For this reason, it is popularly called the flesh-eating disease and although rare, it became well-known to the public in the 1990s. Even with top-notch care today, the prognosis can be bleak, with a mortality rate of around 25% and severe disfigurement common in survivors.
Nationally, while the average firefighter will earn in the mid-$40,000âs, a lieutenant will earn about $55,000 annually, a captain about $60,000 and a fire chief approximately $70,000. Firefighters frequently earn overtime wages, training or education reimbursements, paid vacation time, and sick leave.
Pay. Firefighters earned a mean $47,720 per year, or $22.94 per hour, as of May 2011, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The highest-paid 10 percent earned more than $75,520 a year, while the lowest paid 10 percent earned $22,480 a year or less.