per week. Those having “ other” hours
worked an average of 46 hours per week.
The average hours on duty per week were somewhat shorter in the
large than in the small cities. None of the employees in group I
and group II cities, with the exception of 12 employees in 1 large
city, were under the single-platoon system, whereas 10 percent of
the employees in group III cities were under this system. Also^ 19
percent of the employees in group I cities were on duty an average
of 78 hours a week under a variation of the 2-platoon system. All
of the employees under the 2-platoon system in the other city groups
were on duty an average of 84 hours per week. Further, 7 percent
of all employees in group I cities compared with 5 percent in group
II, and 3 percent in group III cities had other hours with an overall
average of 46 hours per week.
The average number of days on duty per week was either 4.7 or
5.3 days for those under the single-platoon system and ranged from
3.3 to 7 days for those under the 2-platoon system. Those under
“ other” were on duty an average of 5.7 days per week.
The average of 3.5 and 3.3 days per week predominated and in
cluded 58 percent and 14 percent of all employees, respectively.
The average of 7 days on duty per week under the 2-platoon system
occurred in the 2 variations under which the firemen were on duty the
same number of hours during each day of each shift period and did
not have one 24-hour period of duty in one shift period compensated
for by one 24-hour period off duty in the following shift period.
The average number of days on duty per week was shorter in the
small than in the large cities mostly because 9 of the 11 group III
cities operated under the regular 2-platoon system with 24 hours on
and 24 hours off duty which averaged 3}i days on duty per week.
Some variations of the 2-platoon system in group I and group II
cities, on the other hand, averaged as much as 7 days a week on duty.
The 2-platoon system with 24 hours on duty followed by 24 hours
off duty was the most popular system of assigning firemen to duty in
the 27 West North Central Division cities. This system was in use
in 20 of the 27 cities and included 73 percent of all employees.
Eighteen of the 20 cities had the regular type and 2 cities had the
type with an additional off-day every 2 weeks.
The popularity of this platoon system with 24 hours on duty
followed by 24 off duty is due mostly to the fact that it is simple to
operate and is practicable in any size city. M ost of the other varia
tions of the 2-platoon system require a large number of firemen for
14
SALARIES AND HOURS, EIRE DEPARTMENTS
smooth operation. The chief disadvantage of this system results
from the fact that the firemen have to be on duty 24 hours at a time.
This disadvantage, however, is partly compensated for by the fact
that under this system the firemen work an average of 3 to 3}£ days
a week.
Perquisites Supplied to Firemen
The fire departments of all the 27 cities supplied their firemen
certain specified items without charge. All the 27 fire departments
supplied sleeping quarters to the firemen on night duty and 14 of the
27 supplied beds, bedding, and bed linen and laundry. Twelve cities
supplied rubber coats, 11 supplied helmets, 5 supplied rubber boots,
and only 1 city supplied uniforms. The small cities supplied a greater
number of items than the large cities.
T a b l e 5 . — Perquisites supplied to firemen of 27 West North Central cities,
J u ly 1, 1 9 3 8
Number of cities supplyingNum
ber Sleeping Beds,
quarters
bed
of
ding, Hel
cities for men
on night linen, mets
laundry
duty
City group1
Rub
ber
coats
Rub
ber
boots
Uni
forms
Minor
items
. _ ____________________
27
27
14
11
12
5
2
9
Group I
_________________ __
Group II. ________________________
Group I I I _________________________
9
7
11
9
7
11
6
4
4
2
4
5
1
4
7
1
4
21
4
3
2
All cities
1
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 This city supplied the cloth and trimmings only.
Vacations W ith Pay
Ninety-nine percent of all employees in the fire departments of the
27 cities covered by this survey received vacations with pay. The
vacation periods ranged from 7 to 21 days and the average vacation
period was 16 days a year. Vacation periods of 14, 15, and 20 days
predominated and included 25, 34, and 22 percent, respectively, or a
total of 81 percent, of all employees.
The average vacation period was longer in the large than in the
small cities, the average for group I cities being 17 days; group II
cities, 15 days; and group III cities, 14 days. This difference was due
to the fact that in group I cities none of the employees receiving vaca
tions with pay received less than 14 days and 43 percent received 20
and 21 days per year, whereas, in group II cities, 12 percent of the
15
WEST NORTH CENTRAL OTTIEiS
employees received less than 14 days and 28 percent received over 15
days; and in group III cities, 16 percent received less than 14 days
and none over 15 days.
6. —
T able
N u m b er o f em p lo yees receiving specified vacation with p a y
departm ents o f 2 7 W e s t N orth Central c ities , J u l y 1, 1 9 8 8
in
fire
Number of employees having—
Total
num
Num ber
ber of emof No
12
14
7
10
15
cities ploy vaca
16
21
20
tion days days days days days days days days
ees
City group 1
All cities _ ___________ ______
27 24, 265
61
Group I
Group II
Group III
9
7
11
57
4
__________ ___
- ________
_ - - -
3,270
611
384
30
30
70
30 1,067 1, 142
70
711 1,110
165
199
191
133
30
95
95
933
537
933
459
78
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 Includes only regular full-time employees, with the exception of the commissioner in Kansas City, Mo.
