Firefighter
Control and put out fires and respond to emergencies involving people, property, or the environment.
Top earners: $100k+
- Median pay (U.S.)
- $59,280
- Degree
- No degree required
- Training time
- Under 6 months of training
- Speed to entry
- Data coming soon
- Hands-on or desk
- Hands-on
- Working with people
- People-focused
- Where you work
- In person
Labels like Hands-on and People-focused are BWTD classifications based on occupational data[8]. How we classify
Career data
What it pays
Top earners: $100k+. The top 10% nationally earn more than $100,000.
- Median
- $59,280
- Half of workers earn more than this, and half earn less.
- Middle 50%
- $44,490–$77,250
- Half of all workers earn somewhere in this range.
- Top 10%
- Over $101,040
- One in ten workers earns more than this.
National figures for all workers in this occupation (May 2025, United States). This is not starting pay and not a guarantee. Pay varies with location, experience, employer, and hours. Personal stories on BWTD show one person's experience and are reported separately.
Job outlook
What you'd actually do
Firefighters respond to fires and other emergencies. They drive emergency vehicles, put out fires, find and rescue people, treat sick or injured people, write incident reports, maintain equipment, and train constantly through drills.
Typical duties[5]
- Respond to emergencies
- Drive firetrucks and other emergency vehicles
- Put out fires using water hoses, fire extinguishers, and water pumps
- Find and rescue occupants of burning buildings or other emergency situations
- Treat sick or injured people
- Prepare written reports about emergency incidents
- Clean and maintain equipment
- Conduct and participate in drills related to rescue tactics, equipment use, and treatment of victims in emergency medical situations
How people get in
Education[4]
Typical entry-level education: Postsecondary nondegree award
Most firefighters need emergency medical technician (EMT) certification, which usually requires some postsecondary instruction.
Training[4]
Entry-level firefighters typically receive a few months of training at a fire academy run by the fire department or the state, followed by long-term on-the-job training.
Requirements to apply[4]
Applicants typically must be at least 18 years old, have a valid driver's license, and pass a medical exam and drug screening. Firefighters may also face random drug tests and routine physical fitness assessments after they're hired.
What the work is like
Qualities that matter
- Communication
- Compassion
- Decision-making
- Mental preparedness
- Physical stamina
- Physical strength
As listed by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.[5]
Where it can lead
Firefighters may be promoted to engineer, then to lieutenant, captain, battalion chief, assistant chief, deputy chief, and chief.
How to get started
- Make sure you meet the basics: typically age 18+, a valid driver's license, and the ability to pass a medical exam and drug screening.
- Look into EMT certification, which most departments expect.
- Check hiring timelines and testing requirements for the departments you'd want to join.
Requirements vary by state and employer. Always confirm licensing, certification, and hiring requirements where you plan to work.
Sources
- [1]
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook: Firefighters
Median annual pay $59,280 (May 2025). Lowest 10% earned less than $34,910; highest 10% more than $101,040.
Source updated Sep 14, 2026 · Accessed Oct 1, 2026
- [2]
National annual wage percentiles, May 2025: 25th $44,490; 75th $77,250.
Accessed Oct 1, 2026 · Retrieved from the BLS Public Data API, series OEUN000000000000033201112 (25th percentile) and OEUN000000000000033201114 (75th percentile); values match the OOH figures. On the tables page, choose National (May 2025).
- [3]
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook: Firefighters
Employment 355,300 (2025); projected growth 4% from 2025 to 2035, as fast as average.
Source updated Sep 14, 2026 · Accessed Oct 1, 2026
- [4]
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook: Firefighters
Typical entry-level education: postsecondary nondegree award. A few months of fire academy training; EMT certification usually needed. Applicants typically 18+, valid driver's license, medical exam and drug screening. Promotion path: engineer, lieutenant, captain, battalion chief, assistant chief, deputy chief, chief.
Source updated Sep 14, 2026 · Accessed Oct 1, 2026
- [5]
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook: Firefighters
Duties and important qualities as listed by BLS.
Source updated Sep 14, 2026 · Accessed Oct 1, 2026
- [6]
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook: Firefighters
May work 24-hour shifts on duty followed by 48 or 72 hours off.
Source updated Sep 14, 2026 · Accessed Oct 1, 2026
- [7]
O*NET OnLine: Firefighters (33-2011.00), O*NET 31.0 Database
Work context: 47% spend more than half their time walking or running; 32% are exposed to hazardous conditions every day; 58% describe their schedule as irregular.
Accessed Oct 1, 2026 · O*NET 31.0 (August 2026 release); worker survey data dated 08/2026.
- [8]
O*NET OnLine: Firefighters (33-2011.00), O*NET 31.0 Database
Ratings used for BWTD classifications (1–5 scales): Spend Time Sitting 2.22; Spend Time Using Your Hands 3.51; Performing General Physical Activities importance 3.97; Deal With External Customers or the Public 4.12; Assisting and Caring for Others importance 3.78.
Accessed Oct 1, 2026 · Supports BWTD classifications "Hands-on", "In person", and "People-focused" (methodology v1).
This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. Built Without the Degree has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.