Long Beach Fire Corps Paid Internship: $22 an Hour, Apply by October 26

LONG BEACH, CA — The City of Long Beach is taking applications for the third cohort of the Long Beach Fire Corps, a seven-month paid internship that puts young adults inside the Long Beach Fire Department at $22 an hour. The window closes Monday, October 26, 2026, and Long Beach residents get first crack at the seats.

Ages 18 to 30, part-time hours, CPR and CERT training on the city's dime, and a real public safety line on your resume. Here is what it pays, who qualifies and how to apply before the deadline.

Ready to apply? Jump to the Long Beach job links and keep your search moving →

📍 At a Glance

Program	Long Beach Fire Corps, third cohort
Run by	Long Beach Workforce Innovation Network Youth Career Services Center, with the Long Beach Fire Department
Pay	$22 per hour, up to 450 hours
Schedule	12 to 20 hours a week at the worksite, plus one or two Friday workshops a month
Length	Seven months
Eligibility	Ages 18 to 30 with valid right-to-work status; Long Beach residents get priority
Deadline	Monday, October 26, 2026
Apply	longbeach.gov/youthfirecorps
Questions	Youth Career Services Center, 508 W. Willow St., 562.570.4700

💼 What the Long Beach Fire Corps Internship Actually Is

This is a paid work-experience program, not a fire academy. Interns spend 12 to 20 hours a week at an assigned Fire Department worksite, and the work the city describes is support for the department's communications and its special events.

Layered on top is training that carries weight with employers well beyond the firehouse: CPR certification and Community Emergency Response Team training, better known as CERT. According to the city's announcement, the program is led by the Youth Career Services Center of the Long Beach Workforce Innovation Network, part of the city's Economic Development & Opportunity department.

💵 What It Pays

The rate is $22 an hour for up to 450 hours. Do the math and a full run of hours is just under $10,000 before taxes, spread over seven months. Solid side income for a student at Long Beach City College or Cal State Long Beach, but at 12 to 20 hours a week it is not a full-time paycheck. If you need one now, run the searches below alongside your application.

⚠️ Read This Before You Apply

The age window is firm: 18 to 30.
You need valid right-to-work status.
Fridays matter. Every workshop is held on a Friday, and you need to be available for one or two a month. If your Fridays are locked, sort that out first.
Residents first. The city gives priority to Long Beach residents. Live in Lakewood, Signal Hill or Carson? You can still apply, but expect to be behind residents in line.
No job guarantee. The city does not promise a Fire Department position at the end. It is experience, training and references, which is exactly what most entry-level public safety applicants are missing.

📋 How to Apply Before October 26

Applications are online through the city's Long Beach Fire Corps page. The city's virtual information session ran October 6, so if you missed it, call the Youth Career Services Center on West Willow Street at 562.570.4700. The center is open Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Friday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Do not wait for the last weekend. The deadline lands on a Monday.

🔎 Start Searching Long Beach Jobs

Fire Corps is part-time and seven months long, so treat it as one piece of a bigger plan. Public safety, emergency medical and event work are its natural neighbors.

Start here:

Long Beach Fire Corps FAQ

When is the Long Beach Fire Corps application deadline?

Applications close Monday, October 26, 2026.

How much does the Long Beach Fire Corps pay?

$22 an hour, for up to 450 hours over the seven-month program.

Who can apply?

Young adults ages 18 to 30 with valid right-to-work status. Long Beach residents receive priority.

Is this a firefighter job or a fire academy?

No. It is a paid internship supporting the department's communications and special events, with CPR and CERT training. It does not guarantee a department job.

Build Your Long Beach Career Plan Now

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