Promotion of Lower-Grade Privates
In all the 27 fire departments covered by this survey privates
just entering the service were ranked below first-grade privates.
Some system of automatic promotion of these lower-grade privates
existed in the fire departments of 21 of the 27 cities. In 18 of these
21 cities, lower-grade privates were automatically raised to the next
higher grade after 1 year’s service, and in 3, after 6 months’ pro
bation. In 3 cities, lower-grade privates were promoted after civilservice examinations. In 3 cities promotions were by appointment.
Automatic promotions of lower-grade privates were more prevalent
in the large than in the small cities.
T able
7. —
P rom o tio n o f low er-grade privates in fire departm ents o f 2 7 W e s t N orth
Central c ities, J u ly 1 , 1 9 3 8
Number of cities with
promotion after—
City group 1
Total
number Num
of
of pri ber
cities
vates
6
months 1 year
No pro
Civil motion
service system
exami
nation
All cities
2,492
27
3
18
3
3
Groiin I
Group II . _____ ___ __________ _____________ _
Group III_ _ _____________ ____ ____ _____________
1,973
342
177
9
7
11
1
2
7
4
7
1
1
1
3
i 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.
16
SALARIES AND HOTJRS, EIRE DEPARTMENTS
Percentage Distribution of Employees and Salaries
A ll Em ployees
Out of every 100 employees 93 were in the fire-fighting divisions.
Of these, 3 were chiefs, assistant chiefs, assistant deputy chiefs, and
battalion chiefs, 12 were captains, 5 were lieutenants, and 73 were
privates, drivers, and engineers.
The higher-ranking occupations constituted a smaller percentage of
the total number of employees in the large than in the small cities.
Chiefs, for example, formed 0.3 percent of the employees in group I
cities compared with 1.1 percent in group II and 2.9 percent in group
III cities. On the other hand, privates, drivers, and engineers were
74 percent of the employees in group I cities compared with 69 and
72 percent in group II and group III cities, respectively.
Similarly, of the total salaries in the 27 fire departments, $93 of
every $100 went to the fire-fighting divisions. Of this $93, $4 went to
chiefs, assistant chiefs, assistant deputy chiefs, and battalion chiefs,
$13 to captains; $5 to lieutenants; and $71 to privates, drivers, and
engineers. As in the case of the percentage distribution of employees,
in the large cities the higher-ranking occupations received a smaller
percentage of the total salaries than in the small cities. The differ
ences decreased with the decrease in the rank of the occupation.
Chiefs, for example, received 0.6 percent of the total salaries in group I
cities compared with 1.9 percent in group II and 3.9 percent in group
III cities. Privates, drivers, and engineers, on the other hand,
received 71 percent of the total salaries in group I cities compared
with 66 and 69 percent in group II and group III cities, respectively.
Comparison of the percentage distribution of the employees and
salaries shows an almost identical distribution. Some of this simi
larity was the result of the counterbalancing of the distribution of the
supervisory and nonsupervisory employees within the same divisions.
In the fire-fighting divisions, for example, chiefs constituted 0.6 per
cent of the employees but received 1.0 percent of the salaries, and
lieutenants constituted 5.0 percent of the employees and received 5.2
percent of the salaries. These differences in the supervisory occupa
tions were absorbed by the privates, drivers, and engineers, who
formed 73 percent of the employees and received 71 percent of the
salaries. As is to be expected, the differences that were counter
balanced were more pronounced in the large than in the small cities.
17
WEST NORTH CENTRAL CITIES
T able
8.-— Percentage distribu tion s o f em p lo yees and salaries in specified d iv isio n s
in fire departm ents o f 2 7 W e s t N orth Central cities , J u ly 1 , 1 9 8 8
Percentage of salaries
Percentage of employees
Division 1 and occupation
All
cities
City group2
I
II
III
100.0
All divisions________________
100.0
100.0
Fire fighting________________
93.2
93.1
Chiefs__________________
Assistant or deputy chiefs.
Assistant deputy chiefs.__
Battalion chiefs_________
Captains_______________
Lieutenants 3___________
Engineers, fire engine___
Drivers________________
Privates________________
Drill masters___________
Fire prevention____________
Apparatus_________________
Fire alarm_________________
Clerical____________________
.6
.8
.3
1.2
12.0
5.0
6.9
7.9
58.4
.1
1.0
.3
.4
2.2
2.8
.8
.2
1.6
11.9
4.5
7.0
6.8
60.3
.1
1.0
2.3
2.8
.8
All
cities
City group2
I
II
III
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
93.3
94.3
93.0
93.0
92.7
94.1
1.1
1.6
.7
2.9
2.3
3.9
2.7
10.4
6.0
5.2
.6
.7
.3
2.2
12.9
4.7
7.6
6.3
57.6
1.9
2.1
13.7
6.9
7.2
5.9
56.0
1.0
1.0
.4
1.8
12.9
5.2
7.3
7.3
56.0
.1
1.0
2.3
2.9
.2
.8
1.8
3.1
1.0
.8
20.6
46.1
.8
1.5
2.9
.5
.8
.1
1.0
2.4
2.8
.8
.8
.8
14.2
7.3
6.6
5.8
53.8
11.0
6.3
5.3
20.1
44.0
.2
.9
2.0
3.4
.8
1.6
3.0
1.0
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 U. S.
