What are the responsibilities and job description for the Fire Fighter/EMT and Fire Fighter/Paramedic - Lateral position at Forsyth County Government?
Salary
See Position Description
Location
Cumming, GA
Job Type
Full-time
Job Number
03586
Department
Fire Department-Fire Fighting
Opening Date
06/03/2026
Closing Date
7/3/2026 11:59 PM Eastern
In addition to submitting a completed online application, all candidates must attach the following documents to the online application.
Job Posting Timeline
This is not an entry level position. Please ensure that you have the required certifications before you apply.
Any application that is submitted without the education history, work history, and reference section (no less than three) completed will not be considered. Once an application is submitted, it cannot be edited, so please make sure that your application is complete before you submit.
2026 SALARY BREAKDOWN
Annual Salary
The following salaries reflect the employee selecting overtime instead of comp time for additional hours worked. Additionally, these salaries reflect all naturally occurring overtime and holiday pay. Variations may occur depending on shift assignment and holiday occurrence.
Firefighter/AEMT- Non-exempt $68,355.76/yr.
$58,216.47 (Base salary) $7,604.47 (Naturally occurring overtime) $2,534.82 (Holiday Pay) Additional overtime pay is available for those who choose to work additional hours as needed per staffing levels. If county recognized holiday is worked, employee will be paid 1.5 times hourly rate for actual hours worked. This is an estimate, dependent upon the employee's actual schedule.
Firefighter/Paramedic –Non-exempt $70,532.80/yr.
$60,070.58 (Base salary) $7,846.67 (Naturally occurring overtime) $2,615.55 (Holiday Pay) Additional overtime pay is available for those who choose to work additional hours as needed per staffing levels. If county recognized holiday is worked, employee will be paid 1.5 times hourly rate for actual hours worked. This is an estimate, dependent upon the employee's actual schedule.
Credit For Previous Years Of Service
For every 2 months worked in a previous fire department, 1 month of credit will be given within the Forsyth County Fire Department, with a maximum of 36 months of credit given (72 months in a previous department) – Applicable toward promotion to FAO.
Benefits
Forsyth County offers outstanding health and financial benefits, including a 15% 401(k) match and an additional 457 plan for vested employees. See the benefits attachment for more details.
Working as part of a highly motivated team, aggressively provides safe and efficient emergency response to the citizens and visitors of Forsyth County.
Responds with assigned fire company to incidents involving fires, medical emergencies, hazardous materials, and vehicle accidents; evaluates scene upon arrival; directs co-workers, other responding agencies, and civilians as necessary.
Maintains a high level of physical and mental readiness through education, training, and physical fitness.
Assures personal and departmental equipment and apparatus are in good working order, ensuring operational readiness.
Complies with all legal rules, orders, and instructions issued by chain-of-command. Proudly upholds the mission, vision, and values of the Forsyth County Fire Department.
Minimum Qualifications
This process will not include a written exam.
The hiring list will be comprised from a physical agility test, oral interview assessment.
Candidates Must Undergo And Pass The Following
Benefits Provided By Forsyth County To Full-time Employees
Personal Leave Accrual (for Firefighters)
Personal Leave Shall Be Accrued As Follows
0 – 1 Year - 4.89 hours per pay period
1 - 4 Years - 8.15 hours per pay period
5 - 14 Years - 10.19 hours per pay period
15 Years - 12.23 hours per pay period
Observed Holidays
New Years Day, Martin Luther King Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veteran's Day, Thanksgiving (2), and Christmas (2).
Medical Insurance
The Forsyth County Board of Commissioners offers employees a choice of two medical plans offered by Aetna and a plan offered by Kaiser Permanente.
The Forsyth County Board of Commissioners offers two dental plans from Delta Dental:
The vision plan offered by Forsyth County Board of Commissioners is administered by EyeMed and will offer office visit copays for exams, as well as copays for lenses, frames, and contacts.
Basic Life & AD&D Insurance
The Forsyth County Board of Commissioners recognizes the importance of basic life insurance for all of its employees. The Board provides term life insurance and accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) protection for each full-time employee. This is a County-paid benefit.
Disability Insurance – Short Term and Long Term
100% paid by Forsyth County. Eligibility begins date of hire.
Short Term Disability – 60% of weekly earnings to a maximum of $1,000.00 a week. Eligibility begins 14 days after an accident or sickness and has a benefit period of 24 weeks.
Long Term Disability – 60% of monthly earnings to a maximum of $5,000.00 a month. Eligibility begins at 26 weeks to coordinate with the end of Short Term benefits and continues 24 months (Own Occupation).
