Federal Firefighter Pay in Comparison with 
In'n'Out Burger Employee
from theysaid, 2/18/05

Lobotomy here again..... I would like to share a comparison of a Burger Joint entry level job with that of a federal temporary (seasonal) wildland firefighter.

This is a comparison of the GS-2 or GS-3 Entry Level Seasonal Firefighter and an entry level employee of In-N-Out Burger. In-N-Out Burger currently has locations in California, Nevada, and Arizona (with future expansions planned).

In-N-Out Burger http://www.in-n-out.com/ Starting Pay: $8.25 per hour minimum with regular raises. 401 K Program: Yes Paid Vacations: Yes Free Meals: Yes Comprehensive Training: Yes Medical Insurance: Yes Dental Insurance: Yes Vision Insurance: Yes Life Insurance: Yes Get to Go Home Every Night: Yes Threat of loss of livelihood: No Threat of loss of Career: No Extremely Hazardous?: No Promotional Opportunities: Yes Store Manager - just shy of $100,000 per year. Second Manager - $50,000 per year. Third Manager - $41,000 per year. Fourth Manager - $33,000 per year. Additional Manager Perks: 1) Defined Contribution Profit Sharing Plan, 2) Performance based incentive wages, 3) Tuition reimbursement (2nd Manager and above).

Temporary Federal Wildland Firefighter (Outside of Special Salary Rates or Locality) Starting Pay: GS-2 $8.63 per hour, GS-3 $9.41 per hour. 401 K Program: No Paid Vacations: Yes (Annual Leave) Free Meals: No (Except on fire assignments) Comprehensive Training: Yes Medical Insurance: No Dental Insurance: No Vision Insurance: No Life Insurance: No (But are eligible for PSOBenefits) Get to Go Home Every Night: No Threat of loss of livelihood: Yes Threat of loss of Career: Yes Extremely Hazardous?: Yes Promotional Opportunities: Depends on experience and, NOW, EDUCATION. See IFPM Standards and OPM Rates of Pay.