Firefighters protect the public, responding to fires and medical emergencies

August 31, 2010

Firefighters protect the public, responding to fires and medical emergencies

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Outlook: Employment of firefighters is expected to increase 19 percent over the 2008-18 decade, faster than the average for all occupations.

Pay: The 3,670 firefighters in the Seattle-Bellevue-Tacoma area earned a median wage of $62,620 in 2008.

The job: Firefighters put out fires and respond to other emergencies such as traffic accidents and medical emergencies. Most are employed by local governments. Many work about 50 hours a week in 24-hour shifts, spending down time at fire stations, which are usually similar to dormitories. The job requires a high degree of fitness and has a high risk of death or injury from flames, smoke, toppling walls or exposure to poisonous or flammable gases, chemicals and radioactive materials.

Training/licensing: A high school diploma is usually sufficient for on-the-job training programs, but completion of an associate’s degree in fire science may improve an applicant’s chances for a job. Firefighters must be certified as emergency medical technicians, but many departments are increasingly requiring paramedic certification.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

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