Additional Life Insurance And AD&D
Rates vary based on amount of coverage selected. Additional life insurance may be purchased for employee, spouse, and children.
Retirement Plan (401K)
Fully vested at five years of employment – 20% graduated vesting annually. Eligible to begin contributions immediately upon hire.
Six Months through One Year of County Service
Forsyth County matches your contributions, dollar for dollar, up to 5% of your pay. That’s a 100% return on the first 5% of pay you save.
Years One through Five
Forsyth County “seeds” your account with 5% of your pay each year, and matches 100% of what you contribute, up to 5% of your pay.
Years 5 through 10
The County continues its automatic “seed” contribution of 5% of pay, matches up to the first 5% of pay that you contribute, then adds a 50% match up to the next 5%.
After 10 Years of Service
You continue to receive a 100% County match on the first 5% of pay you contribute, and 50% on the next 5% of pay you save. But now, the automatic contribution the County makes to “seed” your account each year increases to 7.5% of your pay.
01
Failure to accept the acknowledgement statement below will result in your employment application being rejected. Your application for this employment opportunity will not be considered if you do not abide by the statements below.
COMPLETED APPLICATION ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: I acknowledge that I must complete all sections of the employment application. I understand that failure to enter all relevant work experience in the work history section of the application will result in rejection of my employment application. I also understand that I must include three professional references to whom I am not related.
Furthermore, I understand that Forsyth County does not accept resumes in lieu of completed applications.
Do you have a high school diploma or a G.E.D?
Do you have a valid driver's license?
Please list all certifications that you currently have relating to fire service.
05
In order to be qualified for this position you must have a valid GA or National Registry EMT-I, EMT-A or Paramedic certification. Do you meet this requirement?
06
Have you ever tried or used an illegal drug (according to GA Law) or a prescription medication not personally prescribed to you?
If you answered "Yes" to question #6, provide an explanation, including date and law enforcement agency. If you answered "No", then enter "NA".
08
Have you ever been involved in the illegal distribution and/or manufacture of an illegal drug or prescribed medication?
If you answered "Yes" to question #8, please list the drug and/or prescribed medication and the most recent date you illegally distributed and/or manufactured said substance. If you answered "No" to question #8 then enter "NA".
10
Have you ever been arrested?
If yes, provide explanation, including date and law enforcement agency.
12
At this time, do you have any criminal charges pending against you, including but not limited to traffic citations or domestic violence?
Have you ever been convicted of a felony?
If you are a military veteran, were you subject to punishment under the UCMJ?
Within the past two years, have you applied for employment with any other fire department for which you were not hired due to information disclosed during a background investigation?
Have you undergone a deception detection test within the past two years?
If you have not listed three professional references please do so prior to submitting your application. Changes cannot be made to an application after it has been submitted. If your application is submitted without three professional references it will be rejected for being incomplete. Please make sure to provide a valid email address for ALL references provided. Do you understand this requirement?
Employer Forsyth County
Address 110 East Main Street
Suite 230
Cumming, Georgia, 30040
Phone (770) 781-3088
Website http://agency.governmentjobs.com/forsyth/default.cfm
See Position Description
Location
Cumming, GA
Job Type
Full-time
Job Number
03586
Department
Fire Department-Fire Fighting
Opening Date
06/03/2026
Closing Date
7/3/2026 11:59 PM Eastern
- Description
- Benefits
- Questions
In addition to submitting a completed online application, all candidates must attach the following documents to the online application.
- Copy of high school diploma/G.E.D.
- Copy of your EMT-I, EMT-A, or Paramedic certification
- Copy of NPQ or IFSAC Firefighter I and II certificate.
- If applicable, please provide a copy of your DD214.
Job Posting Timeline
- Application period begins: May 11, 2026
- Application period closes: July 1, 2026
- Physical Agility Testing (PAT): July 6th and 7th, 2026
- Oral Interview: July 8th and 9th, 2026
- Background: July 10th through July 27th, 2026
- Target start date: August 10th, 2026
This is not an entry level position. Please ensure that you have the required certifications before you apply.
Any application that is submitted without the education history, work history, and reference section (no less than three) completed will not be considered. Once an application is submitted, it cannot be edited, so please make sure that your application is complete before you submit.
2026 SALARY BREAKDOWN
Annual Salary
The following salaries reflect the employee selecting overtime instead of comp time for additional hours worked. Additionally, these salaries reflect all naturally occurring overtime and holiday pay. Variations may occur depending on shift assignment and holiday occurrence.
