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SOC 33-2011
Control and extinguish fires and respond to emergency situations that threaten life, property, or the environment: includes driving and operating fire apparatus and equipment, wearing protective equipment such as fire-resistant clothing and breathing apparatus, connecting high-pressure hose lines and operating pumps and nozzles to extinguish fires, forcing open doors, windows, and roofs to create ventilation and entry, using ladders to reach upper floors or rescue trapped people, searching for and rescuing trapped people, providing emergency medical treatment such as first aid and CPR, handling hazardous materials that may ignite or leak, protecting property from water and smoke damage, and participating in drills, training, fire inspections, and public fire prevention education.
Model impact index for three equally weighted representative core tasks; not a measured share of working time or a job-loss probability. floor((25+0+25)/3+0.5)=17; fermatmind-ai-impact-v1; 2026-10-18.
First judge whether you are willing to make firefighting, rescue, and on-scene handling a long-term career: it requires maintaining physical fitness over the long term, acting according to orders and procedures in dangerous environments, taking on emergency medical and hazardous materials handling tasks, and accepting a 24-hour shift system and rotations; validate with the paper exercise and seven-day task on this page.
This card is a career exploration reference and does not constitute hiring, ability scoring, physical fitness, or safety conclusions.
Signals worth considering more: able to accept high-intensity physical work and on-scene risk, willing to act according to orders and procedures, and able to stay calm and look after teammates in a tense scene. Signals requiring caution: unwillingness to keep up long-term physical training and duty, difficulty accepting danger and uncertainty, and treating the firefighter image from film and television as the daily work.
Occupational boundaries: This page is written according to the U.S. O*NET-SOC 33-2011.00 “Firefighters” and refers to practitioners who extinguish fires and respond to emergency situations that threaten life, property, or the environment; it does not include fire inspectors and investigators focused on fire code inspection and fire cause investigation; fire prevention and protection engineers focused on fire protection systems and building fire protection design; forest fire inspectors and fire prevention specialists focused on wildfire prevention and wildland ignition source management; emergency management directors focused on emergency coordination; or emergency medical personnel focused on prehospital medical care; it does not provide rescue tactics, medical, or safe-operating advice.
Career direction comparison
The following occupations sit in the same fire, emergency, and public safety chain, but their responsibilities land in different places; use them to help locate a direction, not as substitutes for one another.
| Career direction | Core work and output | Key differences | Best-fit choice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fire Inspectors and Investigators | Conducts premises inspection, system testing, and permit issuance under fire codes | Focuses mainly on premises inspection, permits, and fire cause investigation under fire codes; this occupation produces firefighting, rescue, and on-scene emergency handling | If you prefer code verification and accident investigation, choose the fire inspector and investigator direction; if you prefer on-scene firefighting and rescue, choose this occupation |
| Fire-Prevention and Protection Engineers | Design fire detection, alarm, and suppression systems and verify code compliance |
AI impact on this career
Dispatch records and training material drafting can be trialed, with actual quality and rework checked; dispatch, sensing, and thermal imaging do not automatically equal generative AI. On-scene command and safety systems are verified against the actual original text. AI Impact Score 17% is an editorial estimate. Model impact index for three equally weighted representative core tasks; not a measured share of working time or a job-loss probability. floor((25+0+25)/3+0.5)=17; fermatmind-ai-impact-v1; 2026-10-18.The three tasks, ratings and sources are listed in the FermatMind method source record on this page.
FermatMind AI Impact Score estimation method v1
FermatMind / 费马测试 · 2026-10-18
Editorial ratings use the existing occupational responsibilities and AI task analysis on this page. They are not adoption rates, measured effects, job-disappearance or personal-unemployment probabilities, or official scores from Stanford or another external institution. No measured time weights or future robot deployment are assumed.
Chinese mainland salary reference
Fire service work in mainland China is mostly found in government full-time fire brigades and municipal fire and rescue stations, employer full-time fire brigades, specialized fire forces at airports and ports, fire safety management positions in large industrial parks, and fire training and teaching institutions; duty systems, physical fitness assessments, occupational qualifications, and pay composition are governed by local and employer regulations and do not map one-to-one onto the U.S. occupational classification.
National, industry, and job category averages cover multiple occupations; total wages include bonuses, allowances and subsidies, and overtime pay within the statistical definition, and do not equal the firefighter income distribution.
No national monthly or annual wage distribution for the exact occupation was obtained; industry, national urban unit, and job category averages cannot be directly converted into personal wages.
Evidence gap: no verifiable monthly wage statistics could be obtained for this occupation in government full-time fire brigades, municipal fire and rescue stations, or employer full-time fire brigades in mainland China; income in such positions often includes duty allowances and hazardous-duty subsidies, and recruitment notice quotes are mostly single-employer samples that cannot represent the occupational wage.
