The median pay for Firefighters is $59,280 a year ($28.50/hr), according to BLS OEWS, May 2025. Employment is projected to grow 3.7% through 2035, with about 26,800 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: Postsecondary nondegree award.
- SOC 33-2011
- Protective Service
- Last updated October 15, 2026
At a glance
Firefighter in four numbers
- Median pay
- $59,280a year, or $28.50/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $35KTop 10% $101K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +3.7%About as fast as averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+3.7%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +3.7% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 26,800355,300 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 2025355.3K
- Projected 2035368.4K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 355.3K Projected 2035 368.4K - Typical education
- Certificateneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
Also advertised as: Fire Engineer, Fire Equipment Operator, Fire Rescue Technician (Fire Rescue Tech), Fire Technician (Fire Tech), Fireman, Forest Fire Suppression Specialist.
Pay
How much do firefighters make?
Firefighters earn a median of $59,280 a year ($28.50 an hour, or about $4,940 a month); the lowest-paid 10% earn less than $34,910 and the top 10% more than $101,040 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
The best-paying state is New York, with a median of $100,960. See Firefighter salary in New York and every other state. By city, pay is highest around Bakersfield ($199,490 average): salary in every city.
Every firefighter in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$59,280
Middle half earn $44,490 to $77,250
- 10th
- $34,910
- 25th
- $44,490
- 75th
- $77,250
- 90th
- $101,040
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $34,910 |
| 25th | $44,490 |
| Median | $59,280 |
| 75th | $77,250 |
| 90th | $101,040 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $59,280
- Median hourly wage
- $28.50/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $63,630
- People employed
- 345,990
Versus all US occupations
At $59,280, Firefighters earn 16% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $8,300 a year.
Versus protective service occupations
Inside the Protective Service group, where the middle occupation pays $74,060, this is 20% below the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $101,040 or more while the bottom 10% earn $34,910, a gap of 2.9×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 31% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
New York pays the most at $100,960, and still leads at $93,550 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay firefighters the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1New York | $100,960 | $93,550 | 12,950 |
| 2Washington | $94,520 | $88,326 | 7,560 |
| 3California | $85,120 | $76,879 | 31,470 |
| 4New Jersey | $84,130 | $77,322 | 7,500 |
| 5Illinois | $78,380 | $78,413 | 18,400 |
| 6Connecticut | $77,630 | $74,925 | 2,970 |
| 7District of Columbia | $75,870 | $69,035 | 1,480 |
| 8Colorado | $74,170 | $71,973 | 6,510 |
| 9Maryland | $73,810 | $70,323 | 5,340 |
| 10Pennsylvania | $73,460 | $75,288 | 5,020 |
Job outlook
Is firefighter a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
About as fast as average. +3.7% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Firefighters | +3.7% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
About as fast as average
BLS projects employment of Firefighters to change 3.7% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 13,100 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 26,800 openings are projected each year, 7.5% of the 355,300 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Although improved building materials and building codes have resulted in a long-term decrease in fires and fire fatalities, firefighters will still be needed to respond to fires. Wildland firefighters will still be needed to combat active fires and manage the environment to reduce the impact of fires. Firefighters will also continue to respond to medical emergencies.
AI exposure: low
BLS places this occupation in its low relative AI exposure category, among the occupations least exposed to current AI.
Getting in
How to become a firefighter
There is no national firefighter license in the United States. Entry is through an individual municipal or state fire department's own hiring process — written and physical tests, interviews, a medical exam and drug screening, then a fire academy — and the professional-qualification certifications departments recognize are issued by state or local certifying agencies accredited by the Pro Board or IFSAC against NFPA standards.
The credential path, step by step
- Meet the department's minimum requirements
Applicants typically must be at least 18 years old and hold a valid driver's license. The entry-level education typically required is a high school diploma or equivalent.
- Get emergency medical training
Some postsecondary instruction — assessing patients' conditions, dealing with trauma, clearing obstructed airways — is usually needed to obtain EMT certification, and many fire departments require it. Volunteer firefighting experience may also help in getting a career position.
- Pass the department's hiring process
Prospective firefighters must pass written and physical tests and complete interviews, then pass a medical exam and drug screening to be hired.
- Complete the fire academy and probationA few months
Recruits learn firefighting and fire-prevention techniques, local building codes and emergency medical procedures at an academy run by the fire department or the state, then serve a probationary period.
