What is a fire marshal and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read
There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a fire marshal. For example, did you know that they make an average of $25.43 an hour? That's $52,890 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 6% and produce 1,000 job opportunities across the U.S.
ScoreFire MarshalUS Average
Salary
4.1

Avg. Salary $52,890

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level
9.8

Growth Rate 6%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity
1.5
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.91%

Asian 2.27%

Black or African American 5.88%

Hispanic or Latino 8.26%

Unknown 5.74%

White 76.95%

Gender

female 11.47%

male 88.53%

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

Fire Marshal career paths

Key steps to become a fire marshal

  1. Explore fire marshal education requirements

    Most common fire marshal degrees

    Bachelor's

    41.5 %

    Associate

    33.1 %

    High School Diploma

    11.5 %
  2. Start to develop specific fire marshal skills

    Skills
    ascdesc
    Percentages
    ascdesc
    Fire Protection14.71%
    Fire Safety12.70%
    NFPA6.52%
    Hazardous Materials5.34%
    Plan Review5.09%
  3. Complete relevant fire marshal training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New fire marshals 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 marshal based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real fire marshal resumes.
  4. Gain additional fire marshal certifications

    Fire marshal 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 marshal certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

    The most common certifications for fire marshals include Certified Fire Investigator (CFI) and Certified Fire Inspector II (CFI-II).

    More About Certifications
  5. Research fire marshal duties and responsibilities

    • Manage regulatory compliance (NRC, INPO, NFPA, WANO, etc .).
    • Lead infantry teams in combat operations, providing tactical and technical guidance to subordinates and professional support to superiors.
    • Train shipboard personnel in the operation, maintenance and repair of systems, equipment and various firefighting methods.
    • Determine ladder requirements, direct ladder placement, deploy personnel on ladders, and monitor ladder operations to ensure safety.
  6. Prepare your fire marshal resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your fire marshal 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 marshal 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 Marshal Resume templates

    Build a professional Fire Marshal 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 Marshal resume.
    Fire Marshal Resume
    Fire Marshal Resume
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    Fire Marshal Resume
  7. Apply for fire marshal jobs

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

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

How Did You Land Your First Fire Marshal Job

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Average fire marshal salary

The average Fire Marshal salary in the United States is $52,890 per year or $25 per hour. Fire marshal salaries range between $34,000 and $80,000 per year.

Average Fire Marshal Salary
$52,890 Yearly
$25.43 hourly

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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