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Municipal Fire Departments
FDNY, Los Angeles Fire Department, Chicago Fire Department
Firefighters
Firefighters respond to fires, crashes, rescues, and other emergencies, then spend a lot of time training, checking equipment, and keeping trucks and stations ready. The work stands out because it mixes sudden, high-risk action with long stretches of preparation and maintenance. The tradeoff is clear: the job offers strong teamwork and public service, but it also brings physical danger, irregular hours, and a lot of pressure to make fast decisions.
Also known as FirefighterFirefighter/EMTFirefighter/ParamedicFirefighter IFirefighter II
Median Salary
$59,530
Mean $63,890
U.S. Workforce
~332K
27.1K openings per year
10-Year Growth
+3.4%
344.9K to 356.7K
Entry Education
Postsecondary nondegree award
+ None experience
What This Role Looks Like in Practice
Firefighters sits in the Government category. In practical terms, this role combines day-to-day execution, cross-team coordination, and consistent decision-making under real business constraints.
U.S. employment is currently about ~332K workers, with a median annual pay of $59,530 and roughly 27.1K openings each year. Based on BLS projections, total employment is expected to grow from 344.9 K in 2024 to 356.7K in 2034.
Most hiring paths start with High School Diploma, and employers typically expect none of related experience. Many careers in this track begin around Firefighter Recruit and can progress toward Fire Captain. High-value skills usually include Fire Pump Operation, Hoses & Nozzles, SCBA & Breathing Apparatus Use, and Fire Apparatus Driving & Pumping, paired with soft skills such as Critical Thinking, Coordination, and Judgment and Decision Making.
Core Responsibilities
- Set up hoses and pumps so water can be delivered to a fire at the right pressure.
- Check the scene, report what is happening over the radio, and follow instructions from supervisors.
- Respond with police and other emergency crews to crashes, rescues, disasters, and arson calls.
- Practice drills and demonstration runs to keep firefighting skills sharp.
Keep exploring: more Government careers or browse all job titles.
A Day in the Life
01 Set up hoses and pumps so water can be delivered to a fire at the right pressure.
02 Check the scene, report what is happening over the radio, and follow instructions from supervisors.
03 Respond with police and other emergency crews to crashes, rescues, disasters, and arson calls.
04 Practice drills and demonstration runs to keep firefighting skills sharp.
05 Clean, inspect, and maintain fire trucks, hoses, breathing gear, and station equipment.
06 Put on protective clothing and air packs, drive fire engines, and teach the public how to prevent fires.
Industries That Hire
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Airport Fire & Rescue
Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Los Angeles World Airports
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Industrial Manufacturing & Energy
ExxonMobil, Chevron, Dow
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State and Federal Wildland Fire Services
CAL FIRE, U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management
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Military and Defense Installations
U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, U.S. Air Force
Pros and Cons
Advantages
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You can enter the field without a four-year degree, and many workers start with a high school diploma, a certificate, or a fire academy program.
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Pay is solid for a job with no bachelor's degree requirement, with median annual earnings of $59,530 and mean pay of $63,890.
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There are about 27.1K projected annual openings, so departments regularly hire to replace retirees and people who move on.
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The work is varied: one shift can include emergency response, equipment checks, drills, and public fire-safety education.
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There is a clear path to advancement into driver/operator, lieutenant, captain, and other leadership roles.
Challenges
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The job is dangerous and physically hard, with smoke, heat, heavy gear, and unpredictable scenes that can turn in seconds.
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Growth is only 3.4% from 2024 to 2034, so the field is not expanding quickly and competition can be strong in popular departments.
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A lot of openings come from replacements rather than new growth, so job availability depends heavily on local staffing and retirements.
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The schedule often includes nights, weekends, holidays, and long periods of waiting between intense calls.
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Career and pay growth can hit a ceiling unless you move into a tested promotion track, and local budgets can slow raises and hiring.
Career Progression
Firefighter Recruit
0-1 years
$35K-$47K
New hires learn department rules, gear, hose handling, radio procedures, and emergency routines while working closely with experienced crews.
Firefighter
1-5 years
$48K-$68K
At this level, you respond to fires and rescues, operate equipment, and handle the core work that keeps a station ready for calls.
Fire Apparatus Operator THIS ROLE
5-10 years
$62K-$82K
Experienced firefighters may drive engines or trucks, manage pumps and water supply, and support the crew during more complex incidents.
Fire Lieutenant
10-15 years
$78K-$102K
Lieutenants direct a crew at the scene, make tactical decisions, and keep operations organized under pressure.
Fire Captain
15+ years
$95K-$125K
Captains oversee stations or companies, set standards, coach newer firefighters, and handle higher-level incident leadership.
Education Paths
High School Diploma
The most common entry route, held by 35.89% of workers in this role, usually followed by fire academy training and department testing.
Postsecondary Certificate in Fire Science
A common route used by 24.6% of workers, especially people who want classroom training before entering a fire academy.
Some College Coursework or Associate Degree
This path accounts for 19.5% of workers and can help candidates stand out when departments value emergency medicine or fire science coursework.
EMT and Fire Academy Training
This alternate non-degree route fits departments that hire academy graduates and train them on the job; the distribution data does not break it out separately, but it matches the BLS typical entry of a postsecondary nondegree award and long-term on-the-job training.
Key Skills
Technical
Fire Pump Operation, Hoses & Nozzles 72%
SCBA & Breathing Apparatus Use 70%
Fire Apparatus Driving & Pumping 68%
Incident Radio Communication & Command Systems 66%
Rescue Tools, Ladders & Vehicle Extrication 64%
Soft Skills
Critical ThinkingCoordinationJudgment and Decision MakingService OrientationActive ListeningSpeaking Job Outlook and Trends
+3.4%
Projected growth (2024-2034)
27.1K
Annual job openings
Employment is projected to rise from 344.9K to 356.7 K over the next decade, representing 3.4% growth. Around 27.1 K openings per year include both newly created roles and replacement hiring from turnover.
Remote availability is currently Rare. Demand remains strongest where employers need practical domain knowledge plus modern workflow and data skills.