Firefighter Careers: Employment & Salary Trends for Aspiring Firefighters

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Firefighters at a Glance

Firefighters protect the public from fires and other emergencies that put the environment, property, and lives at risk. These professionals are usually the first emergency personnel to arrive on the scene. They rescue victims, treat injuries, extinguish fires, and if possible, salvage the contents of any given structure. In some cases, firefighters will remain at a disaster site for several days or more freeing trapped survivors and assisting medical teams. Roughly 65% of all firefighters provide emergency medical service. During their downtime, firefighters participate in physical fitness activities, conduct practice drills, clean and maintain equipment, and conduct fire inspections.

Some firefighters specialize in a particular area such as fighting forest fires. Others are considered “elite” (smoke jumpers). These individuals parachute from airplanes to reach areas that are not accessible by other means. Other occupations in this area include: fire inspector, fire investigator, and fire-prevention and protection engineers. Only 3.5% of all firefighters work part-time.

Employment Trends

Job Outlook: Above average increase
Annual Openings: 25,000
Percent Growth: 24.3%
Total Jobs Held: 310,400
Projected Employment: 367,900 by 2018
The Best 500 Jobs Overall Ranking: Fire inspectors, fire investigators (471,472) --Source: “Best Jobs for the 21st Century,” JIST Publishing 2009. Farr, Michael and Shatkin, Laurence, Ph.D.; “Salary Facts Handbook,” JIST Publishing 2008. Editors @ JIST.

View employment and salary data by City/State for Firefighters

Aspiring firefighters can expect an above average increase in job growth thanks to building development and population growth in condensed urban areas and cities. Volunteer fire departments are becoming a thing of the past. It takes a tremendous amount of time to recruit and keep volunteers. It also takes a lot training to keep these individuals up to speed. As a result, volunteer positions have been converted to paid positions. This will also add to job growth in this field.

Salary Trends

Firefighters earn an average salary of $42,370 per year. Firefighters in the 90th percentile can expect to earn around $66,140 per year, while 75th percentile firefighters can expect to earn $54,120 per year. Entry-level firefighters can expect to earn a starting salary of around $20,660 per year.

Degrees and Training Programs

A degree is not required for entry into this field, but many employer’s prefer an associate degree in fire science or fire engineering. Currently, 20% of all firefighters have an bachelor’s degree, 22% have an associate degree, and 32% have some college, but no degree. 25% of all firefighters have a high school diploma or equivalent. Aspiring firefighters must also obtain CPR certification and pass a state exam.

Many colleges and universities offer degrees in fire science of fire engineering. Apprenticeship programs are also available through many fire departments. These programs typically last 4 years, and they can lead to a certificate in fighting fires or a specialty area such as fighting forest fires. These programs are accredited.

Coursework Required

The following course curriculum includes many of the courses firefighters must successfully complete in order to earn a degree or certificate in fire science or fire engineering.

Emergency First Care, Firefighter Orientation, Personal Protective Equipment, Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus, Firefighter Safety, Building Search & Victim Removal, Fire Behavior, Ropes & Knots, Forcible Entry, Fire Department Communications I, Fire Prevention and Public Education I, Loss Control: Salvage, Overhaul & Fire Cause Determination I, and Basic Wildland Firefighting. --www.nh.gov

Building Construction I, Ventilation, Ladders, Fire Hose I, Fire Streams, Portable Extinguishers, Water Supply I, Sprinklers, Fire Control I, and Hazardous Materials Operations. --www.nh.go

Michelle Burton is a published author and contributing editor for Trouve Media, Internet Brands, and Publications International, Ltd.