How To Become A Fire Chief: What It Is and Career Path

What is a fire chief and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

A fire chief serves as the director of the fire department to prevent or minimize injury, loss of life, and property damage. They are responsible for monitoring and directing the activities of the fire department. This responsibility involves ensuring adequate training for all firefighters, monitoring firefighting equipment, and implementing all firefighting policies and procedures according to federal and local laws.

Furthermore, a fire chief acts as the sole authority and command at the scene of a fire or other type of emergency. They may also be responsible for investigating the cause of the fire, but this is not required in all states or municipalities.

The duties of a fire chief require a high level of physical fitness, a fine set of leadership skills, and extensive experience in the fire department. A fire chief must also have the ability to withstand high levels of mental and emotional stress, as it is often part of the job. In terms of education, many fire chiefs have a bachelor's degree in fire science and protection, but a high school diploma is usually the minimum requirement.

ScoreFire ChiefUS Average

Salary

5.5

Avg. Salary $69,961

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level

9.8

Growth Rate 6%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity

1.5

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 1.05%

Asian 2.26%

Black or African American 5.81%

Hispanic or Latino 8.21%

Unknown 5.89%

White 76.77%

Gender

female 5.76%

male 94.24%

Age - 49

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 49

Stress Level

9.8

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity Level

8.6

Complexity Level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance

6.8

Work Life balance is good

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a fire chief

Explore fire chief education requirements

Most common fire chief degrees

Associate

37.2 %

Bachelor's

35.0 %

High School Diploma

13.6 %

Start to develop specific fire chief skills

Skills	Percentages
Fire Protection	9.97%
Emergency Response	8.05%
Public Safety	7.96%
Fire Service	4.67%
Fire Suppression	4.66%

Complete relevant fire chief training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New fire chiefs learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a fire chief based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real fire chief resumes.

Gain additional fire chief certifications

Fire chief certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific fire chief certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

The most common certifications for fire chiefs include Certified Fire Inspector I and Equipment Management Specialist (EMS).

More About Certifications

Research fire chief duties and responsibilities

Manage the combat logistics operations center's daily operations and ensure efficient information flow between internal and external organizations.
Determine appropriate control techniques and direct firefighting teams during numerous fire, hazardous material releases and medical emergencies.
Respond to fires, medical, HAZMAT, bombs and threat calls.
Maintain and inspect the SCBA equipment.

Prepare your fire chief resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your fire chief resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a fire chief resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose From 10+ Customizable Fire Chief Resume templates

Build a professional Fire Chief resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Fire Chief resume.

Apply for fire chief jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a fire chief job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams

How do fire chiefs rate their job?