Occupation salary profile

Firefighters

SOC 33-2011 BLS OEWS May 2025

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.

National median · BLS
$59,280
▼ -0.42% YoY
H-1B sponsor median
—
Too few H-1B filings
Average salary · BLS
$63,630
Mean annual wage
U.S. employment
345,990
Jobs (BLS)
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Pay range for Firefighters

Annual base pay at each percentile. BLS covers all U.S. workers in this occupation.

Percentile All U.S. workers (BLS)
10th — entry pay$34,910
25th$44,490
Median (50th)$59,280
75th$77,250
90th — top pay$101,040

Hourly ⇄ annual pay

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Based on hrs/week × weeks/year = 2,080 hrs
Projections 2025–2035

Job outlook for Firefighters

BLS projects employment of firefighters to grow 3.7% from 2025 to 2035, about the same as the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 26,800 openings are projected each year, on average, from new jobs and from replacing workers who retire or move to other occupations.

Jobs 2025 → 2035
355,300 → 368,400
+13,100 jobs
Projected change
+3.7%
All occupations: +3.5%
Openings per year
26,800
Average, 2025–2035
Typical entry education
Postsecondary nondegree award
No related experience required
On-the-job training
Long-term on-the-job training
Preparation needed (O*NET Job Zone 2)
Very Little to Some Preparation Needed. Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Fastest-growing jobs → Best-paying jobs that need a postsecondary certificate (nondegree award) →

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–2035 · BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook →

Skills & tools

Skills needed for Firefighters

How important each skill and knowledge area is for this job, rated by O*NET on a 1–5 scale from surveys of workers and occupational analysts.

Top skills
  • Coordination3.9
  • Active Learning3.6
  • Active Listening3.6
  • Critical Thinking3.6
  • Judgment and Decision Making3.5
  • Monitoring3.5
  • Service Orientation3.5
  • Speaking3.5
  • Complex Problem Solving3.1
  • Social Perceptiveness3.1
Top knowledge areas
  • Public Safety and Security4.1
  • Transportation3.4
  • Customer and Personal Service3.4
  • Medicine and Dentistry3.4
  • Mechanical3.3
  • Communications and Media3.2
  • Education and Training3.2
  • Telecommunications3.1
Software and technology used
Microsoft AccessMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft PowerPointMicrosoft WindowsMicrosoft WordAffiliated Computer Services ACS FIREHOUSECorel WordPerfect Office SuiteEmail softwareFire incident reporting systemsGeographic information system GIS softwareIncident command system ICS softwarePlume modeling softwareWeb browser software

Highlighted = in demand: frequently listed in employer job postings for this occupation (O*NET).

Source: 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.

About the job

What firefighters do

  • Rescue survivors from burning buildings, accident sites, and water hazards.
  • Administer first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation to injured persons or provide emergency medical care such as basic or advanced life support.
  • Dress with equipment such as fire-resistant clothing and breathing apparatus.
  • Move toward the source of a fire, using knowledge of types of fires, construction design, building materials, and physical layout of properties.
  • Drive and operate fire fighting vehicles and equipment.
  • Respond to fire alarms and other calls for assistance, such as automobile and industrial accidents.
  • Search to locate fire survivors.
  • Operate pumps connected to high-pressure hoses.
Also called
Fire EngineerFire Equipment OperatorFiremanWildland FirefighterFire Rescue Technician (Fire Rescue Tech)Fire Technician (Fire Tech)Forest Fire Suppression SpecialistForestry Fire Technician (Forestry Fire Tech)Hot ShotRescue Firefighter
More job titles for this occupation (24)
Airport FirefighterCrash Fire FirefighterFire Apparatus EngineerFire Chief AideFire Engine Pump OperatorFire Hydrant OperatorFire Management SpecialistFire MedicFire Suppression Technician (Fire Suppression Tech)Fireboat OperatorFirefighter DiverFirefighter ParamedicForest FirefighterMarine FirefighterMunicipal FirefighterOil Fire SpecialistOn-Scene SupporterSmoke ChaserSmoke EaterSmoke JumperVolunteer FirefighterWater and Fire Technician (Water and Fire Tech)Wildland Firefighter SpecialistWildland Specialist Firefighter

Source: O*NET 31.0 (USDOL/ETA, CC BY 4.0). These are general job titles, not H-1B filings; for titles employers actually filed, see “Job titles” above.