- Earn NFPA-based certification through an accredited agency
Certification against NFPA professional qualifications standards is issued by a state or local certifying agency accredited by the Pro Board or IFSAC. This is what makes a firefighter's qualifications recognizable and portable to another department.
- How long the training takes
A few months at a fire academy after being hired
Entry-level firefighters receive a few months of training at fire academies run by the fire department or by the state, followed by a probationary period. Wildland firefighting apprenticeship programs can last up to 4 years.
- Continuing education
Required to stay credentialed
Firefighters must complete continuing education to obtain or maintain credentials such as EMT and paramedic certification. Departments also require routine physical fitness assessments, and firefighters may be subject to random drug tests after hiring.
- Program accreditation
Pro Board · National Board on Fire Service Professional Qualifications
Accredits public-sector agencies — generally the empowered certifying authority at state or provincial level — that test and certify firefighters against NFPA professional qualifications standards. The Pro Board accredits the certifying agency's testing and certification process, not training systems, programs or curriculum. Members certified by an accredited agency are entered in the Pro Board certification registry, which gives the credential portability between departments.
- Program accreditation
IFSAC · International Fire Service Accreditation Congress
Through its Certificate Assembly, provides a self-governing accreditation system for entities that certify individual competency by examination. Accreditation is available to state, provincial, territorial, tribal and national government entities whose examinations are based on NFPA professional qualifications standards and other standards adopted by the Certificate Assembly Board of Governors.
Licensing and state variation
Not a state license
There is no national firefighter license, and in most places no state license either — you are hired directly by a fire department and trained at its academy. BLS states that requirements for licensure or certification vary by state or locality and directs candidates to their state licensing agency or local fire department. EMT requirements also vary by city and state. Depending on the state or locality, some firefighters are required to hold a commercial driver's license (CDL) or a driver's license with a firefighter endorsement to operate a firetruck.
Who governs the credential
- National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
Writes the consensus professional-qualification standards that firefighter certification is measured against. NFPA 1001, Standard for Fire Fighter Professional Qualifications, has been combined into the consolidated standard NFPA 1010, Standard on Professional Qualifications for Firefighters, under NFPA's Emergency Response and Responder Safety Document Consolidation Plan; the last NFPA 1001 edition is the final stand-alone publication of that content.
- National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (National Registry)
Issues national EMT certification, which many fire departments require of recruits; National Registry certification is distinct from the EMS license or certification issued by a state.
Credential detail for firefighters is researched by hand from the bodies that issue it, not derived from BLS or O*NET. Sources last checked August 23, 2026. Requirements change: confirm with your own state board before enrolling in anything.
- US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook — Firefighters · checked August 23, 2026
- NFPA — NFPA 1001, Standard for Fire Fighter Professional Qualifications (consolidation notice) · checked August 23, 2026
- NFPA — NFPA 1010, Standard on Professional Qualifications for Firefighters · checked August 23, 2026
- The Pro Board (National Board on Fire Service Professional Qualifications) — About Us · checked August 23, 2026
- IFSAC — About the International Fire Service Accreditation Congress · checked August 23, 2026
- National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians — EMT Certification · checked August 23, 2026
What the federal data says
Firefighters typically need a high school diploma and training in emergency medical services. Prospective firefighters must pass written and physical tests, complete interviews, and train at a fire academy. Additionally, fire departments may require firefighters to have other credentials, such as emergency medical technician (EMT) certification. Firefighters must complete continuing education to obtain or maintain these credentials.
Applicants for firefighter jobs typically must be at least 18 years old and have a valid driver’s license. They must also pass a medical exam and drug screening to be hired. After being hired, firefighters may be subject to random drug tests and also need to complete routine physical fitness assessments.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
Postsecondary nondegree award
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
Long-term on-the-job training
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Some preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
Full BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook entryThe work
What does a firefighter do?
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.
Firefighters control and put out fires and respond to emergencies involving life, property, or the environment.
Day-to-day tasks
- 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.
- Assess fires and situations and report conditions to superiors to receive instructions, using two-way radios.
- Patrol burned areas after fires to locate and eliminate hot spots that may restart fires.
- Collaborate with police to respond to accidents, disasters, and arson investigation calls.
- Clean and maintain fire stations and fire fighting equipment and apparatus.