Firefighter/AEMT- Non-exempt $68,355.76/yr.
$58,216.47 (Base salary) $7,604.47 (Naturally occurring overtime) $2,534.82 (Holiday Pay) Additional overtime pay is available for those who choose to work additional hours as needed per staffing levels. If county recognized holiday is worked, employee will be paid 1.5 times hourly rate for actual hours worked. This is an estimate, dependent upon the employee's actual schedule.
Firefighter/Paramedic –Non-exempt $70,532.80/yr.
$60,070.58 (Base salary) $7,846.67 (Naturally occurring overtime) $2,615.55 (Holiday Pay) Additional overtime pay is available for those who choose to work additional hours as needed per staffing levels. If county recognized holiday is worked, employee will be paid 1.5 times hourly rate for actual hours worked. This is an estimate, dependent upon the employee's actual schedule.
Credit For Previous Years Of Service
For every 2 months worked in a previous fire department, 1 month of credit will be given within the Forsyth County Fire Department, with a maximum of 36 months of credit given (72 months in a previous department) – Applicable toward promotion to FAO.
Benefits
Forsyth County offers outstanding health and financial benefits, including a 15% 401(k) match and an additional 457 plan for vested employees. See the benefits attachment for more details.
- Up to 12.15 hours of accrued leave per pay period for non-exempt employees
- Maximum leave accrual: 1,040 hours of personal leave and 480 hours of comp time for non-exempt employees
- One additional 24-hour floating holiday each year
- 96 hours of paid school and training leave, including paid food and lodging while training
- 168 hours of paid parental leave after the birth of a child
- 216 hours of paid military leave
- $3,500 annual tuition reimbursement
- Paid conference attendance opportunities, including FDIC, MAFFC, FDTN, CFT Pensacola, JEMS and EMS World Expo
- Dedicated mental health clinicians and peer support team for Fire Department personnel and their families
- Comprehensive annual NFPA 1580 physicals with cancer screening
- Modern, fully equipped gyms
- County-provided fitness center access for employees and families
- New fire boat, fire apparatus, and fire stations
- New 37-acre Training Center under construction
- Turnout gear: two sets, plus lightweight gear
- Special Operations opportunities, including Technical Rescue, Dive, Swiftwater, HazMat, and Drone Operations
Working as part of a highly motivated team, aggressively provides safe and efficient emergency response to the citizens and visitors of Forsyth County.
Responds with assigned fire company to incidents involving fires, medical emergencies, hazardous materials, and vehicle accidents; evaluates scene upon arrival; directs co-workers, other responding agencies, and civilians as necessary.
Maintains a high level of physical and mental readiness through education, training, and physical fitness.
Assures personal and departmental equipment and apparatus are in good working order, ensuring operational readiness.
Complies with all legal rules, orders, and instructions issued by chain-of-command. Proudly upholds the mission, vision, and values of the Forsyth County Fire Department.
Minimum Qualifications
- Must be a State of Georgia EMT-Intermediate or higher. If an applicant is from out-of-state, they must be a National Registry EMT-Advanced or higher.
- Must be NPQ/IFSAC Firefighter I and II certified.
- Must be an active Firefighter EMT-I, Firefighter A-EMT, or Firefighter Paramedic. A minimum of two years of prior operations or suppression experience in a department of similar or greater size, scope, and call volume is required. This experience may be from a previous assignment and does not need to be with the candidate’s current department.
This process will not include a written exam.
The hiring list will be comprised from a physical agility test, oral interview assessment.
Candidates Must Undergo And Pass The Following
- Thorough background investigation
- Deception detection exam
- Psychological exam
- NFPA 1500 medical exams and drug screen
Benefits Provided By Forsyth County To Full-time Employees
Personal Leave Accrual (for Firefighters)
Personal Leave Shall Be Accrued As Follows
0 – 1 Year - 4.89 hours per pay period
1 - 4 Years - 8.15 hours per pay period
5 - 14 Years - 10.19 hours per pay period
15 Years - 12.23 hours per pay period
Observed Holidays
New Years Day, Martin Luther King Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veteran's Day, Thanksgiving (2), and Christmas (2).
Medical Insurance
The Forsyth County Board of Commissioners offers employees a choice of two medical plans offered by Aetna and a plan offered by Kaiser Permanente.
