Firefighter EMT/Paramedic (Entry & Lateral)

Job Description:

Firefighter EMT/Paramedic (Entry & Lateral)

Description

Definition

This recruitment seeks to establish eligible lists for future Entry and Lateral Firefighter vacancies.

The City of Milpitas

Located at the southern end of San Francisco Bay, Milpitas is a progressive community that is an integral part of Silicon Valley. A full-service city with water utility, sewer utility, police and fire services, Milpitas is a flourishing community with a very diverse and inclusive resident population of over 80,000. Often referred to as the Crossroads of Silicon Valley, the City is situated between major thoroughfares in the Bay Area and considered a highly desirable location for world-class technology companies seeking to build a central base of operations. With the addition of the new Milpitas Transit Center offering BART, light rail, and bus service, and multiple new mixed-use development projects, along with a host of new City Plans and Programs in support of an inspiring and sustainable future, the City is at the forefront of building the next generation economy. For more information, visit: www.milpitas.gov

Join Our Team!
The Milpitas Fire Department is driven by the vision to provide outstanding service to the community through the core values of our mission statement:
The preservation of life, property, and the environment within the community is the reason for our existence.

We are committed to providing comprehensive emergency response, fire protection, emergency medical services, disaster preparedness, community education, risk reduction, and other related services in an efficient, effective, and caring manner to the Milpitas community.

The Fire Department is organized into six functions as follows:

• Fire Administration
• Operations Division
• EMS and Training
• Office of Emergency Management
• Fire Prevention
• Fire Prevention Administration

We are looking for dynamic individuals who want to be part of an organization that is innovative, progressive, and values its members through wellness, empathy, and continuous improvement.

We offer competitive benefits and a supportive environment for our Firefighter team members:

• Work Schedule: 48 / 96-hour
• Tuition Reimbursement: Up to $2,000 per fiscal year to support your education
• Dental and Vision Coverage: 100% covered for both employee and family
• Deferred Compensation: City contribution of $50 per month
• Uniform Pay: $1,000 per calendar year
• Safety Shoes: Provided every 2 years
• Holiday Pay: 6% year-round
• Longevity Pay: Cumulative percentages based on years of service:
  • 9-13 years: 3%
  • 14-18 years: 5%
  • 19-23 years: 7%
  • 24 years: 9%
  • 25 years: 11%
  • 26 years: 15%

Annual Salary:

Entry-Level:
During Academy

• Firefighter/EMT Trainee: $115,602.76
• Firefighter/Paramedic Trainee: $129,475.06

After Academy (Probationary Period)

• Entry Firefighter/EMT: $127,452.26
• Entry Firefighter/Paramedic: $142,746.50

*Employees receive 6% Holiday and FLSA Pay in addition to the salary above.

Lateral:

• Firefighter/EMT: $133,824.86 - $162,665.62
• Firefighter/Paramedic: $149,883.76 - $182,185.38

*Employees receive 6% Holiday and FLSA Pay in addition to the salary above.

*Pay rate for Lateral candidates will depend on qualifications.

Firefighter EMT/Paramedic Entry-Level Trainees
The City of Milpitas seeks highly motivated Firefighter EMT/Paramedic Trainees to participate in a comprehensive training program at an approved fire academy; to perform all related learning, testing activities and to perform related fire and emergency medical services activities to successfully complete the fire academy. Upon successful completion of the fire academy, a trainee will be eligible to be placed as a probationary Firefighter Trainee or Firefighter/Paramedic working a 56-hour workweek schedule.

Supervision Received and Exercised:

• Receives general supervision from a Fire Captain.
• Receives technical supervision from a Fire Engineer or a Fire Engineer Paramedic regarding operation and maintenance of vehicles, equipment, and apparatus.
• May exercise technical supervision over personnel in training and/or to other personnel during emergency medical incidences.

For complete job descriptions, please click here:
Entry-Level Trainee: Firefighter EMT/Paramedic Trainee
Lateral: Firefighter/EMT and Firefighter/Paramedic

Examples of Duties

Entry-Level (Trainee) Firefighter EMT/Paramedic
Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Participate in a comprehensive training program at an approved fire academy for a specified period of time.
• Perform all related learning and testing activities.
• Perform related work while awaiting assignment to the academy.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

Lateral Firefighter EMT/Paramedic
Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Participate in a comprehensive orientation program by the Department for a specified period of time.
• Respond to and perform skilled tasks at the scene of emergency calls for assistance to include fire, medical assistance, basic life support capability, rescues, heavy rescues, extrications, hazard identification, hazardous materials incidents, public assistance and service.
• Provide patient/victim assessment quickly and thoroughly; initiate and apply appropriate medical treatment including rescue, first aid and advanced life support according to standard and accepted protocol and the latest technology available.
• Participate as a team member of firefighter company responding to alarms; connect and lay hose lines; enter burning areas of buildings with hose lines; assist in operating nozzles and directing a stream of water on fire; carry and operate a variety of firefighting equipment; raise, lower, and climb ladders; forcibly enter buildings when necessary.
• Participate in proficiency training and study to develop, maintain, and expand job skills; study Fire Department rules and regulations and attend drills, exercise, and staff conferences.
• Participate in community relations activities and public education class and demonstrations.