U.S. salary reference
Currently 355,300 employed in 2025, a growth category of 3% to 4% for 2025—2035 (OOH lists 4%), and 26,800 average annual openings; the 2025 median wage is $28.50 per hour and $59,280 per year. The shared old 2024—2034 card figures of 344,900 and 27,100 are read for the original period. Current OOH May2025 industry medians: state government 64,980, federal government 63,270, and local government 59,850 USD / year; state and local exclude education and hospitals, and federal excludes postal. The old shared industry gap card is read as historical.
| Wage statistics position | Annual wage reference | Conversion boundaries | How to understand this position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | Below 34,910 USD / year (10th percentile, May 2025 OEWS, exact occupation 33-2011, presented via O*NET) | Official annual wage, not personal monthly income | Low end: the 10th percentile is below 34,910 USD / year, at the low end of the distribution, and is not a starting salary. |
| Median (50%) | Median hourly wage $28.50; median annual wage $59,280 (2025, BLS OEWS, presented via O*NET) |
Career fit guide
No. Interest and personality tests describe preferences only and do not predict whether one can pass a physical fitness test, obtain certificates, or perform on scene. They can help you judge whether you like on-scene handling, team action, and physical training, but suitability must be verified through performance in training and duty.
You may be better suited to： Physical fitness and skills: whether one can pass the physical fitness test to standard and master protective equipment and basic rescue skills is the core of judging fit.
These situations require caution： Team and obedience: on-scene handling depends on command and crew coordination, and avoiding orders and communication limits progress.
Do an entry exercise： Physical fitness, health, and certificates: most positions have medical, physical fitness, background check, and emergency medical certificate requirements, which must be checked in advance.
Work pressure, risks, and occupational boundaries
The main risks center on skipping safety procedures or protection requirements, insufficient identification of building structures and hazardous materials, handling beyond the trained and authorized scope, health depletion from high-intensity duty and shift work, leakage of rescue records and information about involved parties, and unclear on-scene coordination and handover; most can be reduced through procedural execution, on-scene assessment, command confirmation, and documentation, but they cannot be completely eliminated.
O*NET tasks and the OOH work environment support the risk background; control suggestions must be used according to actual training and institutional procedures. The original text on China's safety and medical authorization and on health causality was not verified item by item, and NIST is not used as a substitute for procedures.
Typical scenario：Skipping full protective equipment or omitting the pre-entry assessment to save time
Roles most affected：Firefighters carrying out on-scene firefighting and search and rescue
Entry, qualifications, and career development
O*NET lists this occupation as Job Zone 1-2 (requiring little to some preparation, SVP below 6.0); the occupation is not marked as Bright Outlook. The O*NET summary page lists the education level required of new employees: high school diploma or equivalent 70%, postsecondary certificate 12%, and less than a high school diploma 11% (evidence gap: the remaining education categories are not listed on the summary page, and this page does not merge them into a complete distribution). BLS indicates that the typical entry-level education is a postsecondary non-degree award, usually with no related work experience required and long-term on-the-job training needed, and that most people need training at a fire academy, with certificate requirements such as emergency medical technician (EMT) varying by state or locality.
Career outlook and related career transfers
Currently 355,300 employed in 2025, a growth category of 3% to 4% for 2025—2035 (OOH lists 4%), and 26,800 average annual openings; the 2025 median wage is $28.50 per hour and $59,280 per year. The shared old 2024—2034 card figures of 344,900 and 27,100 are read for the original period. China industry averages are only background and no exact occupational wage distribution was obtained; the absence of an occupational classification cannot be asserted.
United States · Firefighters（33-2011.00）
Average (3% to 4%)
Employment change
Employment is projected to grow at an average rate, and job openings come mainly from replacement needs; public safety spending and population changes are outside this statistical definition
Does not establish：Projections are not equal to actual results and do not represent the hiring volume of a particular region or employer; the values are on the exact occupation definition
This page is written according to the U.S. O*NET-SOC 33-2011.00 “Firefighters” (the fixed index assigns this asset the Chinese occupational name for this occupation): control and extinguish fires and respond to emergency situations that threaten life, property, or the environment. Specifically this includes: after an alarm, donning protective equipment such as fire-resistant clothing and breathing apparatus and driving the fire apparatus to respond; on arrival, assessing the fire conditions, building structure, and dangers and reporting to the commander; laying hose lines, connecting water sources, selecting nozzles and extinguishing agents, and operating pumps to fight the fire; forcing open doors, windows, and roofs to create ventilation and entry; using ladders to reach upper floors and search for and rescue trapped people; providing emergency medical treatment such as first aid and CPR to the injured; taking containment and control measures for hazardous materials that may ignite, leak, or spill; after the fire is extinguished, checking the scene to eliminate reignition hazards, clearing standing water and forcing damage, and protecting undamaged property; completing incident and rescue records; and taking part in drills, skills and physical training, and carrying out public fire prevention outreach and hazard inspections.
Choose a real task from this page for a small practice project or a conversation with someone in the field. Use the planning guides to set a date, an output and feedback questions before deciding whether to continue.
This checklist is for self-questioning only and does not constitute hiring criteria, ability scores, or physical fitness evaluation conclusions. This page is written according to the U.S. O*NET-SOC 33-2011.00 “Firefighters” (the fixed index assigns this asset the Chinese occupational name for this occupation, and the body text follows that official occupational scope). Even within fire service positions, the differences are large: municipal firefighting and rescue, employer-based full-time fire brigades, forest and wildland firefighting, airport and industrial firefighting, emergency medical and hazardous materials handling, and fire equipment operation and training. Before comparing positions or development paths, first check: the education and fire academy or on-the-job training required for the role, whether certificates such as emergency medical technician (EMT) are required, physical fitness test, medical, and background check standards, the duty system (commonly a 24-hour shift schedule) and rotation arrangements, and the safety and personal protective requirements for on-site work.
