Salary & Benefits
A full breakdown of what it means to wear the Portage patch — the pay, the pension, and the protections built into our 2026 Collective Bargaining Agreement.
01 / 2026 Wages
Wages increased 6% plus $1,000 across the board effective January 1, 2026. Every position below is the base annual salary before longevity, holiday pay, overtime, specialty pay, or stipends.
02 / Longevity Pay
Longevity is paid bi-weekly as a percentage of base wages. The longer you stay, the more it compounds:
03 / Premium & Overtime Pay
Overtime
Time-and-a-half (1.5×) for any hours worked beyond 204 hours in a Kelly period, for being held over, called in, or reporting early. Called-in shifts earn a minimum of 3 hours of premium pay. Once scheduled, overtime shifts cannot be canceled with less than 48 hours’ notice.
Holiday Pay
Work a holiday and earn 2.5× your regular rate. Eleven recognized holidays including Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, the day after Thanksgiving, and December 26th.
Court Time
Off-duty court appearances are paid at the overtime rate (1.5× including longevity), with a 1-hour minimum per appearance.
Kelly Pay
Kelly time is paid at the overtime rate — built directly into the 24/48 schedule.
04 / Specialty Team Pay
In lieu of comp time, members assigned to a specialty team receive $500 per position, per year, paid on the first January paycheck. Team leaders receive $250 additional. Eligible positions include:
- MSA Technicians
- HazMat (County Team)
- Technical Rescue (County Team)
- Water Rescue / Dive Team
- SWAT / Tactical Medics
- Honor Guard
- Fire Investigation
- Instructors and Preceptors
- Acting Officers & Acting Engineers
05 / Uniform & Clothing Allowance
Beginning in the second year of employment, every firefighter receives an annual clothing allowance of $968.11 for calendar 2026 — paid half on June 15 and half on December 15, with no withholdings except federal and state taxes. Newly hired firefighters receive 25% of the annual allowance after 6 months. The allowance increases 2.5% per year starting in 2027.
On day one, the City issues — at no cost to you — a full PPE package (helmet, coat and pants, boots, two pairs of gloves, particulate hood, Nomex hood, SCBA mask, mask bags, extrication gloves, safety glasses, traffic vest, hearing protection, gear bag, work gloves, webbing, fire wipes), station uniforms (two Class B shirts, two pairs of pants, belt, tee shirts, sweatshirt, winter/spring jacket, red shirts, breast cancer awareness shirts), badges, and name tags. A full dress uniform is issued within 30 days of your one-year anniversary.
06 / Health Insurance
Premium family health insurance through the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 150 — Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Illinois — for a $1 annual premium. The City covers 100% of the rest, for both single and family coverage. See what our insurance covers →
Employees are responsible for their own and their family’s annual deductible as defined by the plan’s schedule of benefits.
Local 150 Family Supplemental
An additional $1,500 annual reimbursement available to members and their families. Learn more →
Healthcare FSA
Flexible Spending Account available for pre-tax healthcare contributions.
Retiree Insurance — 20+ Years
Retire with 20+ years and the City pays 85% of your health insurance net cost. Coverage extends to your spouse on the same terms until Medicare eligibility.
On-the-Job Disability
All disability is managed by the Indiana Public Retirement System (INPRS). Sliding-scale insurance coverage if you’re disabled in the line of duty — from 85% City-paid with 4 years or less of service, scaling up to 96.25% City-paid with 15+ years until regular retirement eligibility. 77 Fund Disability at a Glance (PDF) →
07 / Pension — Indiana 1977 Fund
Every firefighter at Portage is enrolled in the Indiana Public Retirement System 1977 Police Officers’ and Firefighters’ Pension and Disability Fund. Your retirement benefits are calculated against the Master Firefighter / Pension Base salary — $81,966.31 in 2026 — not against your starting pay.
Overview of the 77 Fund and what pension base means →
Indiana 1977 Police & Fire Retirement Fund — official INPRS page →
08 / Paid Paramedic School
Hired as an EMT? The Department will send you to paramedic school and you will be paid to attend. All newly hired firefighters must start paramedic class within the first 24 months of employment as a condition of continued employment.
