Fire Department
Carroll County Department of Fire & EMS
Westminster, MD · Carroll County
236-member career force · 14 volunteer companies
Pay scale
| Firefighter EMT | $24–$42/hr |
| Firefighter Paramedic | $33–$58/hr |
| Paramedic | $30–$52/hr |
| Fire Inspector I | $29–$50/hr |
| Fire Inspector II | $31–$55/hr |
Earn $33.11 to $57.95 per hour as a full-time Firefighter/Paramedic on a 24/72 schedule. Requires Paramedic and Firefighter I certifications, with Firefighter II obtainable within one year.
Carroll County Government seeks a full-time Paramedic earning $30 to $52 hourly with a 24/72 schedule. Requirements include a Maryland Paramedic or NREMT certification and a Class C driver license.
Join Carroll County Fire and EMS as a Community Mobile Integrated Health Paramedic earning an hourly pay range of $30 to $52. This full-time role requires Maryland Paramedic certification or NREMT, valid field experience, and a Class C driver license.
Earn $29.51 to $51.63 hourly as an overdose prevention and response paramedic in Carroll County, utilizing your Maryland or National Registry paramedic certification to deliver specialized medical and recovery support services.
The Carroll County Department of Fire & EMS (CCDFEMS) is one of Maryland's newest county fire departments, established October 1, 2020 by Ordinance 2020-06 to move Carroll County from an all-volunteer system to a combination career/volunteer model. Headquartered in the County Office Building in Westminster, the department provides administrative oversight to the county's 14 volunteer fire/EMS stations and shares governance with the Carroll County Volunteer Emergency Services Association (CCVESA).
The buildout has been fast. Career crews first went on duty around the clock at 3 stations in June 2023; career employees now staff 13 of the 14 stations alongside volunteers, backed by an authorized force of 236. In 2025 shift commanders were elevated to battalion chief, and 12 lieutenant/paramedic positions put three ALS supervisory units in service for 24/7 EMS supervision.
The system protects nearly 178,000 residents across more than 448 square miles of rural communities, small towns, and growing suburbs. It handled 25,517 incidents in 2025 — roughly 75 percent EMS — spanning fire, rescue, hazardous materials, and technical rescue responses, plus countywide fire prevention and education programs.
MissionThe Mission of the Carroll County Maryland, Department of Fire & EMS is to protect life, property, and the environment. This will be accomplished through the provision of service excellence in a safe, efficient, and cost-effective manner.
Hiring runs through Carroll County Government's job center rather than a separate fire department portal; each position requires its own application, and only candidates selected for an interview are contacted. The department hires already-certified personnel — firefighter/EMT, firefighter/paramedic, and paramedic — so applicants arrive with Maryland EMS certification and, for suppression roles, Firefighter I in hand.
Conditions of employment include a criminal background check, medical clearance consistent with NFPA 1582, a signed nicotine abstinence agreement, and random alcohol and drug testing. Recruitment has been steady as county staffing expands: the department added 68 new employees in 2025. The department posts a dedicated hiring contact, CarrollDFEMSHiring@carrollcountymd.gov.
Pay
Pay is hourly by rank per county postings: firefighter/EMT $24.14-$42.24, paramedic $29.51-$51.63, firefighter/paramedic $33.11-$57.95, plus overtime and comp time.
Schedule
24 on / 72 off
Requirements
- High school diploma or GED
- Validated EMT and fire service field experience (validated paramedic experience for medic positions)
- Class C non-commercial driver's license; must meet county driver eligibility requirements
- Maryland (MIEMSS) EMT certification; firefighter/paramedic and paramedic roles require Maryland Paramedic, Cardiac Rescue Technician, or NREMT Paramedic
- Firefighter I certification by MFSPQB, Pro Board, IFSAC, or DOD; Firefighter II within one year of hire
- NIMS 100, 200, 700, and 800
- Vehicle and machinery rescue technician certification within one year of hire
- Criminal background check and medical clearance consistent with NFPA 1582
- Signed nicotine abstinence agreement; subject to alcohol and drug testing, including random testing
Hiring process
- Apply online through the Carroll County Government job center (a separate application for each position)
- Interview — only applicants selected for an interview receive further notification
- Criminal background check
- Medical clearance consistent with NFPA 1582
- Sign the nicotine abstinence agreement at offer
- Complete county-provided Emergency Vehicle Operator (and role-specific hazmat) courses during orientation, with MFRI retest rules applying
Benefits
Per the county's Fire & EMS job postings:
- Pension plus 401(k) and 457 retirement accounts
- No-deductible medical plans with prescription and vision coverage, low-cost dental, and county-paid basic life insurance
- Generous paid time off and 13 paid holidays
- Up to $9,000 per fiscal year in tuition assistance
- 24 on / 72 off shift with unlimited swaps, plus overtime and compensatory time
New hires must already hold their fire and EMS certifications; the county delivers the Emergency Vehicle Operator Course (and role-specific hazmat awareness/operations training) during the orientation period, with MFRI retest rules applying.
Who leads the Carroll County Department of Fire & EMS?
Chief Michael W. Robinson, appointed by the Board of County Commissioners. He retired as a deputy chief after nearly 33 years with the Baltimore County Fire Department, is a credentialed Chief Fire Officer, and is a licensed Maryland paramedic.
How busy is Carroll County Fire & EMS?
The department and its volunteer companies handled 25,517 incidents in 2025 — 19,044 EMS (about 75 percent), 3,034 fire, 230 rescue, and 3,209 mutual aid — across more than 448 square miles.