Validate with one paper exercise: you are given a completely fictitious firefighting and rescue assignment (building type and number of floors, seat of the fire and smoke spread conditions, locations of trapped people, available fire apparatus and water sources, order of arrival and crew assignments). You are asked to write out the initial on-arrival assessment points and what to report, hose and nozzle selection and the water supply plan, forcing and ventilation methods, the search route and safe withdrawal conditions, whom to coordinate with, and to mark which decisions must be made by the on-scene commander.
The work of firefighters revolves around the cycle of “alarm and response—on-arrival assessment—handling action—clearing and records—training and prevention”: on receiving an alarm, quickly don protective equipment and board the apparatus; on arrival, assess the fire conditions and report to the commander, lay hose lines, connect water sources, select nozzles and extinguishing agents, and carry out firefighting as required; at the same time carry out forcing, ventilation, and search and rescue, move trapped people to a safe area, and provide emergency medical treatment such as first aid and CPR to the injured; take containment and control measures for hazardous materials that may ignite, leak, or spill; after the fire is extinguished, check the scene to eliminate reignition hazards, clear standing water and forcing damage, and protect undamaged property; then complete incident and rescue records, take part in drills, skills training, and physical training, and carry out public fire prevention outreach and inspections. The emphasis differs greatly by direction: municipal firefighting and rescue stresses arrival speed and teamwork, emergency medical work stresses on-scene assessment and handover to transport, hazardous materials handling stresses detection, isolation, and protection levels, forest and wildland firefighting stresses terrain, wind direction, and water supply conditions, and equipment and training positions stress vehicle and equipment operation and passing on techniques.
Centered on firefighting, rescue, and on-scene emergency handling
Dispatch and arrival records, fireground handling and command records, casualty treatment and transport records, and equipment inspection and maintenance records
Fire service occupations are often conflated; the way to distinguish them is to look at main outputs and authority: this occupation's main output is firefighting, rescue, and on-scene emergency handling, and it also handles emergency medical care and hazardous materials; fire inspectors and investigators focus on premises inspection, permits, and fire cause investigation under fire codes; fire prevention and protection engineers produce technical solutions for fire protection systems and building fire protection design; forest fire inspectors and fire prevention specialists focus on wildfire prevention and wildland ignition source management; emergency management directors focus on plan development, resource coordination, and interagency coordination; and emergency medical personnel focus on prehospital medical care and transport and usually do not fight fires.
| Dimension | Primary track | Comparison track |
|---|---|---|
| Core purpose | Control and extinguish fires and respond to emergency situations that threaten life, property, or the environment. | Complete on-arrival assessment, firefighting and search and rescue, and on-scene clearing according to the dispatch and handling process |
| Main objects and basis | The objects include fire apparatus and pumps, hoses and nozzles, forcing and ventilation tools, ladders and ropes, breathing apparatus and protective equipment, fire water sources and hydrants, trapped people and casualties, and hazardous materials and incident scenes; the basis is fire and rescue and emergency response procedures, hazardous materials management and handling regulations, occupational safety and health requirements, emergency medical treatment protocols, and duty and attendance systems. | The objects are fire and various incident scenes, trapped people and casualties, and hazardous materials; the basis is handling procedures, protection requirements, and command orders |
| Core process | Alarm and response → On-arrival assessment → Firefighting and search and rescue → Medical care and hazardous materials handling → Scene check, clearing, and records | Centered on firefighting, rescue, and on-scene emergency handling, also covering emergency medical care, hazardous materials handling, and fire prevention |
| Main outputs | Dispatch and arrival records, fireground handling and command records, and casualty treatment and transport records | Dispatch and handling records |
| Responsible party | Responsibility for on-scene handling and for one's own and teammates' safety rests with the individual; fireground command authority and emergency handling decisions are made by the on-scene commander according to procedures, matters involving enforcement, accident determination, hazardous materials handling, and medical treatment authority must be carried out by authorized personnel and professional bodies, and site work must be carried out in accordance with occupational safety and health requirements. | Responsibility for on-scene handling and for one's own and teammates' safety rests with the individual |
| Authority and approval | When situations arise such as unclear on-scene command relationships and division of labor, unidentified types of hazardous materials and handling levels, casualty treatment beyond one's own training and authorization, or risks of building collapse or explosion, stop handling the matter yourself and ask the on-scene commander, hazardous materials specialists, or authorized personnel to confirm. | When command authority, hazardous materials handling levels, the scope of medical treatment, or on-scene safety conditions are unclear, stop and ask the commander or authorized personnel to confirm |
| Conclusion boundaries | The handling result of a single dispatch does not constitute a final conclusion about an individual's professional ability | Workload is affected by the number of alarms, seasonal and weather conditions, and major events and disaster incidents |
Take positions according to arrival order and crew assignments
Lay hose lines and operate pumps and nozzles to extinguish the fire
Use ladders to reach upper floors and search for and rescue trapped people
Contain and control hazardous materials that may ignite or leak
Clear standing water and forcing damage and complete incident and rescue records
Carry out public fire prevention education and hazard inspections
Before entering this occupation, check item by item: the education and fire academy or on-the-job training required for the role; whether certificates such as emergency medical technician (EMT) are required; physical fitness test, medical, and background check standards; the duty and rotation system (including 24-hour shifts and night and holiday response); and the safety and personal protective requirements for site work.
