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.
Also called: Airport Firefighter, Crash Fire Firefighter, Fire Apparatus Engineer, Fire Chief Aide, Fire Engine Pump Operator, Fire Engineer
Median pay
$59,280
per year, U.S.
Pay range (10th–90th)
$34,910 – $101,040
People employed
345,990
Holland code
RCS
Realistic · Conventional · Social
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Is this career right for you?
These are the things that stand out in this job compared with other U.S. jobs (O*NET 31.0 work context). Answer honestly.
- 1.Do you want to lead or coordinate other people’s work?
- 2.Are you OK with hours that change?
- 3.Are you OK working outdoors in all kinds of weather?
- 4.Are you OK with physical risk, such as hazardous equipment or conditions, with proper training?
- 5.Do you prefer a steady pace without constant deadlines?
- 6.Are you happy working mostly on your own, with little contact with others?
- 7.Do you enjoy serving customers or the public?
- 8.Are you OK being on your feet and moving most of the day?
The hard parts
- Work outdoors in all weather
- Mistakes can have serious consequences
- Long hours on your feet
Firefighters pay by state
Highest-paying states
Annual median pay by state (49 states and DC with published data). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.
What firefighters do
- 01Rescue survivors from burning buildings, accident sites, and water hazards.
- 02Administer first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation to injured persons or provide emergency medical care such as basic or advanced life support.
- 03Dress with equipment such as fire-resistant clothing and breathing apparatus.
- 04Move toward the source of a fire, using knowledge of types of fires, construction design, building materials, and physical layout of properties.
- 05Drive and operate fire fighting vehicles and equipment.
- 06Respond to fire alarms and other calls for assistance, such as automobile and industrial accidents.
Skills that matter most
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Active Learning
- Monitoring
- Speaking
- Reading Comprehension
Knowledge
- Public Safety and Security
- Transportation
- Customer and Personal Service
- Medicine and Dentistry
- Mechanical
Work styles that stand out
- Dependability
- Integrity
- Cooperation
- Self-Control
- Stress Tolerance
Education and first steps
O*NET has no education survey data for this job.
How people get started
- Usually needs a high school diploma (O*NET Job Zone 2).
- Related work experience: none.
- On-the-job training: over 6 months, up to and including 1 year.
Most common answers from O*NET 31.0 Education, Training and Experience.
Interest fit (Holland code)
O*NET occupational interest scores, scale 1–7. Take the Free Career Test to compare with your own.
Career changes
Change from firefighters
- Forest and Conservation Workers74% · −26%
- First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers73% · +58%
- Subway and Streetcar Operators73% · +46%
- Bridge and Lock Tenders72% · −3%
- Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers72% · +16%
Change into firefighters
Jobs whose skills carry over best (skill match, their median pay).
- Forest and Conservation Workers81% · $43,680
- Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers81% · $33,580
- Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians75% · $35,450
- Bridge and Lock Tenders72% · $57,700
- Bus Drivers, School72% · $47,920
Majors that lead here
- Environmental/Natural Resources Law Enforcement and Protective Services
- Fire Prevention and Safety Technology/Technician
- Fire Science/Fire-fighting
- Wildland/Forest Firefighting and Investigation
- Fire Protection, Other
From the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk.