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.Salary by State
| State Name | Employment | Annual Salary | Hourly Salary | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 6,080 | $44,920 | $21.60 | |
| Alaska | 780 | $57,320 | $27.56 | |
| Arizona | 7,180 | $48,750 | $23.44 | |
| Arkansas | 1,770 | $36,950 | $17.76 | |
| California | 27,730 | $80,990 | $38.94 | |
| Colorado | 5,460 | $68,300 | $32.84 | |
| Connecticut | 3,140 | $68,140 | $32.76 | |
| Delaware | 480 | $49,520 | $23.81 | |
| Florida | 20,420 | $53,480 | $25.71 | |
| Georgia | 11,110 | $40,530 | $19.48 | |
| Hawaii | 1,790 | $67,540 | $32.47 | |
| Idaho | 2,190 | $42,130 | $20.25 | |
| Illinois | 15,300 | $61,310 | $29.48 | |
| Indiana | 7,970 | $53,490 | $25.71 | |
| Iowa | 1,900 | $47,460 | $22.82 | |
| Kansas | 2,810 | $40,370 | $19.41 | |
| Kentucky | 4,470 | $34,060 | $16.37 | |
| Louisiana | 5,620 | $33,400 | $16.06 | |
| Maine | 2,070 | $44,920 | $21.60 | |
| Maryland | 5,450 | $61,340 | $29.49 | |
| Massachusetts | 12,060 | $65,650 | $31.56 | |
| Michigan | 7,680 | $48,890 | $23.50 | |
| Minnesota | 5,180 | $39,750 | $19.11 | |
| Mississippi | 3,040 | $32,870 | $15.80 | |
| Missouri | 6,590 | $46,540 | $22.38 | |
| Montana | 760 | $52,990 | $25.48 | |
| Nebraska | 1,050 | $60,590 | $29.13 | |
| Nevada | 1,710 | $58,370 | $28.06 | |
| New Hampshire | 2,400 | $52,260 | $25.13 | |
| New Jersey | 5,960 | $84,930 | $40.83 | |
| New Mexico | 2,170 | $39,940 | $19.20 | |
| New York | 10,640 | $72,670 | $34.94 | |
| North Carolina | 15,410 | $36,950 | $17.76 | |
| North Dakota | 660 | $52,010 | $25.01 | |
| Ohio | 19,350 | $52,530 | $25.26 | |
| Oklahoma | 4,840 | $51,810 | $24.91 | |
| Oregon | 3,630 | $65,590 | $31.54 | |
| Pennsylvania | 5,870 | $58,400 | $28.08 | |
| Rhode Island | 1,300 | $62,860 | $30.22 | |
| South Carolina | 5,490 | $39,750 | $19.11 | |
| South Dakota | 440 | $49,090 | $23.60 | |
| Tennessee | 4,710 | $42,310 | $20.34 | |
| Texas | 29,530 | $53,310 | $25.63 | |
| Utah | 2,600 | $42,020 | $20.20 | |
| Vermont | 280 | $45,140 | $21.70 | |
| Virginia | 10,840 | $51,940 | $24.97 | |
| Washington | 7,740 | $76,280 | $36.68 | |
| West Virginia | 850 | $36,850 | $17.72 | |
| Wisconsin | 8,790 | $46,140 | $22.18 | |
| Wyoming | 630 | $44,420 | $21.36 |
Education
The programs listed below are typically the education paths that can land you this kind of job.
A program that prepares individuals to enforce natural resource and environmental protection regulations and laws; and to perform emergency duties to protect human life, property and natural resources, including fire prevention and control measures, and emergency and rescue procedures. Includes instruction in natural and physical sciences, natural resource management, outdoor field skills, firearms and outdoor equipment and vehicle operation, evidence collection and environmental sampling and monitoring, natural resource legislation, environmental compliance techniques, patrol procedures, investigation and report writing, interpersonal skills and crisis intervention, community liaison, public safety, public education, and public relations. Note: this program was re-instated after being deleted from CIP 2000; previously, it was coded as 03.0203.
A program focusing on the application of fire science and technology to problems of reducing fire risk, limiting loss, supervising substance removal, conducting safety inspections and investigations, and advising on matters of safety procedures and fire prevention policy. Includes instruction in fire behavior, fire simulation, structural risk assessment, materials analysis, detection and suppression systems, smoke management, supply and evacuation, public education, legal aspects of fire prevention, and related research and communications methods.
A program focusing on the theory and practice of fires and fire-fighting. Includes instruction in fire chemistry and physics, combustible materials, computer science, building construction, fire codes and related laws, fire hydraulics, fire command, fire prevention/inspection, fire protection systems, fire suppression systems, fire/arson investigation, occupational safety, equipment operation, emergency medicine and communications.
A program focusing on the application of fire science, firefighting and investigation to the prevention, control and mitigation of wildland fires and the analysis of causes. Includes instruction in fire science and behavior, wildland environments, meteorology, wildland fire hydraulics and dynamics, water and chemical supply systems, wildland firefighting operations, airborne firefighting, firebreak engineering, communications systems, wildland arson, forensic procedures, wildland fire prevention, investigation techniques, case management and preparation.
Any instructional program in fire protection not listed above.
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$55,290 per yearNational average salaryModerateJob growth rate
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Postsecondary nondegree awardTypical education requirement
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Long-term on-the-job trainingTypical on-the-job training requirement
Educational Attainment
The following chart shows the highest education level completed by those working as firefighters.
- Less than high school 1%
- High school graduate 14%
- College dropout 37%
- Associate’s degree 23%
- Bachelor’s degree 22%
- Master’s degree 3%
- Doctorate degree 1%
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