In Austin, 24 on 48 off, shift change at noon. Make 50k out of probation, 56k next year, 63k year after, 68k for next 3 years. Every extra shift you pick up is potentially 24 hours overtime. Sweet gig that had alot of city ff's making close to 100k a year because they couldn't hire anyone for 3 years due to a DOJ investigation. That's coming to an end with all the new classes coming in. AFD is the most sought after dept in the state and has a ton of national applicants as well. Not much fire compared to Houston, mostly medical and responding to car wrecks, flooding is a big issue at both depts.
Not 100% sure but I think Houston has 4 shifts instead of 3 which is why their pay was lower overall but higher hourly. I think the work schedule was 24 on 24 off 24 on and 96 off. Somewhere in that schedule they're supposed to work the box (ambulance) but can't remember exactly. Their apparatus and ambulances are an absolute joke (their words) and tell stories of how they had to use duck tape to strap people down on longboards cause they couldn't get the city to replace straps timely. Residents of Houston deserve better in terms of funding and attention for their city.