I'm not sure where you are from, but if you are considering moving here to take a job as a firefighter, just know that many of the smaller towns are strictly volunteer.

Salem, Nashua, Concord

Career NH Firefighter here. You'll find the Seacoast area (mostly Rockingham county) to have the most competitive fire departments in the state. Portsmouth, Exeter, Hampton, Salem, Dover. The capital region would be another good spot to look, Concord, Bedford, Nashua, Manchester. These are also some of the largest departments that can offer the best salaries, benefits, call volume/diversity.

And I see the schedules are mostly 24/72 and 24/48 +24/96, correct? How competitive is it to get an entry level job in the regions you said that were not as competitive? I’m trying to move by just renting an apartment while I get my firefighter 1 cert in NH. I have my NREMT. But I’m looking to see if it’s worth changing my entire life for this.

1. Pay scales for Firefighters generally run from ~$18 on the low side of bottom step to ~$30 on the high end of top step depending on departments. Some places give stipend pay for certain certifications as well. You can use this link to compare union contracts in different municipalities. Generally the further south and east you go, the more competitive the pay.

2. Every sizable department runs 4 shifts in either 1 on/2 off/1 on/4 off, 1 on/1 off/1 on/5 off or 1 on/3 off schedules. There might be one or two left still on day/night shifts. Some small departments run 3 shifts with a 1 on/2 off schedule with Kelly days. The smallest full time departments are daytime only and their schedules can be fixed or rotating.

3. Everywhere is going to provide health, dental and vision insurance, just depends on how much you end up paying. Municipalities will usually cover 75% to 90% depending on the town.

4. Job security is very high. Layoffs are rare and when they happen everybody knows about it. I think the last place to lay guys off was Manchester about 12 years ago and they got hired back fairly quickly from what I remember. There has also been a sharp decrease in the number of applicants applying for positions over the last few years. Competition is starting to get getting fierce, if you are a qualified candidate with experience you can pretty much get hired anywhere in the state right now.

5. Look through the union contracts I posted and check out vacation and sick time accrual and usage. It can vary from place to place.

6. One big thing you left out is EMS. With the exception of Manchester, Nashua and Rochester most decent sized departments operate transporting ambulances. If that is one of the less appealing aspects of the job you should look in one of those places. For places that do run ambulances, AEMT is more or less a requirement (especially among smaller departments) and as always, paramedics are preferred.

I realize that I didn't steer you toward "the best New Hampshire fire department" but everything is subjective and depends on what kind of vibes you want.

If you have any other questions feel free to ask.

So the work week is based on 42 hours and so yes they are some variation of that schedule. Mine is 24 on 48 off 24 on 96 off which is the perfect balance in my opinion. Historically positions are highly competitive but the last 2 years NH has been hurting for entry level Firefighters so it's a good time to apply if your green/new! Be prepared to be sent straight to AEMT school most career departments don't run EMTs after probation. This will be all on the departments dime of course. This is the best job in the world and NH is a great place to work. Do your research on departments and you will find the right fit.

OP just be aware that not all departments will pay for your AEMT. It is a base job requirement at mine so it's on you to get certified before the end of your probation.

How hard was getting your AEMT?

I was originally an Intermediate so I just had to take the AEMT transition class. EMT-I wasn’t terribly difficult, more involved than basic but not crazy.

& some not-so-small towns. Plaistow is mostly volunteer (or "paid per call").

Nashua Fire Rescue's chief recently said in a budget meeting that they won't entertain applications from anyone not holding current Firefighter II and EMT-Basic certification, and expect to take on new hires this coming summer.

Also, if you're looking to rent anywhere in southern NH while you're looking for a fire-rescue job hopefully you have other stable income or are independently wealthy. Rental prices and vacancy rates are generally considered to be a tad nuts.

Amherst is also an on-call paid by call department. I think there's 5 or 6 people in the fire/ paramedic who are full time. Milford covers a lot for Amherst it seems.

That can be a benefit though, as many call departments will pay for the training you need to be a full time firefighter.