Firefighter Paramedic (Lateral and Entry Level)

City-of-La-Mesa,-C; Rescue (CA); On-site; USD 84,000 - 136,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

CalPERS retirement

Comprehensive benefits

Job summary

The Cities of El Cajon, La Mesa, and Lemon Grove are seeking qualified firefighter paramedics, including lateral and entry‑level applicants, to join a joint recruitment and onboarding process. These positions offer competitive salaries and comprehensive benefits across the three cities.

Applicants must meet certification requirements and undergo CPAT testing and a skills assessment as part of a shared selection process.

Qualifications

• Minimum 1 year of full‑time experience as a Paramedic Firefighter.

Skills

Paramedic

CPAT certificate

Lateral entry experience

Job description

THE CITIES OF EL CAJON, LA MESA, AND LEMON GROVE ARE SEEKING QUALIFIED LATERAL AND ENTRY-LEVEL FIREFIGHTER PARAMEDICS.

Annual Salary Range

City of El Cajon: $97,260.80 - $118,227.20

City of La Mesa: $101,308.48 - $135,757.44

City of Lemon Grove: $83,947.76 - $123,992.44

Lateral entry salary will be based on prior years of paid Firefighter Paramedic work experience.

All three cities participate in the CalPERS retirement system and offer comprehensive benefits. Please refer to each city's Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for details regarding benefits and eligibility for Educational Incentive Pay.

The Cities of El Cajon, La Mesa, and Lemon Grove welcome qualified candidates from across the country and provide a clear, well‑organized onboarding process to support a smooth transition into the region. This area offers an exceptional quality of life, a strong and supportive fire service community, and the opportunity to gain broad operational experience within a cooperative agency structure. Applicants must provide documentation demonstrating equivalency for all required certifications, qualifications, and physical ability standards as outlined in the posting.

The Recruitment Process

The Cities of El Cajon, La Mesa, and Lemon Grove will conduct a joint application and examination process. Each agency will establish its own eligibility list, and candidates may be placed on multiple lists.

1. CPAT Requirement.

   All candidates MUST possess a Cal-JAC Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT) certificate dated between: 04/25/2026 - 10/25/2026. More information is available at: https://www.fctconline.org/cpat/

2. Appraisal Interview & Paramedic Skills Assessment Scenario:

   Scheduled for 11/4/2026 or 11/5/2026

About HEARTLAND FIRE & RESCUE

The Cities of El Cajon, La Mesa, and Lemon Grove operate under a cooperative cost‑sharing agreement known as HEARTLAND FIRE & RESCUE (HFR), serving a regional population of nearly 200,000. HFR responds to approximately 34,000 calls annually across eight stations and provides advanced life support services in conjunction with a contracted ambulance provider. The Cities maintain deployable OES engines and participate in the regional US&R task force. More information is available at www.heartlandfire.org.

To obtain each agency's Firefighter/Paramedic class specification, please click on the following links:

• City of El Cajon - Paramedic/Firefighter Classification Specification
• City of La Mesa - Firefighter/Paramedic Classification Specification
• City of Lemon Grove - Firefighter/Paramedic Classification Specification

Please refer to each agency's class specification for Education and Experience Guidelines. Minimum qualifications vary amongst the three agencies.

Lateral Candidates

In addition to the requirements in the classification specifications above, lateral candidates must have the following:

• Experience: One year of full‑time experience as a regular Paramedic Firefighter (non‑probationary). Active, seasonal time will count towards experience. Reserve time is not qualifying.

The 2026-2027 County of San Diego EMS protocols will be used during the Appraisal Interview and Paramedic Skills Assessment. For reference, candidates may access the County of San Diego EMS protocols at Emergency Medical Services Treatment Protocols/Policies.

Candidates must successfully complete all components of the examination process to be placed on an eligibility list for employment consideration by any of the three agencies.

Candidates who advance to the pre‑employment stage may be required to undergo a comprehensive background investigation, which can include a polygraph examination, psychological evaluation, and pre‑employment medical assessment.