Firefighters
Firefighters control and extinguish fires and respond to emergencies where life, property, or the environment is at risk. They work for fire departments in cities, towns, and rural areas, performing fire suppression, emergency medical response, hazardous material handling, search and rescue, and disaster relief. Most firefighters are employed by municipal or county fire departments.
Four short assessments and your background, scored against firefighters and 13,000 other careers — with the reasons. Free.
A day in the work
Firefighters typically work 24-hour shifts at fire stations, alternating with days off. During shifts, they maintain equipment, conduct training drills, and study building layouts and emergency procedures. When calls come in, they respond immediately to fires, medical emergencies, vehicle accidents, or other crises. Between emergency responses, firefighters clean equipment, perform routine inspections, and prepare meals at the station.
Who this work suits
Holland code RCS. Realistic work is hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors. Aptly’s interest assessment scores you on the same six scales.
You tend to do well in this work if you're practical and detail-oriented, preferring to solve concrete problems through direct action rather than abstract thinking. You follow established procedures and safety protocols carefully, stay calm under pressure, and are motivated by the tangible impact of helping others in immediate danger.
What it takes
Preparation: Some preparation (usually high school; some on-the-job training).
Skills that matter most
Knowledge areas
Who is hiring
Openings right now
- LEAD FIREFIGHTER (BASIC LIFE SUPPORT/HAZMAT TECH) · Air Education and Training Command · Holloman AFB, New Mexico · $55882–$72644
- Supervisory Wildland Firefighter (Wildland Fire Module Leader) - Direct Hire Authority · Office of the Secretary of the Interior · Multiple Locations · $87855–$114204
- FIREFIGHTER (HAZARDOUS MATERIALS OPERATIONS) · Air Education and Training Command · Fort Sam Houston, Texas · $46076–$59898
- Wildland Firefighter (Assistant Airtanker Base Manager) · Office of the Secretary of the Interior · Roswell, New Mexico · $57098–$87038
- FIREFIGHTER (HAZMAT TECH/BASIC LIFE SUPPORT) · Air Mobility Command · Scott AFB, Illinois · $51740–$67264
- LEAD FIREFIGHTER · Air Education and Training Command · Fort Sam Houston, Texas · $56703–$73711
- Lead Firefighter (Basic Life Support) · Veterans Health Administration · Perry Point, Maryland · $61577–$80047
- SUPERVISORY FIREFIGHTER (BASIC LIFE SUPPORT/HAZMAT), GS-0081-10 · U.S. Coast Guard · Elizabeth City, North Carolina · $68980–$89669
Openings are read from employers’ own career pages and public job boards and change daily. Search all openings (free account) to filter by distance, pay and how well you qualify.
Pay by state
| State | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York | $65,420 | $100,960 | $106,430 | 12,950 |
| Washington | $72,300 | $94,520 | $105,540 | 7,560 |
| California | $65,170 | $85,120 | $109,620 | 31,470 |
| New Jersey | $61,340 | $84,130 | $106,330 | 7,500 |
| Illinois | $47,910 | $78,380 | $103,530 | 18,400 |
| Connecticut | $64,180 | $77,630 | $81,810 | 2,970 |
| District of Columbia | $65,090 | $75,870 | $92,110 | 1,480 |
| Colorado | $60,970 | $74,170 | $101,260 | 6,510 |
| Maryland | $57,160 | $73,810 | $90,760 | 5,340 |
| Pennsylvania | $56,210 | $73,460 | $89,190 | 5,020 |
| Massachusetts | $61,800 | $72,800 | $80,070 | 11,940 |
| Oregon | $49,420 | $70,900 | $90,980 | 3,790 |
All 50 states, D.C. and Puerto Rico
Certifications people in this field hold
- STCW - Advanced Firefighting — United States Coast Guard National Maritime Center
- Firefighter Type 2 (FFT2) — National Wildfire Coordinating Group
- Airport Master Firefighter (AMF) — American Association of Airport Executives
Training
Aptly members see WIOA-approved programs, colleges and certificates near them, with completion and earnings data, on every Path plan.
Job titles in this occupation
Related occupations
Four short assessments and your background, scored against firefighters and 13,000 other careers — with the reasons. Free.
O*NET-SOC 33-2011.00 · O*NET OnLine. Pay: BLS OEWS May 2025, annual, U.S. Employment counts are national.