Check education and training requirements
Check certificate requirements
Check physical fitness and medical standards
Check the duty and rotation system
| Produces technical solutions for fire protection systems and building fire protection design; this occupation focuses on on-scene firefighting, rescue, and handling |
| If you prefer design calculation and code review, choose that direction; if you prefer on-scene handling and rescue, choose this occupation |
| Emergency Management Directors | Develop emergency plans, coordinate rescue resources, and organize post-disaster recovery | Focuses on plan development, resource coordination, and interagency coordination; this occupation focuses on on-scene handling and rescue | If you prefer plan coordination and resource dispatch, choose that direction; if you prefer on-scene handling and frontline rescue, choose this occupation |
|---|
| Emergency Medical Technicians | Provide emergency medical treatment to the sick and injured and transport them to medical facilities | Focuses on prehospital emergency medical care and transport and usually does not fight fires; this occupation focuses on firefighting and rescue and handles part of the emergency medical work | If you prefer medical treatment and patient care, choose that direction; if you prefer firefighting, rescue, and on-scene handling, choose this occupation |
|---|
| Police and Patrol Officers | Patrol jurisdictions, maintain public order, and handle criminal cases | Focuses on public order maintenance, patrol, and criminal enforcement; this occupation focuses on firefighting and emergency rescue | If you prefer public order patrol and criminal enforcement, choose that direction; if you prefer firefighting, rescue, and hazardous materials handling, choose this occupation |
|---|
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | Identify workplace hazards and develop safety management measures | Focuses on workplace hazard identification and safety management; this occupation focuses on on-scene firefighting and rescue | If you prefer occupational safety and health management, choose that direction; if you prefer frontline rescue and emergency handling, choose this occupation |
|---|
All the directions above relate to fire, emergency, and rescue, but their primary tasks and authority differ; when comparing, look at four points first: whether the primary task is firefighting and rescue or inspection and investigation, whether the output is fire protection system design, whether it focuses on emergency coordination and planning, and whether it focuses on prehospital medical care.
Compare in the order of “whether the primary task is firefighting and rescue or inspection and investigation, whether the output is fire protection system design, whether it focuses on emergency coordination, and whether it focuses on prehospital medical care”, then judge which path suits you better together with physical fitness, certificates, and duty arrangements.
Technical handleability: whether a model can complete a certain type of task step
Institutional adoption: whether institutional rules, cost, and risk appetite allow it
Job outcomes: whether the number of positions and the structure of responsibilities change
| Work area | Task | Current change | Human control point |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alarm and response | Don protective equipment and board the apparatus after an alarm | Editorial assistance opportunity: dispatch order assignment and route information can assist, but on-arrival assessment and safety confirmation remain borne by people. Actual system capabilities, adoption, and effects must be verified separately, and monitoring devices are not equivalent to generative AI. | Don protective equipment and confirm item by item according to procedure |
| On-arrival assessment and firefighting | Assess the fire conditions and report to the commander, and lay hose lines and operate pumps and nozzles to extinguish the fire | Editorial assistance opportunity: monitoring and thermal imaging information can assist judgment, but fire condition judgment and firefighting decisions remain with people. Actual system capabilities, adoption, and effects must be verified separately, and monitoring devices are not equivalent to generative AI. | Assess the fire conditions and building structure first and then act on orders |
| Forcing, ventilation, and search and rescue | Force open doors, windows, and roofs to create access and use ladders to search for and rescue trapped people | Editorial assistance opportunity: equipment information and layout drawings can assist, but forcing and search and rescue remain with people. Actual system capabilities, adoption, and effects must be verified separately, and monitoring devices are not equivalent to generative AI. | Force entry according to technical procedures and keep the withdrawal route |
| Emergency medical care and hazardous materials handling | Provide first aid and CPR to the injured and contain and control hazardous materials | Editorial assistance opportunity: handling process prompts can assist, but medical treatment and hazardous materials control remain with people. Actual system capabilities, adoption, and effects must be verified separately, and monitoring devices are not equivalent to generative AI. | Provide first aid and hazardous materials control within the trained and authorized scope |
| Clearing and records | Check the scene to eliminate reignition hazards and complete incident and rescue records | Editorial assistance opportunity: equipment inspection and record organization can be trialed as assistance, but on-scene confirmation and record responsibility remain with people. Actual system capabilities, adoption, and effects must be verified separately, and monitoring devices are not equivalent to generative AI. | Check the scene item by item and complete the records |
| Training and fire prevention | Take part in drills and physical and skills training and carry out public fire prevention education | Editorial assistance opportunity: training and outreach materials can be generated with assistance, but training delivery and teaching responsibility remain with people. Actual system capabilities, adoption, and effects must be verified separately, and monitoring devices are not equivalent to generative AI. | Complete training according to plan and carry out public education |
| Crew coordination | Coordinate handling with fellow firefighters on the same shift, the commander, and other rescue forces | Editorial assistance opportunity: communication and coordination tools can help gather information, but on-scene coordination and handover remain with people. Actual system capabilities, adoption, and effects must be verified separately, and monitoring devices are not equivalent to generative AI. | Coordinate according to command relationships and hand over truthfully |
The following evidence cards correspond respectively to an international organization's task exposure study, official occupational data, employment and wage statistics, and a governance framework; read them according to their respective subjects and limitations, and do not merge them into a single conclusion.
