How do I advance my career as a firefighter?
Ava Richardson
Updated on May 07, 2026
How do I advance my career as a firefighter?
For a highly competitive career such as fire service, ongoing training and education are the primary ways to get ahead. The career outlook for firefighters and leadership positions is growing….Depending on the specific career, additional required skills may include:
- Budget management.
- Grant writing.
- Program design.
How much do firefights make?
Firefighters
| Wages* | Low (5th percentile) | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Starting | $15.09 | $38.16 |
| Overall | $18.46 | $40.83 |
| Top | $20.00 | $43.04 |
What other jobs can firefighters do?
Here are some of the best side jobs, with especially flexible schedules, for firefighters.
- Instructor: CPR, ACLS, PALS.
- Emergency technician.
- Bartender.
- Landscaper or groundskeeper.
- Personal trainer.
- Real estate agent.
- Carpenter.
- Other options.
What is the highest position as a firefighter?
The fire chief
The fire chief is the highest-ranking officer in the fire department.
How much do firefighters make an hour?
The median firefighter hourly pay is $24.45 per hour, or $50,850 per year, meaning that half earn less than that amount, while half earn more, according to a May 2019 report issued by the BLM. Experienced firefighters in the top 10th percentile earn upwards of $44.24 per hour, or $92,020 per year.
Why do firefighters retire so early?
The fire service requires a high level of physical exertion and takes a serious toll on a worker’s physical abilities. As a result, many employers require fire fighters to retire as early as age 50, leaving workers burdened with securing expensive health insurance.
At what age do most firefighters retire?
The average retirement age for most firefighters nowadays is fifty-seven. While you may have heard that firefighters can retire at fifty with nearly all of their salary, that’s a myth not based on fact. Some firefighters retire earlier, some later, but most retire after around thirty years of service.
Is firefighting a respectable career?
Is firefighting a good job to consider? Firefighting is a rewarding career that offers a very high level of job satisfaction. Being a firefighter is a great job if you enjoy helping people and serving your community, but be aware that it can be demanding, stressful, and even dangerous at times.
Are firefighters happy?
Firefighters are one of the happiest careers in the United States. As it turns out, firefighters rate their career happiness 3.8 out of 5 stars which puts them in the top 16% of careers.