The City also pays for your initial Firefighter I/II Fire Academy within your first year — including tuition, meals, lodging, and travel expenses (IRS-rate mileage or a City vehicle) when the academy is more than 45 miles from city limits.
09 / Vacation Time
For 24-hour personnel, one week of vacation equals three 24-hour shifts. Vacation accrues on this schedule:
Vacation Buy-Back: Each year you can sell one week of vacation back to the Employer, with the proceeds deposited into a 457(b) or other tax-exempt account for healthcare expenses including insurance premiums. Payouts are made in January.
10 / Personal Days
Established firefighters receive three (3) personal days every year, which can be used in 12-hour or 24-hour increments. Personal days can also be broken up into twelve (12) one-hour increments for shorter time off.
For New Hires: Personal Days Are Prorated
Probationary employees don’t get the full three days during their first calendar year — instead, the number you receive depends on which month of the year you’re hired. The CBA breaks it out like this:
Starting your second calendar year, you receive the full 3 personal days every year — and you also pick up the same two-week-after-hire access to two additional personal days that the existing page references. Personal days do not roll over indefinitely, so use them.
11 / Sick Leave & Major Medical
Annual Sick Leave
Six (6) sick days per year of continuous service, prorated for new hires based on month of hire (6 days if hired Jan–Feb, scaling down to 1 day if hired in December). Unused sick leave accumulates up to 45 days, and the balance is paid out at separation.
Major Medical Sick Leave
Accrues at one work day per month for 24/48 personnel, accumulating up to 90 work days (126 calendar days) for major illness, injury, or maternity. Replaces at .70 shifts per month once the cap is hit.
Duty-Related Injury
Up to one full year of paid sick leave for any duty-related injury, illness, or disease — at your regular rate for the first 120 days, then at the Indiana Workers’ Comp rate. You choose your own doctor and hospital.
Maternity / Paternity
Major medical sick leave covers maternity, both during pregnancy and after childbirth. Employees may also use up to 2 weeks of major medical sick leave for paternity leave.
12 / Perfect Attendance Incentive
Work every scheduled shift in a 12-month period and you earn one (1) additional day of comp time the following year. Authorized leave, on-duty injuries, and time off don’t break perfect attendance — only undocumented absences and disciplinary days do.
13 / Wellness Program & Annual Physical
Every firefighter receives a fully paid Level III physical annually — performed by Public Safety Medical Services on duty when possible — as spelled out by the Fire Service Joint Labor Management Wellness-Fitness Initiative. The Wellness Committee includes two Union and two Administration members.
A one-hour on-duty workout is built into every work day between 0800 and 1800 as part of the regular training program. There’s also an annual non-punitive fitness test — it monitors progress, not performance reviews. Free immunizations and screenings include Flu, Tetanus, Hepatitis (all types), Rubella (for females of child-bearing age), HIV/AIDS testing after possible exposure, and annual tuberculosis screening.
14 / Other Protections & Benefits
Legal Defense
The City defends and pays any settlement, claim, or judgment brought against firefighters for actions taken in the performance of duty.
Critical Incident Counsel
Firefighters involved in a critical incident have the right to legal counsel before being questioned by any law enforcement agency.
Shift Exchange
Trade shifts with another firefighter — fully permitted under the CBA, with no obligation on the City to arrange repayment.
Light Duty
Temporary light duty assignments available for recovering employees: computer/data entry, fire prevention classes in schools, administrative duties — at regular pay and benefits.
Military Reserve Leave
Up to 15 paid shifts per year for military reserve training, in 12 or 24-hour increments.
Mutual Recognition
IAFF Local 3151 decals are placed on all ambulances and apparatus — visible recognition of the union and the brotherhood/sisterhood of Portage Fire.
15 / The Schedule
Portage Fire runs a 24 hours on / 48 hours off schedule. Each tour begins at 0800 and runs through 0800 the following day. Across a 27-day Kelly period you’ll work nine (9) shifts. Each duty day includes one full hour for lunch and one full hour for dinner between 0800 and 1900. Full breakdown of how our schedule and Kelly time work →
Ready to wear the patch?
Competitive pay, top-tier benefits, one of Indiana’s strongest pensions, and a department that invests in your future — from paramedic school on day one to retiree healthcare after 20 years.
View Our Hiring Process →