- Aetna Choice POS II - $2000 Individual Deductible (Basic Plan)
- Aetna Choice POS II - $1000 Individual Deductible (Plus Plan)
- Kaiser Permanente HMO - $0 Individual Deductible
The Forsyth County Board of Commissioners offers two dental plans from Delta Dental:
- Base $1,000 Plan
- Buy-Up $1,500 Plan
The vision plan offered by Forsyth County Board of Commissioners is administered by EyeMed and will offer office visit copays for exams, as well as copays for lenses, frames, and contacts.
Basic Life & AD&D Insurance
The Forsyth County Board of Commissioners recognizes the importance of basic life insurance for all of its employees. The Board provides term life insurance and accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) protection for each full-time employee. This is a County-paid benefit.
Disability Insurance – Short Term and Long Term
100% paid by Forsyth County. Eligibility begins date of hire.
Short Term Disability – 60% of weekly earnings to a maximum of $1,000.00 a week. Eligibility begins 14 days after an accident or sickness and has a benefit period of 24 weeks.
Long Term Disability – 60% of monthly earnings to a maximum of $5,000.00 a month. Eligibility begins at 26 weeks to coordinate with the end of Short Term benefits and continues 24 months (Own Occupation).
Additional Life Insurance And AD&D
Rates vary based on amount of coverage selected. Additional life insurance may be purchased for employee, spouse, and children.
Retirement Plan (401K)
Fully vested at five years of employment – 20% graduated vesting annually. Eligible to begin contributions immediately upon hire.
Six Months through One Year of County Service
Forsyth County matches your contributions, dollar for dollar, up to 5% of your pay. That’s a 100% return on the first 5% of pay you save.
Years One through Five
Forsyth County “seeds” your account with 5% of your pay each year, and matches 100% of what you contribute, up to 5% of your pay.
Years 5 through 10
The County continues its automatic “seed” contribution of 5% of pay, matches up to the first 5% of pay that you contribute, then adds a 50% match up to the next 5%.
After 10 Years of Service
You continue to receive a 100% County match on the first 5% of pay you contribute, and 50% on the next 5% of pay you save. But now, the automatic contribution the County makes to “seed” your account each year increases to 7.5% of your pay.
01
Failure to accept the acknowledgement statement below will result in your employment application being rejected. Your application for this employment opportunity will not be considered if you do not abide by the statements below.
COMPLETED APPLICATION ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: I acknowledge that I must complete all sections of the employment application. I understand that failure to enter all relevant work experience in the work history section of the application will result in rejection of my employment application. I also understand that I must include three professional references to whom I am not related.
Furthermore, I understand that Forsyth County does not accept resumes in lieu of completed applications.
- Yes, I acknowledge this statement
- No, I do not acknowledge this statement
Do you have a high school diploma or a G.E.D?
- Yes
- No
Do you have a valid driver's license?
- Yes
- No
Please list all certifications that you currently have relating to fire service.
05
In order to be qualified for this position you must have a valid GA or National Registry EMT-I, EMT-A or Paramedic certification. Do you meet this requirement?
06
Have you ever tried or used an illegal drug (according to GA Law) or a prescription medication not personally prescribed to you?
- Yes
- No
If you answered "Yes" to question #6, provide an explanation, including date and law enforcement agency. If you answered "No", then enter "NA".
08
Have you ever been involved in the illegal distribution and/or manufacture of an illegal drug or prescribed medication?
- Yes
- No
If you answered "Yes" to question #8, please list the drug and/or prescribed medication and the most recent date you illegally distributed and/or manufactured said substance. If you answered "No" to question #8 then enter "NA".
10
Have you ever been arrested?
- Yes
- No
If yes, provide explanation, including date and law enforcement agency.
12
At this time, do you have any criminal charges pending against you, including but not limited to traffic citations or domestic violence?
- Yes
- No
Have you ever been convicted of a felony?
- Yes
- No
If you are a military veteran, were you subject to punishment under the UCMJ?
- Yes
- No
Within the past two years, have you applied for employment with any other fire department for which you were not hired due to information disclosed during a background investigation?
- Yes
- No
Have you undergone a deception detection test within the past two years?
- Yes
- No
If you have not listed three professional references please do so prior to submitting your application. Changes cannot be made to an application after it has been submitted. If your application is submitted without three professional references it will be rejected for being incomplete. Please make sure to provide a valid email address for ALL references provided. Do you understand this requirement?
- Yes
- No
Employer Forsyth County
Address 110 East Main Street
Suite 230
Cumming, Georgia, 30040
Phone (770) 781-3088
Website http://agency.governmentjobs.com/forsyth/default.cfm
Salary : $3,500 - $70,533