Census of Population for 1930.
3 Includes 3 sergeants in Burlington, Iowa, at $1,560 each.
Supervisory Employees
The concentration of annual salaries in the 27 fire departments
within a relatively narrow range was due mostly to the small difference
between the percentage of the total number of fire-department em
ployees holding supervisory positions and the percentage of total
salaries received by them. Supervisory employees constituted 21
percent of all employees and received only 24 percent of the total
salaries. In the small cities the percentages were even more similar.
The ratio of supervisory employees to salaries was 1.14 in group I
cities, 1.10 in group II cities, and 1.11 in group III cities.
18
T
SALARIES AND HOURS, FIRE DEPARTMENTS
9 . — N u m b er and salaries o f su p erv iso ry em p lo yees 1 as percentage o f total fir edepartm ent em p lo yees and total salaries, in 2 7 W e s t N orth C entral cities, J u ly 1,
1988
able
Item
Supervisory employees as percentage of all employees_______
Supervisory salaries as percentage of total salaries
__ __
Ratio of salaries to employees
All
cities
21.1
23.7
1.12
City groups 2
I
20.0
22.8
1.14
II
25.5
27.8
1.10
III
23.4
25.9
1.11
1 Supervisory employees are those employees who have others working under them. The group includes
the chiefs, assistant chiefs, assistant deputy chiefs, batalllon chiefs, captains, lieutenants, marshals or war
dens, superintendents, chief engineers, chief fire-alarm operators, assistants to these officers who also super
vise the activities of others, master mechanics, and chief clerks, if they have others working under their
direction, 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
60,000 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.
Per Capita Salary Cost of Fire Protection and Distribution of
Employees
As a general rule, per capita costs of fire-department salaries were
higher in the large than in the small cities. When the total salaries
were put on a per capita basis it was found that the cost per person
was $2.506 for the population of group I cities, $2.25 for the population
of group II cities, and $1.81 for the population of group III cities.
The large cities, moreover, had a relatively larger number of firemen
than the small cities. For every 10,000 inhabitants the fire depart
ments in group I cities had 12 employees, in group II cities, 13
employees, and in group III cities, 11 employees.6 The larger
number of firemen per inhabitant along with the somewhat higher
salaries accounted for the higher per capita cost in the large cities.
6These figures are based on the U. S. Census of population for 1930 and are presented primarily to facili
tate relative comparisons rather than to give actual amounts. Therefore, the errors introduced by the
changes in population from 1930 to 1938 do not appreciably affect any of the above conclusions.
19
WEOT NORTH CENTRAL CITIES
Appendix
The listing of cities of 25,000 or more in the West North Central
Division with their population, ratios of employees to population, and
per capita costs is shown in table A. The West North Central D ivi
sion includes the States of Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Ne
braska, North Dakota, and South Dakota.
T
A . — F ir e departm ent em p lo yees and sala ry costs in relation to p o p u la tio n in
W e s t N orth Central cities with a p o p u la tio n o f 2 5 ,0 0 0 or m ore,1 J u ly 1, 1 9 8 8
able
City
Em
ployees
per
10,000
Per
capita
salary
cost
12
$2.39
12
2.50
142,559
101,463
121, 857
399, 746
464, 356
214, 006
821,960
271, 606
14
16
1 1 1 , 110
12
2. 78
3.13
2 . 36
1.99
2. 40
2. 51
2 . 61
2. 95
2. 05
Popula
tion 1
All cities______________ 3, 482,012
Group
I—Cities of
100,000 and over___ 2,648,663
Des Moines, Iow a. __
Duluth, M inn
Kansas City, Kans...
Kansas City, M o ___
Minneapolis, M in n ..
Omaha, Nebr.
St. Louis, M o _____
St. Paul, M inn .
Wichita, Kans
12
11
11
14
12
15
474, 546
13
?.
Cedar Rapids, Iow a..
Davenport, Iow a___
Lincoln, N ebr____ _
56,097
60, 751
75, 933
11
12
2.03
2. 27
2.19
1 Based on U. S. Census of Population for 1930.
Group 11—Continued
Gf Juocptij
T n cP n b J
M
iji*
.V1 eU______
Sioux City, Iowa . __
Springfield, M o _____
Tnpp.Vf).( K a n s
Group II— Cities of
50,000 to 100,000___
14
City
25
Group III— Cities of
25,000 to 50,000____
Burlington, Iow a___
Clinton, Iowa_______
Council Bluffs, Iowa.