- Maintain knowledge of current firefighting practices by participating in drills and by attending seminars, conventions, and conferences.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Fatal injury rate: 4 per 100,000 workers (1.2x the 3.3 average)
BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, 2024, for the group “Firefighters”: 26 deaths that year.
Firefighters typically work long periods; overtime is common, and their hours vary. For example, firefighters may work 24-hour shifts on duty, followed by 48 or 72 hours off duty.
When combating forest and wildland fires, firefighters may work for extended periods. For example, wildland firefighters may have to stay in a fire camp, a temporary site set up to provide shelter and support for days or weeks when a wildland fire breaks out.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather at least weekly.
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantFace-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayDealing with the public
Not importantExtremely importantDealing with customers or the public is very important.
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayConflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
Schedules: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition. Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Where firefighters work
Share of jobs by employer type
- Local government, excluding education and hospitals87%
- State government, excluding education and hospitals4%
- Federal government, excluding postal service2%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Local government, excluding education and hospitals | 87% |
| State government, excluding education and hospitals | 4% |
| Federal government, excluding postal service | 2% |
Source: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Active Listening3.6
- Critical Thinking3.6
- Active Learning3.6
- Speaking3.5
- Monitoring3.5
- Reading Comprehension3.0
- Learning Strategies2.9
- Writing2.6
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Active Listening | 3.6 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.6 |
| Active Learning | 3.6 |
| Speaking | 3.5 |
| Monitoring | 3.5 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.0 |
| Learning Strategies | 2.9 |
| Writing | 2.6 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Coordination3.9
- Service Orientation3.5
- Judgment and Decision Making3.5
- Social Perceptiveness3.1
- Complex Problem Solving3.1
- Operations Monitoring3.0
- Operation and Control3.0
- Time Management3.0
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Coordination | 3.9 |
| Service Orientation | 3.5 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.5 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.1 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.1 |
| Operations Monitoring | 3.0 |
| Operation and Control | 3.0 |
| Time Management | 3.0 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Data base user interface and query software · in demand
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Operating system software · in demand
- Presentation software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Analytical or scientific software
- Geographic information system
- Internet browser software
- Project management software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
The workforce
Who works as a firefighter?
Women make up 5.1% of firefighters, against 47.1% of all employed people: a heavily male-dominated occupation.
Only 7.7% are 55 or older (23.2% across all jobs): a young workforce.
The median worker is 38.1 years old (all workers: 42.1).
- Women
- 5.1%All workers 47.1% · BLS CPS, 2025
- Median age
- 38.1All workers 42.1 · BLS CPS, 2025
- Aged 55+
- 7.7%All workers 23.2% · BLS CPS, 2025
- Employed (CPS)
- 352,000BLS CPS, 2025
| Group | Share of firefighters | All employed people |
|---|---|---|
| Women | 5.1% | 47.1% |
| White | 85.9% | 75.7% |
| Black or African American | 8.2% | 12.7% |
| Asian | 0.5% | 7.5% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 11.3% | 20.0% |
| Aged 55 and over | 7.7% | 23.2% |
| Aged 16 to 24 | 11.1% | 12.2% |
Current Population Survey annual averages, 2025 (BLS tables 11 and 11b). Race groups can overlap with Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, so they do not sum to 100%.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a firefighter?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Firefighter |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 6 |
| Investigative | 3 |
| Artistic | 1 |
| Social | 3 |
| Enterprising | 3 |
| Conventional | 3 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors, combined with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data.
- Realistic6.5
- Conventional3.5
- Social3.4
- Enterprising3.0
- Investigative2.9
- Artistic1.3
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Firefighter
O*NET related occupations
- Protective Service
First-Line Supervisor of Firefighting and Prevention Workers
$93,530median a year
Most earn $53K to $140K
+3.7%Certificate - Protective Service
Forest Fire Inspector and Prevention Specialist
$56,870median a year
Most earn $35K to $105K
+13.1%High school - Protective Service
- Architecture and Engineering
- Protective Service
Lifeguard, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Worker
$33,580median a year
Most earn $26K to $44K
+5.5%No formal credential - Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
More protective service careers
Median annual pay, with firefighters highlighted
- Detective and Criminal Investigator$93,790
- Intelligence Analyst$93,790
- Police Identification and Records Officer$93,790
- Police Officer$76,210
- Custom and Border Protection Officer$76,210
- Firefighter$59,280
- Correctional Officer and Jailer$58,940
- Private Detective and Investigator$51,220
- Security Guard$38,020
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Detective and Criminal Investigator | $93,790 |
| Intelligence Analyst | $93,790 |
| Police Identification and Records Officer | $93,790 |
| Police Officer | $76,210 |
| Custom and Border Protection Officer | $76,210 |
| Firefighter | $59,280 |
| Correctional Officer and Jailer | $58,940 |
| Private Detective and Investigator | $51,220 |
| Security Guard | $38,020 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Specialty careers within firefighter
Distinct careers BLS counts inside this occupation, each with its own profile.
