Firefighting & Fire Protection
Firefighter
Salary, job outlook, education and requirements
Control and extinguish fires or respond to emergency situations where life, property, or the environment is at risk. Duties may include fire prevention, emergency medical service, hazardous material response, search and rescue, and disaster assistance.
Also called: Fire Engineer · Fire Equipment Operator · Fire Rescue Technician (Fire Rescue Tech) · Fire Technician (Fire Tech) · Fireman · Forest Fire Suppression Specialist · Forestry Fire Technician (Forestry Fire Tech) · Hot Shot
O*NET-SOC 33-2011.00 (Firefighters)
Firefighter salary
Wages for firefighters across all employers, 2025 data. The 10th percentile is typical entry-level pay; the 90th percentile reflects the most experienced and highest-paid workers.
National median hourly wage: $28.50.
Firefighter pay by state
Ten largest states by population, annual wages.
| State | 10th percentile | Median | 90th percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $52,390 | $85,120 | $136,150 |
| Texas | $40,020 | $60,180 | $77,170 |
| Florida | $37,260 | $58,550 | $93,310 |
| New York | $56,390 | $100,960 | $106,440 |
| Pennsylvania | $48,620 | $73,460 | $89,190 |
| Illinois | $38,900 | $78,380 | $106,060 |
| Ohio | $34,420 | $59,370 | $84,010 |
| Georgia | $33,000 | $46,550 | $61,510 |
| North Carolina | $29,360 | $37,940 | $61,940 |
| Michigan | $37,190 | $54,640 | $78,550 |
Firefighter job outlook
- Employment is projected to go from 355,300 jobs in 2025 to 368,400 in 2035 (4% change).
- About 26,800 openings are projected each year, including jobs that open up as workers retire or change occupations.
- CareerOneStop outlook rating: Average.
How to become a firefighter
- Typical entry education
- Postsecondary certificate
- Work experience
- No work experience
- On-the-job training
- More than 1 year on-the-job training
Education level of current workers
- Less than high school diploma.9%
- High school diploma or equivalent14.7%
- Some college, no degree35%
- Associate's degree22.3%
- Bachelor's degree23.8%
- Master's degree3%
- Doctoral or professional degree.4%
Related training programs
- Environmental/Natural Resources Law Enforcement and Protective Services
- Fire Prevention and Safety Technology/Technician
- Fire Protection, Other
- Fire Science/Fire-fighting
- Wildland/Forest Firefighting and Investigation
What does a firefighter do?
Common tasks
- Rescue survivors from burning buildings, accident sites, and water hazards.
- Dress with equipment such as fire-resistant clothing and breathing apparatus.
- Administer first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation to injured persons or provide emergency medical care such as basic or advanced life support.
- Move toward the source of a fire, using knowledge of types of fires, construction design, building materials, and physical layout of properties.
- Drive and operate fire fighting vehicles and equipment.
- Respond to fire alarms and other calls for assistance, such as automobile and industrial accidents.
- Search to locate fire survivors.
- Operate pumps connected to high-pressure hoses.
- Maintain contact with fire dispatchers at all times to notify them of the need for additional firefighters and supplies, or to detail any difficulties encountered.
- Extinguish flames and embers to suppress fires, using shovels or engine- or hand-driven water or chemical pumps.
Most important skills
- Coordination
- Changing what is done based on other people's actions.
- Active Listening
- Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
- Active Learning
- Figuring out how to use new ideas or things.
- Critical Thinking
- Thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
- Monitoring
- Keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvements.
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Thinking about the pros and cons of different options and picking the best one.
- Speaking
- Talking to others.
- Service Orientation
- Looking for ways to help people.
Firefighter certifications
8 of 11 certifications CareerOneStop maps to this occupation. Requirements vary by employer and state.
- American Association of Airport Executives · Specialty
- Wildland Fire Chainsaws (S-212)National Wildfire Coordinating Group · Advanced
- WSO - Certified Hazardous Materials Technician Level II (WSO-CHMT II)World Safety Organization · Advanced
- United States Coast Guard National Maritime Center · Advanced
- National Association for Search and Rescue · Advanced
- National Fire Protection Association · Specialty
- National Fire Protection Association · Core
- Firefighter Type 2 (FFT2)National Wildfire Coordinating Group · Advanced
See all 11certifications in CareerOneStop's Certification Finder
Firefighter jobs
Current federal openings from USAJOBS. For more firefighting & fire protection jobs, including private-sector listings, see the Firefighting & Fire Protection jobs hub.
Job data from USAJOBS.gov. Careers.org is not affiliated with or endorsed by OPM.
Related careers
- First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers
- Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists
- Fire Inspector and Investigator
- Fire-Prevention and Protection Engineers
- Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers
- Emergency Medical Technicians
- Paramedic
- Occupational Health and Safety Specialist
- Forest and Conservation Workers
- Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians
More firefighting & fire protection careers
This page includes information from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (DOLETA), and the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED).
Source: CareerOneStop occupation profile for Firefighters. Wages are from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program; projections are national long-term projections.