How to become a firefighter

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.

Steps to get there

Most employers expect usually requires a high school diploma or ged, though some occupations may not..Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.

What firefighters do

• Rescue survivors from burning buildings, accident sites, and water hazards.
• 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.
• 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.

Skills that matter most

• Active Listening
• Critical Thinking
• Active Learning
• Speaking
• Monitoring
• Reading Comprehension
• Learning Strategies
• Writing

Is firefighter a good career?

On the numbers, this job pays above the typical job. Median pay is 16% above the all-occupation median. Whether it fits you depends on the work itself, the schooling you are willing to do and where you want to live.

Where it pays most

• New York $100,960
• Washington $94,520
• California $85,120
• New Jersey $84,130
• Illinois $78,380

Firefighters salary by state and city

Sources: O*NET® 31.0 (CC BY 4.0, USDOL/ETA) and BLS Employment Projections 2025–35. Pay: BLS OEWS May 2025.