Firefighters
Protective Service
Work starts when an alarm comes in: dressing in fire-resistant gear and a breathing apparatus, then going to the scene. On site, the crew sizes up the fire, radios conditions to superiors, and moves toward the source using knowledge of construction, materials, and building layout. They cut openings for ventilation or entry with tools such as axes and saws, drive fire vehicles, and also handle wrecks, industrial accidents, water and building rescues, and emergency medical work. After flames are out, they inspect so nothing remains a danger. It suits people who like physical, team-based emergency work and making decisions under pressure.
Typical education: High School Diploma or GED
Annual Median Wage in Field (2025)
$59'280
Median Wage Market Position
$59'280
What you might do
- Rescue people from fires, wrecks, and water
- Put on protective clothing and a breathing mask
- Radio fire conditions and wait for orders
- Work toward the source of a fire
- Answer fire alarms and accident calls
- Cut openings in buildings for air or entry
Skills that matter
- Rescue from buildings, wrecks, and water
- Working in fire-resistant gear and breathing apparatus
- Radio reports of conditions to superiors
- Approaching fires by type and building layout
- Cutting openings with axes and saws
- Driving fire vehicles and checking burn sites
AI & the future of this role
Extinguishing fires, performing rescues, and giving emergency medical aid demand physical presence machines are unlikely to match soon. Need for rapid human response in chaotic disasters tends to keep this work strongly insulated.
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Includes O*NET® 30.3 Database information by USDOL/ETA under CC BY 4.0; modified by LostInCareer. Wage/outlook from BLS. Attribution details