The following are editorial trial suggestions combining this occupation's information lookup, equipment records, and training materials. Dispatch automation, sensing and monitoring, and generative AI must be verified separately, and the tool list must not be treated as already adopted or as efficiency evidence.
AI primarily changesInformation lookup and record organization can be trialed; dispatch and routing systems must be verified separately according to the agency's actual capabilities
Human responsibility remainsOn-scene assessment, fire condition judgment, and search and rescue decisions remain the responsibility of the on-scene commander and crew members
AI primarily changesEquipment records and training material drafting can be trialed, with original records checked item by item
Human responsibility remainsEquipment inspection conclusions, drill evaluations, and safety judgments remain borne by people
AI primarily changesIndexing and describing image records can be trialed; monitoring equipment performance and AI capabilities must be checked separately
Human responsibility remainsHazard judgment, withdrawal decisions, and command orders must still be confirmed by people
When using AI to assist with work in this occupation, it is recommended to first confirm the division of labor and authorization boundaries:
First confirm on-scene command relationships, safety officer duties, and attendance systems, and determine which steps may use tools and which decisions must be made by the on-scene commander.
Restrict tools to the permitted steps only, such as dispatch order assignment, route and water source information lookup, equipment and attendance records, and on-scene monitoring data and training material organization, and do not let them directly produce command orders or safety determinations.
Personnel who are trained and authorized check tool prompts and monitoring data, review deviations, and record the reasons for human judgment, handling and escalating anomalies according to procedure.
Record the dispatch, handling, equipment inspection, and training processes according to institutional rules so that the process is traceable; information about casualties and involved parties is handled according to regulations.
On-scene command, rescue, and safety responsibility are borne by the on-scene commander and duty personnel, and tool outputs do not constitute command orders or accident conclusions.
Skipping the required safety procedures or protection requirements may cause casualties in environments with high heat, heavy smoke, collapse, and electricity.
Control: Work according to handling procedures and protection requirements, confirm the withdrawal route and safety conditions before entering, and withdraw immediately and report to the commander if anything is abnormal.
Misjudging the building structure, the type of hazardous materials, or how the fire is developing may lead to going the wrong way or being trapped.
Control: On arrival, first assess the building structure and hazardous materials and report, act on the commander's orders, and do not enter dangerous areas before they are identified.
Rescue and medical records and information about casualties and involved parties are sensitive information, and leakage may harm the rights and interests of those involved.
Control: Handle rescue records and information about involved parties according to minimum necessity and institutional rules, and do not submit them to unrelated parties or external tools.
Long-term high-intensity duty and shift work may cause physical exhaustion, sleep deprivation, and occupational injury.
Control: Arrange rest and training according to health surveillance and shift systems, and truthfully report physical discomfort and injuries.
Carrying out handling beyond one's training or authorization may cause secondary injury and liability problems.
Control: Clarify one's own trained subjects and authorized scope, and hand matters involving hazardous materials, medical care, and enforcement beyond that scope to authorized personnel or professional bodies.
First build up physical fitness and basic skills: complete the physical fitness test events to standard, become familiar with donning protective equipment and using breathing apparatus, master hose laying and basic rope techniques, and complete the basic subjects in training.
Turn equipment checks, shift handover, and dispatch records into habits, and ask the commander first when questions arise about command relationships, hazardous materials, or situations beyond one's training.
Use tools for checking equipment and water source information, recording equipment status, and organizing training materials, while retaining responsibility for on-scene assessment, search and rescue decisions, and safety judgments.
First clarify on-scene command, safety officer, and attendance systems, then decide which steps can introduce dispatch and monitoring systems, while retaining human command and safety confirmation.
Information lookup, records, and training material drafting can be trialed; the studies checked cannot prove that firefighters have widely adopted it, that the occupation will necessarily be augmented, or that it will not be replaced.
Source: ILO Working Paper 96 (2023); O*NET 33-2011.00 task dataOriginal source ↗
Learn according to the target crew's actual equipment and training requirements; a software list does not prove widespread adoption or efficiency gains, and dispatch monitoring must be viewed separately from generative AI.
Source: O*NET 33-2011.00 task data; ILO Working Paper 96Original source ↗
This page recommends trialing record and training material organization first, measuring quality and rework; this is an editorial choice, not a measured impact ranking.
Source: ILO Working Paper 96 (2023); O*NET task dataOriginal source ↗
Currently 355,300 employed in 2025, a growth category of 3% to 4% for 2025—2035 (OOH lists 4%), and 26,800 average annual openings; the 2025 median wage is $28.50 per hour and $59,280 per year. The shared old 2024—2034 card figures of 344,900 and 27,100 are read for the original period. The projection does not guarantee that the occupation will not decline because of AI.