Typical Qualifications

IMPORTANT: Please list all the licenses and/or certifications you possess in the body of your application under the Licenses and Certifications Section of the application. Please include the license/registry number, effective date, and expiration date (if applicable) .

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS:

Please attach copies of all relevant license/s and certification/s to your application under the Attachments Section. Failure to submit all required documents will result in disqualification from the hiring process, and your application will be withdrawn.

You may disregard the certification/s that must be completed after the date of hire. Please contact us at [email protected] with any questions.

Required Certification/s and License/s for all Firefighter positions:

• Possession of or ability to obtain and maintain a valid appropriate State Driver's License and Firefighter Endorsement, if appropriate.
• Possession of and ability to maintain a current CPR certification from the American Heart Association.

Entry-Level (Trainee) Firefighter EMT/Paramedic

Experience:

• Firefighter/EMT Trainee: Recent experience preferred but not required.
• Firefighter Paramedic Trainee: Recent experience preferred but not required. Evidence of training and experience as a preceptor in a paramedic field training program is highly desirable.

Education:

• Equivalent to the successful completion of the twelfth grade. Some college level fire science course work is desirable.

EMT Licenses and Certificates: In addition to a State Driver's License and CPR Certification as listed above:

• Possession of and ability to maintain current National Registry certifications in one of the following:
• EMT - B,
• EMT - I,
• EMT - P,

or the ability to obtain and maintain certification as an Emergency Medical Technician-Basic or Paramedic with the State of California within sixty days of appointment to this job classification.

Paramedic Licenses and Certificates: In addition to a State Driver's License and CPR Certification as listed above:

• Ability to obtain an Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic or EMT-B Certificate from the County of Santa Clara within sixty days of appointment to this job classification.

Desired Qualifications for Entry-Level Candidates:

• A valid Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT)Card at the time of application. For more information, please visit:
  • https://www.fctconline.org/
    
  • https://www.fctconline.org/becoming-a-firefighter/fctc-statewide-list/
    

Lateral Firefighter EMT/Paramedic

Experience: One (1) year of full-time continuous professional firefighting experience employed as Firefighter with a public agency or special district. Successful completion of the probationary period as a Firefighter.

Education: Equivalent to the successful completion of the twelfth grade. Some college-level fire science coursework is desirable.

License and Certificates:

Lateral Firefighter/EMT: In addition to a State Driver's License and CPR Certification as listed above:

• Possession of and ability to maintain a current license as an Emergency Medical Technician-Basic with the State of California or possession of National Registry-EMT Certification and ability to obtain and maintain certification as an Emergency Medical Technician-EMT with the State of California within sixty days of appointment to this job classification.
• Ability to obtain an Emergency Medical Technician-EMT Accreditation from the County of Santa Clara within sixty days of appointment to this job classification.
• California State Fire Marshal certifications in Technical Rescue Operations, Hazardous Materials Technician, and Wildland Urban Interface are highly desirable.

Lateral Firefighter/Paramedic: In addition to a State Driver's License and CPR Certification as listed above:

• Possession of and ability to maintain a current license as an Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic with the State of California or possession of National Registry Paramedic Certification and ability to obtain and maintain certification as an Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic with the State of California within sixty days of appointment to this job classification.
• Ability to obtain an Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic Accreditation from the County of Santa Clara within sixty days of appointment to this job classification.
• California State Fire Marshal certifications in Technical Rescue Operations, Hazardous Materials Technician, and Wildland firefighting are highly desirable.

Supplemental Information

In-Person Oral Board Panel Interviews are tentatively scheduled for the week of May 4, 2026

In-Person EMS Assessments are tentatively scheduled for the week of May 18, 2026

Please contact us at [email protected] with any questions regarding this recruitment.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

Essential duties require the following physical abilities and work environment:

Working Environment: Ability to quickly respond to changing emergency conditions; regular exposure to outdoor elements in all weather conditions throughout the year, including temperature extremes. Unavoidable exposure to unpredictable and potentially offensive environments and hazards.

Physical Skills: Ability to frequently sit, stand, walk, run, stoop, squat, crawl, lift, push, pull, reach, twist, turn, climb, kneel, crouch, bend; climb ladders, stairs, and scaffolding and ability to work in a confined space; strength and stamina to carry fire hoses and related equipment (including wearing self-contained breathing apparatus) under strenuous and hazardous conditions; to assist and/or lift/carry emergency victims with a diverse range of heights and weights; additionally position requires near and far vision; hearing and speech to communicate in person and over the telephone.

When assigned to an office setting, the position requires the ability to possess mobility to work in a standard office setting and use standard office equipment, including a computer; ability to read printed materials and a computer screen; and ability to communicate in person and over the telephone.

Ability to: Travel to different sites and locations; safely operate a vehicle; work a 48-hour shift and is subject to emergency response at any time. Employees may be required to perform any emergency response tasks, at any time during the 48-hour shift, for an unspecified period of time.

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City of Milpitas will provide reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the Human Resources Department.

The City of Milpitas is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

City of Milpitas Benefits Page: Benefits | Milpitas, CA

*For Fire Department benefits, visit: Benefits Overview

Closing Date/Time: 4/19/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

Salary:

$115,602.76 - $182,185.38 Annually