Firefighters are the bravest heroes, the type of people that will risk their lives to save others.
You can find Firefighters running into burning buildings, rescuing people from accidents, and many other lifesaving activities.
If you are the type of person who always puts others first, then you may be just the type of person that would make a great Firefighter.
It’s probable that you already know what a Firefighter does, after all, it’s in the name.
However, Firefighters do much more than just fight fires, they also find and rescue victims, help in emergency situations, treat sick people, help with chemical spills, and teach citizens about fire safety.
Some Firefighters can be found teaching classes to youth, new Firefighters, and communities as well.
Firefighters are an important part of our society; they help keep us safe and are always there when there is an emergency.
There are many things that are required of a Firefighter.
Some of the job duties you can expect with this career include:
The averages salary for a Firefighter in the United States is around $54,000 a year.
When just starting out as a Firefighter, or for those that work in smaller towns, the average salary can look more like $32,000 a year.
Firefighters that work in large cities or for longer spans of time, the pay can be much greater.
Some Firefighters can even make up to $100,000 a year in some areas.
Earning certifications and specializations can help Firefighters can higher promotions and raises.
As a Firefighter, you will likely work long hours and for long periods of time, and overtime is very common.
This means that your salary could vary weekly, even yearly.
| State | Avg. Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $44,920 |
| Alaska | $57,320 |
| Arizona | $48,750 |
| Arkansas | $36,950 |
| California | $80,990 |
| Colorado | $68,300 |
| Connecticut | $68,140 |
| Delaware | $49,520 |
| Florida | $53,480 |
| Georgia | $40,530 |
| Hawaii | $67,540 |
| Idaho | $42,130 |
| Illinois | $61,310 |
| Indiana | $53,490 |
| Iowa | $47,460 |
| Kansas | $40,370 |
| Kentucky | $34,060 |
| Louisiana | $33,400 |
| Maine | $44,920 |
| Maryland | $61,340 |
| Massachusetts | $65,650 |
| Michigan | $48,890 |
| Minnesota | $39,750 |
| Mississippi | $32,870 |
| Missouri | $46,540 |
| Montana | $52,990 |
| Nebraska | $60,590 |
| Nevada | $58,370 |
| New Hampshire | $52,260 |
| New Jersey | $84,930 |
| New Mexico | $39,940 |
| New York | $72,670 |
| North Carolina | $36,950 |
| North Dakota | $52,010 |
| Ohio | $52,530 |
| Oklahoma | $51,810 |
| Oregon | $65,590 |
| Pennsylvania | $58,400 |
| Rhode Island | $62,860 |
| South Carolina | $39,750 |
| South Dakota | $49,090 |
| Tennessee | $42,310 |
| Texas | $53,310 |
| Utah | $42,020 |
| Vermont | $45,140 |
| Virginia | $51,940 |
| Washington | $76,280 |
| West Virginia | $36,850 |
| Wisconsin | $46,140 |
| Wyoming | $44,420 |
| Guam | $48,080 |
| Puerto Rico | $27,250 |
The top earning state in the field is New Jersey, where the average salary is $84,930.