Questions
Firefighter: frequently asked questions
How much do firefighters make?
Firefighters earn a median of $59,280 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 16% above the $50,980 US median across all occupations. That works out at $28.50/hr. The middle half earn between $44,490 and $77,250. The top 10% earn $101,040 or more.
How much do firefighters make an hour?
The median hourly wage for firefighters is $28.50 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). On a full-year basis the $59,280 annual median works out to about $4,940 a month before tax.
What is the starting salary for a firefighter?
BLS does not publish a starting salary. The nearest measure is the low end of the pay range: the lowest-paid 10% of firefighters earn less than $34,910 a year and the bottom quarter less than $44,490 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). New workers often start near that end, but where a particular job starts depends on the employer, the state and the credentials you bring, so read these as the bottom of the range rather than a guaranteed entry wage.
Do firefighters make $100k?
A minority do. $100,000 sits between the 75th percentile ($77,250) and the 90th ($101,040), so roughly 10% to 25% of firefighters earn more than that (BLS OEWS, May 2025). One state has a median above $100,000: New York ($100,960).
Which states pay firefighters the most?
The highest state medians for Firefighters are New York ($100,960), Washington ($94,520), California ($85,120) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What kind of firefighter earns the most?
BLS does not split firefighters' pay by specialty or employer, but its range shows how far the top end runs: the highest-paid 10% earn more than $101,040, against a median of $59,280 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Location moves pay the most in the published data: the best-paying states are New York ($100,960), Washington ($94,520), California ($85,120). BLS also counts 4 specialty careers inside this occupation (helitack crew member, hotshot crew member, smokejumper, wildland firefighter), which share its federal pay figures.
Do you need a degree to become a firefighter?
Not a degree, but you do need credentialed training: BLS lists a postsecondary non-degree award (a certificate or license program) as the typical entry route for Firefighters. BLS also lists long-term on-the-job training as typical on-the-job training.
Is firefighter a growing career?
It is stable rather than fast-growing: employment is projected to change 3.7% over 2025–2035, about the same as the 3.5% projected across all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 26,800 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a firefighter do?
Firefighters control and put out fires and respond to emergencies involving life, property, or the environment. A core O*NET task: rescue survivors from burning buildings, accident sites, and water hazards. Employers most often ask for Data base user interface and query software, Electronic mail software, Office suite software.
Do firefighters work 40 hours a week?
Most work fewer than 40. In O*NET's survey of people in the job, 31% of firefighters usually work more than 40 hours a week, 0% work exactly 40 and 69% work fewer. 37% say their schedule is regular and 58% irregular, and 5% work seasonally. Source: O*NET 31.0 Database, Work Context.
What personality type suits a firefighter?
O*NET scores Firefighters highest on the Realistic, Conventional and Social interest areas, so the work mixes hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with ISTJ personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.
How long does it take to become a firefighter?
A few months at a fire academy after being hired. Entry-level firefighters receive a few months of training at fire academies run by the fire department or by the state, followed by a probationary period. Wildland firefighting apprenticeship programs can last up to 4 years.
Do you need a license to work as a firefighter?
Not a state license. There is no national firefighter license, and in most places no state license either — you are hired directly by a fire department and trained at its academy. BLS states that requirements for licensure or certification vary by state or locality and directs candidates to their state licensing agency or local fire department. EMT requirements also vary by city and state. Depending on the state or locality, some firefighters are required to hold a commercial driver's license (CDL) or a driver's license with a firefighter endorsement to operate a firetruck.
What percentage of firefighters are women?
Women make up 5.1% of firefighters, against 47.1% of all employed people: a heavily male-dominated occupation. Only 7.7% are 55 or older (23.2% across all jobs): a young workforce. The median worker is 38.1 years old (all workers: 42.1). Source: BLS Current Population Survey, 2025 annual averages.