Source: Current O*NET and BLS 2025—2035 projectionOriginal source ↗
NIST does not grant on-scene command or medical treatment authority. Specific orders, handling, and safety decisions must be verified against actual systems and training authorization, and tool outputs are not proof of authorization.
Source: NIST AI Risk Management Framework; on-scene command and safety system requirementsOriginal source ↗
The projections and ILO study checked do not give a year of firefighter disappearance; task assistance does not mean it has been taken over, and position changes should be tracked continuously.
Source: BLS employment projections (2024—2034); ILO Working Paper 96Original source ↗
It is recommended to first check hiring and training requirements and practice equipment records, collaboration reporting, and basic skills; skills must be trained under proper supervision and within the authorized scope, and the suggestions on this page do not imply frontline qualifications.
Source: O*NET 33-2011.00; BLS employment and wage statisticsOriginal source ↗
The above are task-level judgments and evidence boundaries and do not represent a definitive forecast of the number of positions.
Evidence gap: no verifiable income statistics could be obtained for other regions and employment models (volunteer fire brigades, labor dispatch, and industrial park employer fire positions); differences by region, unit nature, and establishment type are large and must be checked position by position.
The China materials checked did not yield a precise national wage for this occupation; the national, industry, and job category averages below serve only as background proxies.
| Education background | Common position directions | Notes and check suggestions |
|---|---|---|
| High school diploma or equivalent (some positions require an associate degree or above) | Government full-time fire brigades and municipal fire and rescue stations | Focuses on firefighting, rescue, and duty readiness |
| Associate or bachelor's degree (fire protection engineering, safety engineering, or emergency management related majors) | Employer full-time fire brigades and fire safety management positions | Able to take on fire management and training organization |
| Accumulated long-term duty and professional training (fire academy or on-the-job training) | Frontline firefighter and special rescue positions | Focuses on on-scene handling, special duties, and hazardous materials handling |
| Cross-disciplinary (firefighting plus emergency medical care or emergency management) | Emergency medical and emergency management positions | Requires supplementary medical certificates or emergency management training |
This page uses industry average wages (“Public administration, social security, and social organizations” urban non-private 119,465 yuan / year; “Water conservancy, environment, and public facilities management” non-private 70,172 yuan / year; “Construction” non-private 92,036 yuan / year; “Education” non-private 133,539 yuan / year), as well as the national urban non-private unit average of 129,441 yuan / year, private unit average of 71,590 yuan / year, and the job category average wages of enterprises above designated size as background; they cannot substitute for this occupation's wage.
Hiring demand from fire and rescue agencies and public administration departments
Hiring scenarios for fire management positions in public facilities and industrial parks
Hiring scenarios for positions related to construction projects and employer fire service
Record and training material organization assistance can be trialed; dispatch monitoring systems and generative AI are viewed separately, and adoption, efficiency, income, or demand changes for the exact occupation in China have not been verified.
| Official annual wage, not personal take-home pay |
| Median: 59,280 USD / year (median hourly wage $28.50, 2025); half of employed practitioners earn below and half above this value. |
| Highest 10% | Above 101,040 USD / year (90th percentile, May 2025 OEWS, exact occupation 33-2011, presented via O*NET) | Official annual wage, not personal take-home pay | The 90th percentile of 101,040 USD / year is only a position in the wage distribution and does not prove a causal role for rank, region, or duty arrangements. |
|---|
Pay · 10th percentile：Below 34,910 USD / year；Pay · 10th percentile | Below 34,910 USD / year； exact occupation 33-2011 definition | Not a starting salary.
Pay · 25th percentile：Below 44,490 USD / year；Pay · 25th percentile | Below 44,490 USD / year； exact occupation 33-2011 definition | Not a starting salary.
Pay · median：59,280 USD / year；Pay · median | 59,280 USD / year； median hourly wage $28.50 (May 2025 OEWS, exact occupation 33-2011 definition) | Half of practitioners earn below and half above this value.
Pay · 75th percentile：Below 77,250 USD / year；Pay · 75th percentile | Below 77,250 USD / year； exact occupation 33-2011 definition | Does not include duty allowance or overtime income.
Pay · 90th percentile：Above 101,040 USD / year；Pay · 90th percentile | Above 101,040 USD / year； exact occupation 33-2011 definition | Does not represent the overall ceiling for this occupation.
The median is the midpoint of the wage distribution of the employed within the same statistical period, not a starting wage, and it does not represent the income level of volunteer firefighters.
OEWS annual wages are usually expressed on a 2,080-hour full-time full-year basis; paid hours, duty, and part-time arrangements differ by individual, so hourly wages cannot be directly converted into take-home income.
Wages come from May2025 OEWS; employment and openings come from BLS projections presented via O*NET. The current 2025—2035 and the old 2024—2034 are read separately.
