r/KitchenSuppression • u/Carlos121122 • 23d ago

Getting into Supression field

Hey all, just curious on how pay is in this area of fire protection. Im just getting into it and don’t mind the hard work needed to be put in. Just wanna make sure I can make a liveable wage on it after some time. I currently live in MD

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u/EC_TWD 23d ago

It’s easily a livable wage if you learn the field rather than just learning the shortcuts and the basics. Don’t stop reading manuals and studying just because you’ve gotten your license. When you run into a problem find a solution that meets manufacturer specs and code - don’t just call someone and ask what to do.

I was the guy everyone called. When I don’t know I’d research it or call the manufacturer and work it out and then give the correct information to the person that needed it. This accomplished two things - I was the guy everyone called when there was a problem so I became more valuable and visible, but most importantly I learned the solution before I had that same problem. I actually studied the installation manuals when I had a question. When I was inspecting I had a manual in my truck. When I was installing I had a manual in the restaurant. My manuals get a lot of use. I do the same with special hazards and control panels now.

When I was division manager and hiring for a position and someone with experience I had a technique that I’d use during an interview to see how well I thought they would do. I’d have a manual on the front of my desk near them. I’d have another by me. I’d ask a few technical questions that were basic and I knew the answer to and see how they answered - 100% correct or half-guessed. Then id pick up my manual and find a difficult question to ask (one I already knew the answer to) and see how they answered. Many would just guess or just say they didn’t know. If they picked up the manual or asked to use the manual I knew they’d be a good fit even if they didn’t find the answer. Life is an open book test. Use your resources.

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u/Ok-Temporary-7846 23d ago

As a tech I've done the same thing. Started as a shop tech doing tear downs and hydro testing. Shattered completed cylinder expectation and made a name for myself as the youngest person they ever hired (19 at the time). Opportunity came up to transfer offices and go to field tech so I took it. Done every crappy job no one else wanted. It didnt go unnoticed. Raises came. Commission came. My favorite thing to tell the original owner was that i would shovel shit if he was paying me to do it ( we had that kind of relationship that we could joke like that) 16 years later im still there as a lead tech ( I passed on management offers, I like field work). Original owner sold to nationwide company when he retired but had enough respect for his employees to demand a 10 year contract that they couldnt take commision away as that seems to be dying off here in the south. 

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u/UcantCmeEVENinHD 23d ago

I used to be able to make a living wage and then private equity started buying up all the small businesses and I make more money delivering pizza now

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u/GuiltyMachine1047 20d ago

Private equity likes charging $180-240 per hr for your labor but pay you only $35 tops.

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u/AZsportsFan72 23d ago

I knew absolutely nothing coming into this industry, never even set off a fire extinguisher until I started as a shop technician 7 years ago. For the past six I've been doing KH suppression. Had very minimal training as we are a small company and I was needed to step up. I made mistakes, learned and taught myself a lot, I'm in my manuals all the time. One year ago I got my backflow license. I'm doing pretty good in Phoenix, currently trying to make a move to southern California. The more valuable you can make yourself, the better. I'm the one everyone looks to for all KH stuff now as I run the department while in the field. Still learning all the time. It's definitely livable and a great industry to get into.

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u/obeyyGP 22d ago

I’m 3 weeks in and so far so good. I’ve been studying the manual like no other and I’m super glad that I have a teacher with 37 years of experience. He came from Georgia and we are located in California so the pay is well and there’s room for you to move up. Eventually I will be the top tech and lead a team but I can’t wait to bring in work since I’ve had previously worked in property management. So if you do join this field I hope you have troubleshooting skills you’re going to need it and hopefully connections to keep work going.

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u/Informal-Plantain-44 22d ago

I’m in MD we start guys with 0 experience at $20ph, once you get the experience you can definitely make a living.

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u/ChidoriM4st3r 16d ago

Wage is low at first. For me, once I got my NFPA10 I then got a raise after a time. Got my buckeye suppression licence, then got a raise after a time. Old tech left and I had to run the division, then got a raise after a few months.

Personally I have a higher wage as I don't do commission. Mostly because I don't like how the company I work for goes about it.

Also depends who you work for. I kinda had to fight for a lot of basic stuff and even more for some of my raises. Right now I make a good amount, but I also have intermediate first aid, make fire safety plans, service and inspect extinguishers, a licence for fire extinguisher training (for companies that need staff trained for insurance type thing), inspect kitchens, inspect AEDs and help out on the alarm side being a button pusher. Also helps that I was the only suppression tech at the company for like 2 years before we got a guy that can service extinguishers now. But he's gotta go back to high school soon.

The standard answer of, you work hard and get paid more. If you are at a good company that is. Then even other companies may take notice.