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.

SOC: 33-2011.00

Common Job Titles

Fire EngineerFire Equipment OperatorFirefighterWildland 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

MetricU.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 AccessMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft PowerPointMicrosoft WindowsMicrosoft Word

Technology Skills

Affiliated Computer Services ACS FIREHOUSECorel WordPerfect Office SuiteEmail softwareFire incident reporting systemsGeographic information system GIS softwareIncident command system ICS softwareOperating system softwarePlume modeling software

Tools & Equipment

Adjustable wrenchesAerial lifting apparatusAerial trucksAir bag lifting systemsAir chiselsAir purifying respiratorsAir samplersAll terrain vehicles ATV