Process Overview

The hiring process for new firefighter recruits is comprehensive and takes several months to complete.

Important dates in the 2025 process include (but aren't limited to): 

• Monday, April 28  – Application opens
• 6:30 p.m. Thursday, June 5 and Thursday, June 12 – Firefighter Recruitment Meeting at Fire Station 2, 12000 Old Rockford Rd. (partners/spouses are strongly encouraged to attend). 
• Sunday, June 29 – Applications due, position closes
• Monday, July 7 and Tuesday, July 8 – Candidate interviews
• Thursday, July 10 – Physical ability test
• Thursday, July 17 – Mandatory firefighter commitment and expectation meeting at Fire Station 2, 12000 Old Rockford Rd.

Successful candidates will undergo pre-employment examinations including medical and drug screenings and a background check. Recruits who pass pre-employment examinations then begin orientation and training.

2025 Compensation

Part-time/on-call firefighters are paid for all activities performed while conducting Fire Department business. The current hourly wage scale for firefighters is $14.26-$17.48.

Pension

• Defined-contribution plan, with partial vesting at five years of service, full vesting at 10 years of service.
• Full-year 2022 contribution was $16,993 per firefighter.

Other Benefits

• Voluntary retirement savings: Ability to defer up to 100% of wages to a Roth or Traditional 457 retirement plan
• Uniform allowance
• Serving others
• Paid training
• Physical fitness facilities available
• Annual physical
• Learning life-long skills
• Building friendships within the fire service community

Plymouth is a progressive, full-service department that provides fire suppression, emergency medical services, public education and much more. The organization has earned a reputation as a leader in the field and takes pride in its welcoming, driven and close-knit staff.

Part-time/on-call and full-time firefighters provide quality and innovative fire, rescue and safety services to a growing community. Plymouth firefighters respond to calls from three fire stations strategically located throughout the city.

Fast-Paced Environment

The Plymouth Fire Department provides plenty of opportunities for firefighters to be active through incident response and public education.

When Plymouth residents call 911, the Fire Department responds. Firefighters respond to about 6,000 calls per year, which generally include medical and fire calls.

Firefighters also spend hundreds of hours providing public education in schools, homes, businesses and community organizations.

General Requirements

Plymouth firefighters must:

• Be at least 18 years old and be a high school graduate or equivalent
• Reside within an eight-minute travel time to a Plymouth fire station 
• Possess a valid Minnesota driver’s license
• Maintain availability for minimum time commitments and training requirements

Schedule Conditions

Physical Demands

Firefighter recruits must meet physical criteria including vision, hearing, speech, lifting and mobility.

Personal Attributes

Requirements

After completing the first year, part-time/on-call firefighters work an average of about 10 hours per week, which includes scheduled shifts, trainings and calls.

Training Overview

The Plymouth Fire Department’s training program for firefighter recruits is designed to give new firefighters an understanding of fire suppression, emergency medical care and rescue. The department assigns mentors to new firefighters to assist with training and development.

First-year firefighters participate in the West Suburban Fire Academy with multiple departments. Within the academy, they earn certificates in Firefighter I/II, Hazardous Materials Operations 1072 and Emergency Medical Services. 

Continuing Education

Beyond initial training, all Plymouth firefighters participate in continuing education, which includes mandatory and additional training opportunities. Regular department training is offered during days and nights multiple times a week for schedule flexibility.