Dubuque, Iowa.
Fargo, N. D . __
Hutchinson, K a n s ...
Joplin, M o __________
Ottumwa, Iowa_____
Sipux Falls, S. D ___
University City, M o.
Waterloo, I o w a ... _.
Popula
tion 1
Em
Per
ployees capita
salary
per
cost
10,000
onj you
oU
79,183
57, 527
64,120
1a
XV
12
12
12
358,803
11
1.81
26, 755
25, 726
42,048
41, 679
28, 619
27, 085
33,454
28,075
33, 362
25,809
46,191
11
1.71
1.57
1.65
2. 35
1.73
2.07
1. 57
9
9
13
10
14
10
7
15
7
11
2. 56
2.25
2.00
2. 27
1.15
2. 51
1. 30
1.90
SALARIES AND HOURS, FIRE DEPARTMENTS
ble
B .—
N u m b e r o f em p lo ye es and annual salaries in fire d epartm ents o f each of
J u ly 1 ,
9 group I cities (population of 100,000 or over)
Iowa
Division and occupation
1
2
3
4
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
34
35
Total number
ployees.
of
Total
num
ber of
em
ploy
ees
Des
Moines
9
13
1 $4,000
1 3,000
7
3 2,820
A s s is t a n t d e p u t y
chiefs.
51
Battalion or district
chiefs.
C a p ta in s ____
389 10 2,280
147 26 2 ,10 0
Lieutenants____ ____
178
Engineers, senior
51
Engineers, junior. __ _
222
Drivers____
Privates:
1 st grade, _ _____ 1,794 145 1, 920
2 1,740
2 d grade. ________
78
3d grade____ ____
62
4th grade. ______
20
5th grade. _______
17
2
Probationary _ .
Drill masters___ __ _
1 2,820
3
Fire prevention:
1 2 ,10 0
Marshals or wardens. _
7
2
Assistant marshals or
wardens.
Chief inspectors_____
Inspectors..
_____
19
Miscellaneous:
4
Arson investiga
tors.
Fire prevention
1
consultants.
Apparatus:
9
S u p erin ten d en ts of
1 2,280
machinery.
8
1 2 .10 0
Assistant superintend
ents of machinery.
Machinists__________
14
Machinist helpers___
2
A uto mechanics .
21
General mechanics:
1
Auto trim m ers.. .
1
Carpenters. _
Painters. . .
6
Shop helpers
12
1
Wheelwrights___
1
Superintendents of re
pair.
footnotes at end of table.
Kansas
City
Minnesota
Wichita
Duluth
Minne
apolis
St. Paul
Sala
Sala No. Sala
No. Sala No. Sala No. Sala
ry No, ry No. ry
ry
ry
ry
em- 2 3, 270 198
Fire fighting:
Commissioners
Chiefs________ _____
Assistant or deputy
chiefs.
Kansas
141
128
1 $3,420
1 2,820
1 $3,600
1 3,000
1 $3. 600
1 3,000
3 4
3 2,800
23 2,160
1
502
161
2,160
1, 980
15 1,860
11
3 2 ,16 0
38 1,980
61 1,980
1 1,920
1
1 $5,000
2 3,720
(2, 520 1
{ to
L 12, 700 1
ii
26 2,130
411
1 $4,000
1 3, 567
3,000
9 2,801
71 2,400
66 2,090
87 2,2 2 0
37 1,996
34 1, 950
75
4
3
7
1,740
1,620
1, 500
1 , 350
2,160
64 1, 920 244 2,160 275 1,859
6 2,040
16 1,740 17 1,920
13 1 800
3 1 , 620 14 1 , 680
2 1, 500
1
1
3 1,980
2
2,040
1,920
1 , 860
1
3,000
1
1
2 , 418
1, 996
7 1, 859
(4)
2 2, 400
1
2,400
1
1, 980
1
2, 460
1
3,240
1
3,181
1
1, 980
1
1, 740
1
1,740
1
2 , 640
1
2,418
4 2,090
10 2 , 340
(4)
1
1,996
1
2
2,090
1,859
1
2,090
21
WEST NORTH CENTRAL CITIES
27
W e s t N o rth Central cities with p op u lation o f 2 5 ,0 0 0 or over
1938
9 group I cities (population of 100,000
or over)— Continued
Kansas City
No.
Sala
ry
St. Louis
Sala
ry
No.
Omaha
964
458
Sala
ry
No.
Iowa
Total
num
ber of
em
ploy
ees
Cedar
Rapids
Sala
ry
No.
611
307
64
—
(2)
$3,900
3,180
1
1
$5, 600
4,000
10
2,400
11
3, 420
6
2 , 880
76
1,920
2, 520
2 , 280
2 , 280
2,160
2,160
29
29
1,980
1, 830
2,160
177
1
166
i,~680
185
45
1 , 620
568
1, 560
1 $4, 020
2
3,192
7
10
26
2,520
1 , 680
1, 560
1,440
1
2 , 880
1
2,400
1
2 , 880
4
1,608
3
1 , 680
2
2, 040
1
2,400
1
84
42
44
1 $2,460
2
2 ,10 0
12
308
14
18
34
3
5
2
2
Kansas
Sioux City
Sala
ry
No.