These are the top 5 earning states in the field:
New Jersey - $84,930 California - $80,990 Washington - $76,280 New York - $72,670 Colorado - $68,300| State | Avg. Monthly Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $3,667 |
| Alaska | $4,750 |
| Arizona | $4,000 |
| Arkansas | $3,000 |
| California | $6,667 |
| Colorado | $5,667 |
| Connecticut | $5,667 |
| Delaware | $4,083 |
| Florida | $4,417 |
| Georgia | $3,333 |
| Hawaii | $5,583 |
| Idaho | $3,500 |
| Illinois | $5,083 |
| Indiana | $4,417 |
| Iowa | $3,917 |
| Kansas | $3,333 |
| Kentucky | $2,833 |
| Louisiana | $2,750 |
| Maine | $3,667 |
| Maryland | $5,083 |
| Massachusetts | $5,417 |
| Michigan | $4,000 |
| Minnesota | $3,250 |
| Mississippi | $2,667 |
| Missouri | $3,833 |
| Montana | $4,333 |
| Nebraska | $5,000 |
| Nevada | $4,833 |
| New Hampshire | $4,333 |
| New Jersey | $7,000 |
| New Mexico | $3,250 |
| New York | $6,000 |
| North Carolina | $3,000 |
| North Dakota | $4,333 |
| Ohio | $4,333 |
| Oklahoma | $4,250 |
| Oregon | $5,417 |
| Pennsylvania | $4,833 |
| Rhode Island | $5,167 |
| South Carolina | $3,250 |
| South Dakota | $4,083 |
| Tennessee | $3,500 |
| Texas | $4,417 |
| Utah | $3,500 |
| Vermont | $3,750 |
| Virginia | $4,250 |
| Washington | $6,333 |
| West Virginia | $3,000 |
| Wisconsin | $3,833 |
| Wyoming | $3,667 |
| Guam | $4,000 |
| Puerto Rico | $2,250 |
The top earning state in the field is New Jersey, where the average salary is $7,000.
These are the top 5 earning states in the field:
New Jersey - $7,000 California - $6,667 Washington - $6,333 New York - $6,000 Colorado - $5,667| State | Avg. Hourly Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $21.60 |
| Alaska | $27.56 |
| Arizona | $23.44 |
| Arkansas | $17.76 |
| California | $38.94 |
| Colorado | $32.84 |
| Connecticut | $32.76 |
| Delaware | $23.81 |
| Florida | $25.71 |
| Georgia | $19.48 |
| Hawaii | $32.47 |
| Idaho | $20.25 |
| Illinois | $29.48 |
| Indiana | $25.71 |
| Iowa | $22.82 |
| Kansas | $19.41 |
| Kentucky | $16.37 |
| Louisiana | $16.06 |
| Maine | $21.60 |
| Maryland | $29.49 |
| Massachusetts | $31.56 |
| Michigan | $23.50 |
| Minnesota | $19.11 |
| Mississippi | $15.80 |
| Missouri | $22.38 |
| Montana | $25.48 |
| Nebraska | $29.13 |
| Nevada | $28.06 |
| New Hampshire | $25.13 |
| New Jersey | $40.83 |
| New Mexico | $19.20 |
| New York | $34.94 |
| North Carolina | $17.76 |
| North Dakota | $25.01 |
| Ohio | $25.26 |
| Oklahoma | $24.91 |
| Oregon | $31.54 |
| Pennsylvania | $28.08 |
| Rhode Island | $30.22 |
| South Carolina | $19.11 |
| South Dakota | $23.60 |
| Tennessee | $20.34 |
| Texas | $25.63 |
| Utah | $20.20 |
| Vermont | $21.70 |
| Virginia | $24.97 |
| Washington | $36.68 |
| West Virginia | $17.72 |
| Wisconsin | $22.18 |
| Wyoming | $21.36 |
| Guam | $23.11 |
| Puerto Rico | $13.10 |
The top earning state in the field is New Jersey, where the average salary is $40.83.
These are the top 5 earning states in the field:
New Jersey - $40.83 California - $38.94 Washington - $36.68 New York - $34.94 Colorado - $32.84*Salary information based on the May 2021 Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) Survey.
Conducted by: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Department of Labor.
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
The first step that you are going to want to take on your quest to become a Firefighter is to earn a High School diploma.
Many people think that this is not an important part of life, but it is.
A diploma can be your stepping stone to a great future.
You’ll also need to have a valid driver’s license in order to work as a Firefighter.
Even though you will need to be 18 years old to work as a Firefighter, you can start training as young as 16 years old!
You’ll need to be physically fit before entering a recruitment program.
You don’t need to earn a degree to become a Firefighter, although having a degree in fire science can be very helpful, you will have to take some tests.
You’ll need to take both physical and written tests in order to show mental and physical strength.
