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Thanks for the honest opinion. I guess my question came from talking to people and seeing that executives dont get treated well by the higher ups, I was more leaning toward this aspect of the job. But I guess if you want the bump in pay you have to take the good with the bad.
No ones scared responsibility...the question most are trying to decide is if the loss in quality of life worth the bump in pay. Not all money is good money.
Is it really that much of a bump in pay when you factor in overtime? Plus with tier 3 calculating best 3 (with previous 2) building up to top pay captain after having overtime as a LT would prolong your calculated average, no?
top pay Lt making 40 a month will beat going for Captain. The problem is, with the way things have been going, who can guarantee in any significant amount of OT steady for the next 5 yrs..or even by the end of this year.
For me, I decided not to take the rank for following PERSONAL reasons: 1. I don't want to live at work and get paid in time. 2. Stress. Not worth it. There are more important things in life to worry about, this job is not not one of them, even with the pay. You will spend all the extra money on medication later in life when your health and nervous system deteriorates due to working years of odd tours and stress load. 3. I don't believe in anything this job stands for anymore. I do not want to be part of the circus. 8:45 is all they get me for. No off hours text or phone calls. The way people are treated in this department is embarrassing. These are my personal reasons. Everyone is different. Like they say, the job is not for everyone. That includes this rank.
-- Edited by Spanish mama on Monday 23rd of March 2026 05:14:27 PM
I look at it this way: If you plan to stay at the captain rank, then no, it ain't worth it. A captain is like being a sergeant all over again. Cops kick sh!t up to the sergeants and lieutenants dump sh!t down to them. Captain is the same, lieutenants kick sh!t up and D.I.'s and above kick it down to them. Also, if you're looking for an after-life when you retire then being an executive makes you more marketable. Definitely a pay cut adjustment though for a bit if you do a lot a of OT. I knew a newly promoted captain years back that had to cut back on deferred comp contributions and stop the ITHP for a year because he missed a few mortgage payments. Once he made D.I. though, he said it was like being a glorified lieutenant again and he loved it. In the end, ya gotta do what's right for you, your family and your future goals.
For me, I decided not to take the rank for following PERSONAL reasons: 1. I don't want to live at work and get paid in time. 2. Stress. Not worth it. There are more important things in life to worry about, this job is not not one of them, even with the pay. You will spend all the extra money on medication later in life when your health and nervous system deteriorates due to working years of odd tours and stress load. 3. I don't believe in anything this job stands for anymore. I do not want to be part of the circus. 8:45 is all they get me for. No off hours text or phone calls. The way people are treated in this department is embarrassing. These are my personal reasons. Everyone is different. Like they say, the job is not for everyone. That includes this rank.
Oh no, I thought things were better under the soccer mom and billionaire Harvard heiress whos been firing and demoting people left and right, Jessica Tisch
-- Edited by Spanish mama on Monday 23rd of March 2026 05:14:27 PM
I look at it this way: If you plan to stay at the captain rank, then no, it ain't worth it. A captain is like being a sergeant all over again. Cops kick sh!t up to the sergeants and lieutenants dump sh!t down to them. Captain is the same, lieutenants kick sh!t up and D.I.'s and above kick it down to them. Also, if you're looking for an after-life when you retire then being an executive makes you more marketable. Definitely a pay cut adjustment though for a bit if you do a lot a of OT. I knew a newly promoted captain years back that had to cut back on deferred comp contributions and stop the ITHP for a year because he missed a few mortgage payments. Once he made D.I. though, he said it was like being a glorified lieutenant again and he loved it. In the end, ya gotta do what's right for you, your family and your future goals.
I agree with this post 100%. However, if your objective is to make money stay a LT! If you like to gamble and want a stop at making DI then become a captain.