95
=
1 , 860
36
20
Sala
ry
No.
73
4
77
77
51
51
50
Davenport
=
3
b y occu p a tion s,
7 group II cities (population of 50,000 and under 100,000)
Nebraska
Missouri
1
1, 740
1,680
1.620
1, 560
1
Topeka
Sala
ry
No.
80
—
1
1
$3, 000
1
2 ,10 0
7
10
1,920
1, 890
17
1, 830
23
1
2
1,800
1 , 680
1, 500
1
2,040
2 ,220
—
1 $3, 000
2
2, 400
9
13
62
4
1
2,040
1,980
1,800
1 , 680
1, 560
1
1
$2,880
2, 484
1
2,376
8
8
1,932
1,872
3
1, 764
49
1.764
1 , 620
1,500
2
2
1, 920
1
1,680
1
1,920
8
1 , 620
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
1
1
9
10
11
4
1
1,860
1
1, 872
21
22
23
24
1
8
2
{ i
10
l
3,000
2, 040
1,500
2,496
3,120 }
2,160
2,080
1
2 , 880
2
1
2,160
25
1
2 , 288
1
1
1,836
26
1
1 , 680
2
3
1.680
5
1
1 , 680
>
1 , 680
1
1, 920
1
2,040
1
2, 400
27
28
29
30
31
1
33
34
35
22
SALARIES AND HOURS, FIRE DEPARTMENTS
T a ]3LE B . —
N u m b er o f e m p lo ye es and an n u a l salaries in fir e d epa rtm ents o f each o f
J u ly 1 , 198 8
9 group I cities (population of 100,000 or over)
Iowa
Division and occupation
Total
num
ber of
em
p loy
ees
Des
Moines
No.
38
Fire alarm:
Superintendents_____
Assistant superintend
ents.
Chief operators______
39
Operators, fire alarm..
35
40
41
42
43
44
4
3
9
9
1
2
1
1
12
51
52
53
54
Operators, telephone.
Electricians_________
Linemen
_________
Linemen’ s helpers.. .
Inspectors___________
Miscellaneous:
Cable foremen___
Cable splicers___
Chauffeurs______
Draftsmen______
Janitors_________
Trouble or main
tenance men.
Clerical:
Secretaries___________
Chief clerks_________
Clerks_______________
Bookkeepers_________
55
Stenographers_______
8
56
Typists_____________
36
37
45
46
47
48
49
50
fo o tn o te s a t end o f table.
6
Kansas
Kansas
City
Minnesota
W ichita
Duluth
M inne
apolis
St. Paul
Sala No. Sala
Sala
No.
No. Sala No. Sala N o. Sala
ry
ry
ry
ry
ry
ry
1 $2,280
1 $1,980
1 $2,950
1 $3, 300
1 2.700
4 1,740
3 1,920
7 2,400
3
1
4 1,920
3 $1,2 0 0
1
2 ,10 0
•0 )
4
7
3
7
4 2. 340
1
2,820
1
2,160
1
1,920
1
1
3,120
2.500
1 $2,418
1 1,859
2 ,10 0
{ \ 2,340 /
2
1
(9
1.0 2 0
fl, 800
< to
112. 520
1
—
23
WEST NORTH CENTRAL CITIES
27
W e s t N orth C entral cities with p o p u la tio n o f 2 5 ,0 0 0
or over hy o ccu p a tion s,
— Continued
9 group I cities (population of 100,000
or over)—Continued
Missouri
Kansas City
Sala
ry
No.
1
1
$2,400
1,980
8
1,920
2
2
1,608
1 , 620
1
1,920
7 group II cities (population of 50,000 and under 100,000)
Nebraska
St. Louis
Sala
ry
No.
1
1
Omaha
Sala
ry
No.
$3,960
2,580
2. 580
f 1,440
to
[ 2,040
1
2,080
Iowa
Total
num
ber of
em
ploy
ees
Cedar
Rapids
Sala
ry
No.
4
$2 ,10 0
1,860
Davenport
Sala
ry
No.
1
$2,700
9
3
1,800
3
1
1
1
2 , 200
2,200
1
1
2, 400
1
1
1
Kansas
Sioux C ity
N o.
Topeka
Sala N o.
ry
Sala
ry
1
$1, 932
38
1
1
69 \
7
9
2,288
1,638
3
1
2
1
2,600
2,340
1, 560
1, 320
8
2, 340
1
1
.