Check the employer's paid hours and pay items; OEWS excludes items such as overtime premium, and all duty allowances cannot be excluded across the board.
| Industry | Median wage for this occupation within the industry | How to understand this value |
|---|---|---|
| Local government (excluding schools and hospitals) (OEWS industry definition) | Historical card: not obtained in the original check; current OOH industry values are given in the quick answers of this module. | This row retains the original shared fact card definition and does not prove that the official figure is currently unpublished. |
| State government (excluding schools and hospitals) (OEWS industry definition) | Historical card: not obtained in the original check; current OOH industry values are given in the quick answers of this module. | This row retains the original shared fact card definition and does not prove that the official figure is currently unpublished. |
| Government (federal or other public sector) | Historical card: not obtained in the original check; current OOH industry values are given in the quick answers of this module. | This row retains the original shared fact card definition and does not prove that the official figure is currently unpublished. |
| National (all industries, for reference) | 59,280 USD / year | The national median annual wage for this occupation as of May 2025 (BLS OEWS, presented via O*NET), given for comparison and not an industry figure. |
OEWS covers wages of the employed, including employed full-time and part-time workers, and excludes unpaid volunteers; it is not a count of fixed wages only.
The current OOH has listed median wages for major industries for firefighters
The education survey percentages have published the leading items
Employment · employment size | About 344,900 people； 2024 exact occupation 33-2011 definition, presented via O*NET | Most positions are in the public sector and volunteer firefighters are not included.
Employment · growth rate | Average (3% to 4%, 2024—2034)； exact occupation 33-2011 definition | Not the probability of an individual obtaining a position or passing a physical fitness assessment.
Employment · projected job openings | About 27,100 per year (2024—2034 projected annual average)； exact occupation 33-2011 definition | Most come from replacement needs and do not equal net new positions.
O*NET occupational interest baseline
Communication style can be trained and need not be limited by personality labels.Assessment results describe preferences only and do not represent ability.
This section is used to further explain the usage boundaries of the assessments.
Which Holland interest type is closer to Firefighters?
The interest code is mainly R (Realistic): corresponding to hands-on handling on the spot, using equipment and tools, and working outdoors and in field environments. Interest codes describe activity preferences only and do not represent talent, hiring, or physical fitness conclusions.
Do not use it this way: If you do not accept long-term physical training and work in dangerous environments, or are unwilling to act according to orders and procedures, the work experience will be affected.
Take my Holland occupational interest testWhich Big Five traits are more relevant to this work?
Treat recording, reviewing, and coordinating according to procedure as behavioral observation suggestions; the Big Five occupational predictive validity or ranking for firefighters has not been verified.
Do not use it this way: Personality traits cannot replace physical fitness, skills training, and certificate requirements.
View my Big Five personality traitsCan MBTI be used to judge whether I am suited to being a Firefighter?
Can organize field work and training and teaching preferences; a basis for MBTI predicting rescue performance has not been verified, and formal training records still matter.
Do not use it this way: If you are completely unwilling to communicate with teammates, casualties, and the public in a tense scene, on-scene handling and coordination will be significantly constrained.
Learn about my MBTI preferencesCan the Enneagram tell me whether I am suited to this occupation?
The Enneagram is a self-reflection tool. The more practical questions for this work are: can you stay calm in dangerous and high-intensity scenes, and can you obey command and look after teammates.
Do not use it this way: If the tension or mistakes of every dispatch are taken as a denial of personal worth, long-term duty will be very difficult.
Explore my Enneagram patternsIf I am not good at math, can I be a Firefighter?
Can observe on-scene information, quantitative, and spatial task performance; the occupational predictive validity of IQ has not been verified, and scores do not replace hiring requirements.
Do not use it this way: Treating test scores as hiring or physical fitness assessment thresholds does not hold.
Learn about my intelligence and reasoning performanceDo Firefighters need high emotional intelligence?
Can observe actual performance in receiving and reporting information in tense situations; the occupational validity of emotional intelligence tests has not been verified and no score threshold is set.
Do not use it this way: Test results cannot replace physical fitness tests, skills assessments, and on-scene performance.
Learn about my emotional intelligence abilityFits better when: Familiar with fire codes and enforcement procedures; able to complete inspection and investigation and evidence collection according to procedure
Watch for: This direction is not recommended if you are unwilling to handle on-site enforcement and investigation and evidence collection, or do not accept paperwork.
Explore related career: Fire Inspectors and Investigators directionFits better when: Has engineering and calculation ability; able to read codes and complete fire protection system design and evaluation
Watch for: This direction is not recommended if you are unwilling to do engineering calculations and design documents, or unwilling to keep updating technical standards.
Explore related career: Fire-Prevention and Protection Engineers directionFits better when: Has plan development and interagency coordination ability; able to organize and command during emergencies
Watch for: This direction is not recommended if you are unwilling to bear coordination responsibility or do not accept frequent interagency communication.
Explore related career: Emergency Management Directors directionFits better when: Has emergency medical treatment ability and the corresponding certificates; able to transport according to procedure
Watch for: This direction is not recommended if you are unwilling to bear medical treatment responsibility, or do not accept medical certificate assessments.
Explore related career: Emergency Medical Technicians directionFits better when: Able to pass law enforcement physical, background, and psychological evaluations; has on-scene handling ability
Watch for: This direction is not recommended if you are unwilling to face enforcement conflicts and shift duty, or unwilling to accept law enforcement assessments.