If you pass the first round of tests, you will likely be called in for more interviews.
Then, you’ll need to do even more tests to be considered for a Firefighter training program.
One of the tests that you can expect to take is:
For the written test, you can expect around 100 questions testing you on things like:
Some jurisdictions require that you become an EMT before pursuing a career as a Firefighter.
Since this is different in every state, you will need to check your local government requirements.
Fire Academy can be difficult to get into, but once you are accepted, it’s time to learn the ropes of fire safety.
There are online training options, but we suggest doing in-person training if available.
Some of the things that you can expect to learn in a Fire Academy are:
One of the cool things about Fire Academy is that it is typically free for people who are in the medical field or want to become first responders.
You won’t just get time in the classroom either, with this type of training, you can expect to do things like:
Most Fire Academy programs last several weeks to a couple of months, depending on the area where you earn your education.
This could mean earning a degree in fire science, which can take around four years to complete, or gaining experience through working as a Firefighter.
Depending on your fire captain and which path you take as a firefighter, there may be some certifications or specializations that interest you or are required.
They may not be legally necessary, but many Firefighters have certifications or specializations as a/n:
Some states do require some type of formal education or licensing.
For example, in Florida, Firefighters have to complete the Firefighter Minimum Standards Course and pass exams.
Check with your local jurisdiction to learn about what is required of you before you become a Firefighter.
The education of a Firefighter depends on the jurisdiction in which they work.
Often times, going to Fire Academy is enough to become a Firefighter.
This can take several weeks or up to a couple of months to complete.
In Fire Academy, you will focus on classroom work as well as hands-on skills.
Throughout the course, you will be tested on several things including how logical you are, time-sensitive matters, how strong you are, and much more.
You will also take written tests and exams in order to make sure you completely understand the logistics of fire safety.
In many cases, you will need to be a member of a fire station in order to enter Fire Academy.
Some of the classes you will take during this time include:
You can also expect to gain experience with hands-on training in:
If you are the type of person that wants a more formal education, you can earn a degree in Fire Studies.
There are Associates and Bachelors degrees available for people who are interested.
These degrees can take form two years to four years to complete.
Within this type of degree program, you can expect to take classes such as:
With an Associates or Bachelors degree in fire science, you can expect to have better career opportunities in your future, including:
There are so many opportunities for people who are interested in a career as a Firefighter.
There are no special licenses or certifications needed to become a Firefighter.
However, you will be required to take a couple of tests in order to be accepted into Fire Academy.
The first test will be to uncover your physical ability.
This test will help show how physically capable you are of doing the rigorous activities that a Firefighter must face.
Typically, fire stations require aspiring Firefighters to take the Candidate Physical Ability Test.
This test is broken up into several parts.
First, you will need to climb several flights of stairs.
Usually, you will have to wear heavy equipment while running up and down the stairs as well.
Next, you will be tested on your hose dragging ability.
Even if this sounds like an easy task, it’s not.
Surprisingly, there are several steps that need to be taken in order to work a fire hose the correct way.
Making one mistake could cost someone their life.
After that, you will work on your ability to handle equipment and work the ladder.
Once you have figured out how to work with all of your equipment, it’s time to rescue victims from a fire.
Not for real, this is just a test.
You’ll be required to break down a door, and evaluate a situation in order to rescue pretend victims.
For each specific drill, you will be required to work precisely.
Every mistake counts against you, and after so many, you will fail the test.
It’s important to know what you are doing before trying to take this test.
Each trial is timed as well, to ensure that the Firefighter can get the rescue done on time.
Different fire stations’ requirements may vary, so talk to your local fire chief to find out what you need to do in order to gain employment as a Firefighter.
The average training program for a Firefighter is anywhere between 4 weeks and several months.
Some training programs can even be done online, which can make it an even speedier process.
Though, if you are expecting to gain a lot of information from your training, opt for the longer versions.
These will give you real-life experiences that a short program may not provide.
