Firefighter/Paramedic

City of DeKalb

Contact Information

Address:

Website:

• www.cityofdekalb.com

Phone:

• 815-748-2398

Fax:

• 815-748-2056

Email:

• hr@cityofdekalb.com

Application Deadline:

• 10/14/26
• Testing Deadline: 10/11/2026

Salary:

• $80,715 - $117,551

  * Subject to collective bargaining agreement increases.

  Benefits:

  • Medical, Prescription and Dental Insurance
  • Fire Pension
  • Life Insurance
  • Paid Vacation, Sick, Holiday Pay, Kelly Days
  • Deferred Compensation Plan (457 plan)
  • Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
  • Wellness Bonus
  • Education Bonus
  • Clothing Allowance
  • Wellness Program 

Sworn:

• 81

Population:

• 40,666

Position Details

Looking to fill immediate openings!

The City of DeKalb is currently testing and accepting applications for Firefighter/Paramedic.

The DeKalb Fire Department is comprised of 81 full-time sworn employees including a Fire Chief, 2 Deputy Chiefs and 2 civilian employees. The Department has an ISO Rating of 2 with a primary response area of 16 square miles and serves an additional 55 square miles by contract to the DeKalb Fire Protection District. 

In 2025, the department responded to 7,403 requests for emergency services of which 82% were medical calls. Located in a university community, the DeKalb Fire Department serves more than 16,000 students and 40,666 residents, delivering high-quality emergency response and public safety services to a diverse and growing population.

Candidates must:

• Be at least 21 years old and under the age of 35 unless exempt from such age limitations as provided in Section 5/10-2.1-6 of the Board of Fire and Police Commissioners Act.
• Have State of Illinois Paramedic License or be currently enrolled in an accredited EMT-P training and certification program (completion within 3 months of application).
• Have a High School diploma or equivalent.
• Have a valid Driver’s License.
• Be a US Citizen
• Not have any felony convictions and or crime involving moral turpitude as specified in Section 5/10-2.1-6 Part C of the Board of Fire and Police Commissioners Act.
• Successfully complete the Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT) with ladder climb certification within twelve (12) months (prior to the conditional offer).
• Pass psychological and medical examinations and drug screening (including cannabis) (at conditional offer). 

Application Instructions:

To view the full recruitment brochure, hiring and residency requirements, timeline, application and testing instructions, please visit our website at:

Firefighter/Paramedic | Job Details tab | Career Pages

Deadline to complete testing:

Sunday, October 11, 2026

Deadline to complete City of DeKalb application:

Wednesday, October 14, 2026

The City of DeKalb is an Equal Opportunity Employer

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