Orlando’s new contract includes 10% COLA this year and protects 48-hour schedules despite the city’s push for 42-hour cap

ORLANDO, Fla. — Orlando firefighters will see higher pay and improved benefits after city commissioners approved a new labor contract.

The agreement raises the starting salary from about $59,000 to just over $64,000, with experienced hires eligible to begin around $67,000, Central Florida Public Media reported.

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Union leaders say the deal places Orlando at the top of central Florida municipalities for both pay and benefits and represents the largest raises firefighters have received from the city, according to Central Florida Public Media.

“This contract puts the Orlando firefighters back on top of all the municipalities in Central Florida, as far as both pay and benefits,” Orlando Professional Firefighters President Doug Zabin said. “This contract provides us with the largest raises that we have ever received from the city of Orlando, so we’re very excited about that.”

The three-year contract includes a 10% cost-of-living boost this fiscal year, followed by 4% in each of the next two years. It also keeps Orlando firefighters on a 48-hour workweek, rather than shifting to the 42-hour schedules that are becoming more common in the fire service. A new state law urges firefighter schedules not to exceed 42 hours.

As Orlando boosts pay, Orange County Fire Rescue is still negotiating for better wages and benefits. Orange County Fire Rescue’s union says low pay and long hours fuel turnover, with firefighters earning 35–40% less than peers and average retention at 3.4 years. After years of talks, the sides have tentatively aligned on a 25% raise in year one, then 5% in each of the next two, but remain split over affordable healthcare, Central Florida Public Media reported.

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