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.
Common Job Titles
- Fire Engineer
- Fire Equipment Operator
- Firefighter
- Wildland Firefighter
Wage Data According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics
Annual wage data for Firefighters (2024)
Estimated Total Employment (U.S.)
332,240
Wage Distribution by Percentile
Line chart of annual wages by percentile. U.S. is the solid line. 10th percentile: U.S. $34,490. 25th percentile: U.S. $44,180. 50th percentile: U.S. $59,530. 75th percentile: U.S. $77,410. 90th percentile: U.S. $101,330. Use the left and right arrow keys to move between percentiles.
- U.S.
| Metric | U.S. |
|---|---|
| 10% of workers earn the following or less | $34,490 |
| 10% of workers earn the following or more | $101,330 |
| Workers on average earn | $63,890 |
+ indicates wage is at or above the BLS reporting cap ($239,200/year)
Skills & Requirements
Key competencies for this occupation, ranked by importance
- Public Safety and Security4.5/5
- Customer and Personal Service4.2/5
- Education and Training4.1/5
- Building and Construction4.0/5
- English Language3.9/5
Tools & Technology
Equipment and software commonly used in this occupation
In-Demand Technology
Frequently requested by employers in job postings
- Microsoft Access
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Windows
- Microsoft Word
Technology Skills
- Affiliated Computer Services ACS FIREHOUSE
- Corel WordPerfect Office Suite
- Email software
- Fire incident reporting systems
- Geographic information system GIS software
- Incident command system ICS software
- Operating system software
- Plume modeling software
Tools & Equipment
- Adjustable wrenches
- Aerial lifting apparatus
- Aerial trucks
- Air bag lifting systems
- Air chisels
- Air purifying respirators
- Air samplers
- All terrain vehicles ATV