39
40
41
42
43
44
2 $1 , 860
45
46
47
48
49
50
960
1
2,700
1
1
2
2
1
1.440
1,890
1
2,880
2,168
1,560
1,800
1
1.440
1
1,518
36
37
5
1
$1,680
1
1, 440
1
1
1 , 860
l
2, 040
(7)
1
1, 320
51
52
53
54
55
56
SALARIES AND HOURS, FIRE DEPARTMENTS
ble
B .— N u m b e r
o f em p lo ye es and an n u a l salaries in fire depa rtm ents o f each o f
J u ly 1, 1 9 8 8
7 group II cities (population of
50,000 and under 100,000)—
Continued.
Missouri
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
Total number of em ployeesB.
Io’wa
Nebraska
Total
num Burling
Clinton
St. Joseph SpringLincoln
ber
of
ton
field
em
ploy
ees
Sal
Sal
Sal
Sal
Sal
N o. ary N o. ary N o. ary
N o. ary N o . ary
rate
rate
rate
rate
rate
Division and occupation
1
11 group III cities (popu
lation of 25,000 and
under 50,000)
- -
126
Fire fighting:
1 $2,940
Chiefs_________ _______________
1 2,460
Assistant or deputy chiefs------ --1 2.160
Assistant deputy chiefs __ _ _
Captains.
_ ____ _ _
___ 29 1, 710
Lieutenants
. __ __ _ ____
Sergeants
________ __
Engineers, s e n io r ._____ _ ____
14 1, 590
Engineers, junior _______ _ _
Drivers _
______ _____
6 1,590
Privates—
1 st grade. __________ _____
68 1,590
2 d grade_______ _ ________
3d grade _________________
Fire prevention:
Chief inspectors.
. . .
Inspectors _ . . ----------. . .
Apparatus:
Superintendents of machinery. _.
Machinists.
. . .
.
2 1 , 860
Auto mechanics
Assistant mechanics _ _
1 1, 710
Painters
_ _ ...
Fire alarm:
Superintendents
Assistant superintendents.
r i 1,590 \
Operators, fire alarm
\ i 1, 710 I
Electricians
Clerical:
i 1, 710
__________
Secretaries____ __
Clerks
_______ ______ _____
70
384
103
1 $2, 700
2 2,004
8 1 , 680
11
1 $1 , 800
1 1,740
1 $2,160
1 1,980
1, 764
1,680
40
1
1,620
3 1,860
11
22
1, 560
11
9
3
20
6 1,680
4 1,560
40 1,620
32 1, 560
4 1,482
8 1, 302
164
9
4
1
1,980
1,764
3}
_______
1
2,160
1
2,004
2 1,620
2
1
1,896
1,560
1
1,680
1
24 1, 500
1,800
1,800
5 1,800
1
1
5
3 1, 560
2
2
1, 728
2 1,764
1
22
1 $2 , 880
1 2 ,220
1 2,160
3
13
7
79
8 1,680
30
8 1,800
«
f
m
\
L.
3
f.. .
1
...
...
J
2 IJ
1. .
2 (7)
i Ilased on U. S. Census cf Population for 1930.
2n'otals include regular, full-time employees, but not part-time employees, call men or volunteers,
foil her do they include the commissioner for Kansas City, M o., (receives $6,000 per year),
31 ncludes 2 at $2,520, 1 at $2,580, and 1 at $2,700.
4 J den from uniformed force assigned to this work.
*(Combination police and fire-signal system,
61 ncludes 1 at $1,440, 4 at $1,740, and 4 at $2,040.
25
WEST NORTH CENTRAL CITIES
27
W es t N orth
Central cities with p o p u la tio n o f 2 5 ,0 0 0 or over
hy
occu p a tion s,
— Continued
11 group III cities (population of 25,000 and under 50,000)—Continued
Iowa
Council
Bluffs
N o.
Dubuque Ottumwa
Waterloo
Hutchin
son
Joplin
University
City
North
Dakota
South
Dakota
Fargo
Sioux
Falls
SalSalSalSal
Sal
Sal
Sal
Sal
Salary N o. ary N o. ary N o. ary N o. ary N o. ary N o . ary N o . ary N o. ary
rate
rate
rate
rate
rate
rate
rate
rate
rate
1 $2, 760
1 $2,160
1 1, 920
1 1,800
1,800
{
}
1,860
1,980 }
6 1,740
38
49
19
56
39
10
Missouri
Kansas
35
17
1 $1, 920
1 1,800
1 $2, 760
1 2 ,10 0
1 $2,160
1 1,800
1 1,740
1 $2 ,10 0
1 1,800
1 $2, 700
1,728
3 1,980
4 1,860
8 1,620
6 1 , 620
3 2 ,10 0
3
30
49
1 $2, 328
1 2 , 016
1 $2 , 700
1 2,400
1 1,980
3 1, 764
4 1,800
5
7
16 1, 770
24 1,680
1 1, 500
6 1,740
3 1,620
f
\
(7)
1,800
1
1,740 } o
1
1,980
6 1,680
8 1,680
16 1 , 740
12
1,380
11
6 1 , 680
15 1, 740
4 1,680
1 1,620
11
1
1,380
1,260
13 1,440
r
t 1
1, 740
1,500
11
13 1,890
21
1
2 ,10 0
2
1, 740
f
1
12
13
1
1,620
)J (7)
1
1,440 (12)
[ (4)
(10)
(7)
