Overview
SourcedControl 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.
O*NET definition of Firefighters (SOC 33-2011) · Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed.
Occupation figures cover every job classified under SOC 33-2011, including Wildland Firefighter.
Titles employers use
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — national estimates by ownership; U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), O*NET 31.0 Database; GovJobsWiki job taxonomy v1 (research round R240) (editorial). Data captured September 30, 2026.
Requirements
Sourced- Education needed to enter
- Postsecondary nondegree award
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Long-term on-the-job training
Education workers say the job requires
Share of surveyed workers in Firefighters (SOC 33-2011) naming each level as required to be hired, 23 respondents, O*NET survey August 2026. Each employer sets its own minimum.
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–35 — education and training assignments by detailed occupation (Tables 5.3, 5.4); U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), O*NET 31.0 Database. Data captured September 30, 2026.
How to get hired
SourcedFirefighters typically need a high school diploma and training in emergency medical services. Most firefighters receive training at a fire academy. Other credential requirements, such as emergency medical technician (EMT) certification, vary by state or locality.
From the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile “Firefighters”, published August 27, 2026 · Read the full profile. National guidance; each employer runs its own hiring process.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–35 edition (XML compilation). Data captured September 30, 2026.
Academy and training
Sourced- SOC 33-2011
- Long-term on-the-job training
- Job zone
- Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
Academy length, curriculum and paid-training policies are set by each employer and state; they are part of the employer collection stage.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–35 — education and training assignments by detailed occupation (Tables 5.3, 5.4). Data captured September 30, 2026.
Promotion ladder
EditorialRank and step: paramilitary rank × time-in-service step (officer → sergeant → lieutenant → captain …). Typical structure for a career fire department; titles, steps and timing differ by employer.
- Fire Recruit (academy)
- Probationary Firefighter
- Firefighter (steps to top)
- Engineer / Driver-Operator / Apparatus Operator
- Lieutenant
- Captain
- Battalion Chief
- Division / Deputy Chief
- Assistant Chief
- Fire Chief
Assignments and specialty tracks
Source: GovJobsWiki job taxonomy v1 (research round R240) (editorial).
Pay
SourcedMedian annual wage by employer type, national, May 2025. Federal includes the U.S. Postal Service; state and local include public schools and hospitals.
| Employer type | Workers | 10th pct. | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Federal | 7,430 | $49,440 | $55,640 | $63,270 | $70,490 | $78,060 |
| State | 13,470 | $38,800 | $51,540 | $64,980 | $81,000 | $94,700 |
| Local | 302,670 | $35,560 | $45,480 | $59,850 | $78,010 | $102,660 |
| All government | 323,560 | $35,700 | $45,810 | $60,050 | $77,930 | $101,840 |
| Private sector | 22,430 | $28,580 | $33,250 | $38,330 | $47,720 | $66,540 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — national estimates by ownership. Data captured September 30, 2026.
Schedule
SourcedShare of surveyed workers in the occupation (O*NET work context, August 2026). Shift patterns and differentials depend on the employer.
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), O*NET 31.0 Database. Data captured September 30, 2026.
Day-to-day work
Sourced- Rescue survivors from burning buildings, accident sites, and water hazards.4.5
- Dress with equipment such as fire-resistant clothing and breathing apparatus.4.4
- Administer first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation to injured persons or provide emergency medical care such as basic or advanced life support.4.4
- Move toward the source of a fire, using knowledge of types of fires, construction design, building materials, and physical layout of properties.4.3
- Drive and operate fire fighting vehicles and equipment.4.3
- Respond to fire alarms and other calls for assistance, such as automobile and industrial accidents.4.3
- Search to locate fire survivors.4.3
- Operate pumps connected to high-pressure hoses.4.2
- 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.4.2
- Extinguish flames and embers to suppress fires, using shovels or engine- or hand-driven water or chemical pumps.4.2
The 10 most important of 29 core tasks for Firefighters, ranked by importance (1–5) in the O*NET survey of August 2026.
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), O*NET 31.0 Database. Data captured September 30, 2026.
Related jobs
DerivedExams by name
Sourced| Exam | Administered by | Used in | Type | Official page |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT) Continuous physical ability test using props that simulate fireground conditions; pass/fail time of 10 minutes 20 seconds; candidates may not be ranked by completion time. | IAFF/IAFC Fire Service Joint Labor Management Wellness-Fitness Task Force | US | physical | Official page |
| FireTEAM Firefighter Testing System About 2 hours; video-based Human Relations Test (Parts I and II), video Mechanical Test, Reading Test (choose the word that fits the blank) and video Math Test (mental calculation, no written work). | National Testing Network (NTN) | US | written | Official page |
| National Firefighter Selection Inventory (NFSI) Cognitive Ability Measure (105 items) plus non-cognitive Behavioral Orientation Measure (50 items); 2.5 hours plus 15 minutes for instructions; five parallel forms. | Industrial/Organizational Solutions, Inc. (IOS) | US | written | Official page |
Each exam is checked against its administrator's official page. Employers choose which exam they use; confirm with the hiring agency.
Source: Exam administrators and hiring authorities (per record), Official exam administrator pages. Data captured September 30, 2026.
