Firefighters
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 Fighter · Fire Management Specialist · Fire Technician (Fire Tech) · Firefighter
Median pay (national)
$59,530
$34,490–$101,330 (10th–90th)
Employed (US)
332,240
BLS OEWS, May 2024
Outlook 2024–34
+3.4%
~27,100 openings/yr
Typical entry
Postsecondary nondegree award
What the numbers say
Refit analysis ·Pay for firefighters shows an unusually wide range: the top 10% earn $101,330 versus $34,490 at the bottom 10% — 2.9x. The median of $59,530 leaves roughly 70% of headroom to the 90th percentile, which is where seniority, specialization, and the skills below tend to pay off.
Refit analysis ·Employment is projected to change +3.4% from 2024 to 2034 — about as fast as the 3% all-occupation average. Even so, BLS projects about 27,100 openings a year, mostly to replace workers who retire or change careers.
Refit analysis ·Where you work moves the number a lot. Across the 51 states with released data, Washington pays the most for this role (median $93,490, +57% vs the national median), while Louisiana sits lowest at $33,700 — a 177% spread for the same job title.
Refit analysis ·O*NET rates Critical Thinking, Active Listening, Speaking as the highest-importance skills here — so a resume aimed at this role should lead with evidence of those, not a generic skills list.
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Top skills employers ask for
Ranked by O*NET importance for this occupation.
- Critical Thinking
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Active Learning
- Monitoring
- Reading Comprehension
- Writing
- Learning Strategies
- Mathematics
- Science
What they actually do
Core O*NET tasks for this role.
- Operate pumps connected to high-pressure hoses.
- Assess fires and situations and report conditions to superiors to receive instructions, using two-way radios.
- Collaborate with police to respond to accidents, disasters, and arson investigation calls.
- Participate in fire drills and demonstrations of fire fighting techniques.
- Rescue survivors from burning buildings, accident sites, and water hazards.
- Dress with equipment such as fire-resistant clothing and breathing apparatus.
- Respond to fire alarms and other calls for assistance, such as automobile and industrial accidents.
- Drive and operate fire fighting vehicles and equipment.
- Participate in physical training activities to maintain a high level of physical fitness.
- Protect property from water and smoke, using waterproof salvage covers, smoke ejectors, and deodorants.
Tools & technology
- Microsoft Windows
- Affiliated Computer Services ACS FIREHOUSE
- Corel WordPerfect Office Suite
- Fire incident reporting systems
- Geographic information system GIS software
- Incident command system ICS software
- Plume modeling software
- Web browser software
- Email software
- Microsoft Access
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Word
Knowledge areas
- Public Safety and Security
- Customer and Personal Service
- Education and Training
- Building and Construction
- English Language
- Mechanical
- Medicine and Dentistry
- Telecommunications