\
1
1
1,764
1,644
1
fl4
\15
16
17
1,800 18
19
20
1
1
1,440
1
7 Part-time employee.
8 Includes 2 at $1,800, 1 at $2,280, and at $2,520.
6 Totals include only regular, full-time employees.
10 Under supervision of State fire marshal.
11 W ork performed b y private company.
12 Done by driver at $5 per day.
13 Done b y a private at $3.30 per day.
1,680 10
23 1 , 620 1 1
1,680 2 1
22
1,980
{_ -
1,572
3 1,2 0 0
(■8)
1
8
9
J
1,950
1,800
3 1 , 680
1
1
L ..
) ()
2
3
4
6
5 1, 740
5 1,680
1
1
}<*)
(
l
f
1
i 1,644
1 1, 704 IJ -
23
24
25
26
26
T
SALARIES AND HOURS, FIRE DEPARTMENTS
able
C .—
A verage hours and d a ys on d u ty per w eek in fire d epartm ents o f 2 7
W e s t N orth Central cities , b y d iv isio n , J u ly 1, 1 9 3 8
Number of employees working under specified systems
in—
System of operation
Aver
age
hours
on
duty
per
week
Aver
age
days
on
duty
per
week
All divisions
C ity group 1
All
cities
I
All systems.
Continuous duty.
178
Single-platoon fl___________________________
On 2 days, off 1 day_______
112 4.7
On 3 days, off 1 day_______
126 5.3
2 -platoon—regular 7____________
On 24 hours, off 24 hours. - Shift 6 th day______________
Shift 15th day_____________
Shift each week___________
Shift twice each m onth____
II
II
III
611
384
3,975
3,043
570
362
10
7
3
20
3 10
* 7
*3
50
28
12
12
38
16
50
28
12
12
22
22
331
331
3, 283
2,458
387
117
74
247
2,403
1, 769
387
117
615
615
7
10 3
22
3.3
618
618
257
215
78
I
3, 270
7.0
7.0
6 .8
III
20
2, 415
1, 779
387
117
3.5
6.4
C ity group i
All
cities
2 4, 265
3, 320
2,489
387
117
76
251
84
84
84
84
84
Fire-fighting division
132
574
379
76
119
38
16
22
130
561
370
319
319
” ’ 74~
117
2 -platoon—with a d d i t i o n a l
time off d u ty : 8
On 24 hours, off 24 hours—
off 1 day every 2 weeks...
Other ®.
45.84
See footnotes at end of table.
5. 66
30
12
ii 2
ii 2
27
WEST NORTH CENTRAL CITIES1
T
able
C . — A v era g e hours and d a ys on d u ty p er w eek in fire d epa rtm ents o f 2 7
W e s t N orth C entral d ities , b y d iv is io n , J u l y 1 , 1 9 8 8 — Continued
Number of employees working under specified systems inFire-prevention
division
Apparatus divi
sion
Alarm division
Clerical divi
sion
System of operation
A ll
cities
All s y s t e m s ..__ ____ __ . . .
41
C ity group i All C ity group 1 All C ity group 1 All C ity group 1
cit
cit
cit
ies
I
II III
I
II III ies I
II III ies I
II t il
33
5
3
94
77
1
1
1
1
20
....
12
10
11
90
19
9 ....
7
5
2
2
6 120
11
35
27
6
2
4
4 ....
2
2
2
2
27
4
Continuous duty_____ _______
Single-platoon 6 ___
___ _
On 2 days, off 1 day
On 3 days, off 1 d a y . ____
2 -platoon—regular 7_____
...
On 24 hours, off 24 h ou rs.. .
Shift 6 th d a y _________ _
Shift 15th day.
. .
Shift each week.
____
Shift twice each m onth. ..
2
2
16
2
2
2
74
65
3
1
5
5
2
11
4
4
2 -platoon—with a d d i t i o n a l
time off d u ty : 8
On 24 hours, off 24 hours—
off 1 day every 2 w eek s.._
Other 9 _.
____________
3
3
36
30
4
2
8
1
109
90
12
7
31
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 Includes only regular full-time employees, with the exception of the commissioner in Kansas City, M o.
3 Includes 8 chiefs and 2 assistant chiefs.
4 Includes 5 chiefs, 1 assistant chief, and 1 assistant deputy chief.
5 Includes 3 chiefs.
8 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 days on duty per year b y 52.143.
7 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 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 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 b y 52.143.
9 The average number of hours and days per week is arrived at b y dividing the total weekly man-hours
and man-days by the total number of employees under “ Other.”
i° Includes 3 drill masters.
n Includes 2 chiefs.
