What is a fireman 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 fireman. For example, did you know that they make an average of $22.64 an hour? That's $47,094 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 4% and produce 13,900 job opportunities across the U.S.
ScoreFiremanUS Average
Salary
3.7

Avg. Salary $47,094

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level
8.1

Growth Rate 4%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity
4.0
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.95%

Asian 1.84%

Black or African American 8.10%

Hispanic or Latino 15.30%

Unknown 4.78%

White 69.03%

Gender

female 11.76%

male 88.24%

Age - 38
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 - 38
Stress Level
8.1

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity Level
7.0

Complexity Level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance
7.2

Work Life balance is good

6.4 - fair

Fireman career paths

Key steps to become a fireman

  1. Explore fireman education requirements

    Most common fireman degrees

    High School Diploma

    37.5 %

    Bachelor's

    29.5 %

    Associate

    21.1 %
  2. Start to develop specific fireman skills

    Skills
    ascdesc
    Percentages
    ascdesc
    Emergency Calls14.39%
    Safety Standards14.15%
    Auxiliary Equipment5.37%
    CPR4.82%
    Diesel Engines3.60%
  3. Complete relevant fireman training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New firemen 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 fireman based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real fireman resumes.
  4. Research fireman duties and responsibilities

    • Implement logistics support and material plan to manage advance shipment of hazardous goods to area of responsibility.
    • Educate fire department personnel regarding firefighting, paramedic procedures, hazardous materials and fire prevention.
    • Train in CPR, ship firefighting duties, and protection from biological and chemical attack.
    • Train in cpr and rescue techniques.
  5. Prepare your fireman resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your fireman 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 fireman resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose From 10+ Customizable Fireman Resume templates

    Build a professional Fireman 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 Fireman resume.
    Fireman Resume
    Fireman Resume
    Fireman Resume
    Fireman Resume
    Fireman Resume
    Fireman Resume
    Fireman Resume
    Fireman Resume
    Fireman Resume
  6. Apply for fireman jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a fireman 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 Fireman Job

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Average fireman salary

The average Fireman salary in the United States is $47,094 per year or $23 per hour. Fireman salaries range between $30,000 and $73,000 per year.

Average Fireman Salary
$47,094 Yearly
$22.64 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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