Employer directory
Sourced7,955 fire departments in the registry. Public fire departments with at least one career (paid) firefighter, as registered with the U.S. Fire Administration. The 10 largest by career firefighters:
| Employer | Location | Career firefighters | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fire Department City of New York (FDNY) Career | Brooklyn, NY | 10,482 | Official site |
| Chicago Fire Department Career | Chicago, IL | 4,881 | Official site |
| Houston Fire Department Career | Houston, TX | 3,948 | Official site |
| CA Department of Forestry and Fire Protection- HQ Career | Sacramento, CA | 3,800 | Official site |
| Los Angeles County Fire Department Mostly career | Los Angeles, CA | 3,550 | Official site |
| Los Angeles Fire Department Career | Los Angeles, CA | 3,346 | Official site |
| Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Department Career | Doral, FL | 2,094 | Official site |
| Philadelphia Fire Department Career | Philadelphia, PA | 2,085 | Official site |
| Dallas Fire Department Career | Dallas, TX | 1,950 | Official site |
| San Francisco Fire Department Career | San Francisco, CA | 1,700 | Official site |
Full lists by state:
As reported by each employer to its federal registry.
Source: U.S. Fire Administration (FEMA), National Fire Department Registry. Data captured September 30, 2026.
By state
SourcedMedian annual wage for Firefighters (SOC 33-2011) in each state, all employers (BLS state estimates do not separate government from private). Highest first.
| State | Workers | 10th pct. | Median | 90th pct. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York | 12,950 | $56,390 | $100,960 | $106,440 |
| Washington | 7,560 | $47,640 | $94,520 | $123,980 |
| California | 31,470 | $52,390 | $85,120 | $136,150 |
| New Jersey | 7,500 | $47,920 | $84,130 | $123,940 |
| Illinois | 18,400 | $38,900 | $78,380 | $106,060 |
| Connecticut | 2,970 | $51,320 | $77,630 | $85,500 |
| District of Columbia | 1,480 | $61,050 | $75,870 | $99,760 |
| Colorado | 6,510 | $47,000 | $74,170 | $114,170 |
| Maryland | 5,340 | $48,030 | $73,810 | $98,770 |
| Pennsylvania | 5,020 | $48,620 | $73,460 | $89,190 |
| Massachusetts | 11,940 | $49,730 | $72,800 | $98,130 |
| Oregon | 3,790 | $38,800 | $70,900 | $104,070 |
| Rhode Island | 1,620 | $56,110 | $67,380 | $76,620 |
| Nevada | 2,640 | $47,600 | $66,570 | $101,450 |
| Indiana | 8,530 | $38,460 | $62,780 | $81,890 |
| Nebraska | 1,070 | $46,660 | $61,040 | $69,460 |
| Texas | 28,170 | $40,020 | $60,180 | $77,170 |
| Ohio | 18,100 | $34,420 | $59,370 | $84,010 |
| Montana | 1,010 | $32,810 | $59,310 | $76,620 |
| Arizona | 7,500 | $36,700 | $59,280 | $88,220 |
| Alaska | 1,040 | $35,520 | $58,830 | $82,360 |
| Virginia | 11,160 | $38,310 | $58,670 | $77,310 |
| Florida | 24,570 | $37,260 | $58,550 | $93,310 |
| Wyoming | 680 | $39,550 | $58,090 | $78,760 |
| New Hampshire | 2,700 | $35,450 | $56,620 | $78,570 |
| Iowa | 2,170 | $32,240 | $55,810 | $87,720 |
| North Dakota | 820 | $39,700 | $55,080 | $77,530 |
| Michigan | 6,610 | $37,190 | $54,640 | $78,550 |
| Oklahoma | 4,150 | $31,620 | $49,710 | $77,560 |
| Tennessee | 7,020 | $33,910 | $49,300 | $70,460 |
| Missouri | 6,580 | $31,140 | $49,080 | $79,360 |
| Utah | 2,870 | $27,660 | $48,310 | $80,320 |
| Maine | 2,480 | $35,740 | $48,290 | $63,740 |
| South Dakota | 610 | $39,240 | $48,160 | $61,420 |
| Alabama | 7,260 | $29,770 | $47,600 | $76,190 |
| Idaho | 2,240 | $30,280 | $47,320 | $81,190 |
| Wisconsin | 8,120 | $29,390 | $46,850 | $77,050 |
| Delaware | 560 | $41,960 | $46,710 | $72,160 |
| Georgia | 12,700 | $33,000 | $46,550 | $61,510 |
| Vermont | Not published | $29,790 | $46,430 | $77,200 |
| Kansas | 3,360 | $32,810 | $45,900 | $76,110 |
| South Carolina | 7,780 | $29,130 | $42,570 | $62,150 |
| New Mexico | 2,420 | $31,200 | $41,590 | $57,780 |
| Arkansas | 2,480 | $28,680 | $39,690 | $60,860 |
| Minnesota | 5,810 | $27,510 | $38,110 | $70,380 |
| North Carolina | 19,410 | $29,360 | $37,940 | $61,940 |
| West Virginia | 900 | $29,020 | $37,350 | $51,390 |
| Kentucky | 5,150 | $27,870 | $37,150 | $60,720 |
| Mississippi | 2,920 | $26,850 | $35,880 | $51,310 |
| Louisiana | 5,230 | $22,510 | $33,120 | $56,670 |
50 states with published estimates.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — state estimates. Data captured September 30, 2026.
Not yet collected
These dimensions are part of every job page. We publish them only once they are sourced from official documents such as job postings, pay plans, union contracts and state standards.
- 05 ProbationNot yet collectedProbation length and what ends it
- 09 Benefits and pensionNot yet collectedPension plan/tier and formula, retirement age/years, DROP, retiree health, Social Security coverage, 457(b), PSLF eligibility
- 10 Union contractsNot yet collectedBargaining unit, union, current CBA (source link, effective dates)
- 11 Transfers and lateral entryNot yet collectedLateral policy, certification reciprocity, lateral bonus, inter-agency moves