28
T
SALARIES AND HOURS, FIRE DEPARTMENTS
able
D.—
Total salaries and total n u m ber o f em p lo ye es o f fire d epartm ents in 2 7
W e s t N orth Central c ities , b y o ccu p a tion s , J u l y 1, 1 9 8 8
Number of employees
Division 1 and occupation
Total salaries
C ity group 2
All
cities
C ity group 2
All
cities
I
II
III
_______________ _ 3 4,265 3,270
611
384 8,326,695 6, 611,851 1,066,076 648, 768
Fire fighting.
____ _______ ____ __ 3,975 3,043
Chiefs
..
9
___ __________
27
Assistant or deputy chiefs. ________
32
13
Assistant deputy chiefs... ______
7
14
51
Battalion or district chiefs._ . . . _
51
C aptains.. . . ._
____ . . . __
389
513
Lieutenants4 . . .
________ .
2 12
147
Engineers, fire engine 5___________
229
293
Drivers_____________
__________
222
337
Privates
_ _ __________ _
2,492 1,973
1 st grade_____________________ 2 , 266 1,794
2 d grade______________________
78
10 1
3d grade. _ _ ________________
84
62
4th grade _____ _____________
22
20
5th grade ___________________
17
17
Probationary _ ______________
2
2
Drill masters__ ________________
3
4
570
7
362 7, 744, 575 6,145,437
11
82, 548
37,140
9
82, 699
42, 751
3
33,096
18, 780
147,669
147, 669
40 1,078,446
855,360
23
429, 786
311,130
20
604,312
499,912
609,942
79
417,540
177 4,665, 817 3,806,935
164 4,302,283 3, 514,765
162, 468
125, 520
9
133, 716
102,420
4
35,970
32,850
28, 380
28,380
3,000
3,000
8 ,220
10,260
D o lla r s
All occupations -
Fire prevention . . .
____ __ _______
___
Marshals or wardens__ __
Assistant marshals or wardens____
Chief inspectors
. .
__ _
Inspectors .
_ _ ._ _
Miscellaneous. _
_ ___
_____
10
4
84
42
44
36
342
308
14
18
2
1
5
41
7
33
7
2
1
2
26
5
19
5
4
3
Apparatus____________________________
Superintendents of m achinery.. . .
Assistant superintendents of ma
chinery
M achinists6.
... .
Auto mechanics 7 _
General mechanics___ __ __ _____
Superintendents of repair.
93
76
9
11
2
8
1
2
11
9
18
32
16
16,586
31, 280
41,400
44,841
2,090
1,836
3, 720
9,888
1, 710
241,938
31, 336
10, 920
2, 580
98,380
14, 584
36,198
2,400
45, 540
186, 364
16,870
7, 260
2, 580
74,800
5,316
33,998
36,176
8 , 736
1,860
19,398
5, 730
1,800
15,060
5,920
8 , 520
68,099
30,264
6, 527
17,490
13,818
54,173
18,018
6, 527
15,810
13,818
11
1
1
9
3
5
Clerical___
____
Secretaries__________________ _
Chief clerks .
____ ____
Clerks and b ook k eep ers___ ______
Stenographers
___ _____
35
14
3
1
39
3
18
19
1
21
10
8
15 2 1
27
7
3
9
8
1
1
6
5
1
2,040
18,422
35,000
61, 716
46, 551
2,090
19
4
1
152,010 71,076
78,096 40, 560
70,020 34,380
62, 262 130,140
573, 240 285,642
521,436 266,082
22 , 608 14,340
26, 076
5,220
3,120
6
91
3
2
2
2
66 ,339
988, 716 610,422
19,860 25, 548
22,392 17, 556
8 , 796
5,520
21,474
4, 320
12 1
8
D o lla r s
159,538
23, 341
Fire alarm. ___ ______ _______
____
Superintendents._______
__ _
Assistant superintendents.________
Chief op erators__ ________
_ _
Operators___ __ ___
____ .
Electricians___ __ ___________ _
Linemen 8 _ ____________________
Inspectors. _ __________________
Misnp.llaripinns
53
D o lla r s
191,440
27, 661
22
1
6
D o lla r s
6
5
3
III
34,145
1 1 , 280
21
21
1
13
5
II
80,643
16,998
3,916
1,980
46,469
1 1 , 280
3
1
1
I
9,204
5,100
1,980
7,224
5,100
16,998
3,916
10,428
10,428
3,348
2,200
2,400
45, 540
10, 506
8,826
3,420
3,420
1,680
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 divisions. In some cities, for example, the maintenance work is let to private con
tractors; part of the fire-prevention work is done by the building inspector’s office; and the fire-alarm work
is done b y the local telephone company 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 U. S.
Census of Population for 1930.
3 Includes only regular, full-time employees, with the exception of the commissioner in Kansas City, M o.
4 Includes 3 sergeants in city group III.
5 Includes 51 junior engineers in city group I and 7 in city group II. The rest are senior engineers.
6 Includes 2 helpers in city group I.
7 Includes 1 assistant mechanic in city group III.
8 Includes 9 helpers in city group I.
O
@FedFRASER