Protective Service
Firefighters
Also called: Fire Engineer, Fire Equipment Operator, Fire Rescue Technician (Fire Rescue Tech), Fire Technician (Fire Tech)
US median pay
$59,280
per year, 2025
Job growth 2025–35
+3.7%
about average or slower
Openings a year (US)
26,800
355,300 employed
Typical entry education
Postsecondary nondegree award
Preparation 2/5 · Some preparation
What this job is
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.
What they do day to day
- 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.
- Maintain contact with fire dispatchers at all times to notify them of the need for additional firefighters and supplies, or to detail any difficulties encountered.
- Extinguish flames and embers to suppress fires, using shovels or engine- or hand-driven water or chemical pumps.
Skills and knowledge that matter most
Skills
- Coordination3.9/5
- Service Orientation3.5/5
- Judgment and Decision Making3.5/5
- Social Perceptiveness3.1/5
- Complex Problem Solving3.1/5
- Time Management3.0/5
- Operations Monitoring3.0/5
- Operation and Control3.0/5
Knowledge
- Public Safety and Security4.1/5
- Transportation3.4/5
- Customer and Personal Service3.4/5
- Medicine and Dentistry3.4/5
- Mechanical3.3/5
- Communications and Media3.2/5
Importance rated by people working in the job (1 = not important, 5 = extremely important).
Education and preparation
Preparation level 2 of 5 — Some preparation. Usually a high school diploma; some previous work experience or training helps.
Typical entry education (BLS): Postsecondary nondegree award.
Who this job suits
Mostly Realistic
Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals
Conventional
Organising data, details and procedures
Social
Helping, teaching and caring for people
Based on the Holland (RIASEC) interest profile for this occupation.