Explore related career: Police and Patrol Officers directionFits better when: Familiar with occupational safety and health regulations; able to organize risk assessment and rectification
Watch for: This direction is not recommended if you are unwilling to handle institutional and training work, or do not accept inspecting multiple sites.
Explore related career: Occupational Health and Safety Specialists directionFit is not determined by personality labels; observe recording, review, and teamwork performance in formal training.
Introversion serves only as an observation of communication preference; try concise reporting and repeating tasks back, and do not judge rescue capability from a label.
Extraversion does not guarantee on-scene skills; observe whether assignments are followed and handover is done accurately.
No basis for the MBTI type best suited has been verified; concrete training and duty records are more suitable for judging preparation.
The current O*NET interest is mainly R (Realistic), corresponding to hands-on work, equipment, and field activity; it is not proof of physical fitness or hiring.
The validity of personality scores in predicting firefighter performance has not been verified and cannot be turned into hiring or safety conclusions.
Math scores alone cannot determine fit; actual records involve time, quantity, and space, and specific skills must be checked against training requirements.
No emotional intelligence score threshold is set; observe how tasks are heard clearly, changes are reported, and teammates are responded to.
For self-reflection cues only; rescue performance is not determined by Enneagram type; compare using feedback records from formal training.
Complete information reporting, equipment ledgers, and handover checklists with fictitious cases; observe omissions, but this cannot replace formal practical training or authorization.
Possible consequence：May cause casualties in environments with high heat, heavy smoke, collapse, electricity, and chemicals
How to reduce risk：Work according to handling procedures and protection requirements, confirm the withdrawal route and safety conditions before entering, and withdraw immediately and report to the commander if anything is abnormal
Evidence：BLS OOH：Firefighters
Typical scenario：Judging building load-bearing capacity from appearance alone or failing to identify hazardous materials markings at the scene
Roles most affected：Crew members and command personnel responsible for assessing fire conditions and hazardous environments
Possible consequence：May lead to going the wrong way, being trapped, or failed handling, endangering trapped people and crew members
How to reduce risk：On arrival, first assess structural safety and hazardous materials and report, act on the commander's orders, and do not enter dangerous areas before they are identified
Evidence：O*NET tasks and work activities data
Typical scenario：Taking on the corresponding handling tasks without medical or specialty operation authorization
Roles most affected：Trained crew members carrying out medical or specialty handling
Possible consequence：May cause secondary injury and bring liability and compliance problems
How to reduce risk：Clarify one's own trained subjects and authorized scope, and hand matters involving hazardous materials, medical care, and enforcement beyond that scope to authorized personnel or professional bodies
Evidence：O*NET tasks and work activities data
Typical scenario：Working overtime continuously or continuing duty while ignoring warning signals from the body
Roles most affected：Duty personnel with high-intensity duty and shift work
Possible consequence：Shift work and high-intensity scenes may bring fatigue and stress; specific occupational disease or medical causality was not verified this round, and physical discomfort is handled according to the employer's health system and professional assessment.
How to reduce risk：Arrange rest and training according to health surveillance and shift systems, truthfully report physical discomfort and injuries, and seek professional support when necessary
Evidence：BLS OOH：Firefighters
Typical scenario：Posting on-scene images or casualty information to social platforms
Roles most affected：Personnel with access to on-scene images and casualty records
Possible consequence：May harm the rights and interests of involved parties and violate information protection requirements
How to reduce risk：Handle rescue records and information about involved parties according to minimum necessity and institutional rules, and do not submit them to unrelated parties or external tools
Evidence：O*NET tasks and work activities data
Typical scenario：Leaving or taking over without confirming the handover contents
Roles most affected：Duty personnel responsible for crew coordination and handover
Possible consequence：May cause duplicated or missed duties or interruption of handling, affecting the continuity of the rescue
How to reduce risk：Clarify the division of labor and reporting paths according to command relationships, and hand over the on-scene situation and outstanding items item by item at shift change and handover
Evidence：O*NET tasks and work activities data
| Entry direction | Starting task | Preparable evidence | Work samples that can be shown even without experience | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trainee firefighter and training position | Complete equipment checks, hose laying, and basic subject training under supervision | Training and assessment records | Write a set of protective equipment donning and inspection key points | Training-oriented setting; pay attention to safety procedures and physical fitness standards |
| Frontline firefighting and rescue position | Participate in firefighting, forcing and ventilation, and search and rescue and report as required | Dispatch and handling records | Write a set of on-arrival assessment and reporting key points | Handling-oriented setting; pay attention to command relationships and protection requirements |
| Special duties and hazardous materials handling position | Take on hazardous materials detection, isolation, and special rescue tasks | Special duty and handling records | Write a set of hazardous materials isolation and protection level key points | Specialty setting; pay attention to detection and handling levels |
| Emergency medical treatment position | Provide first aid and CPR and assist in transporting casualties | Medical treatment and transport records | Write a set of on-scene first aid and transport key points | Medical-oriented setting; pay attention to the trained and authorized scope |
| Employer full-time fire service and fire prevention management position | Participate in employer fire alarm handling, fire prevention patrols, and organizing emergency drills | Handling and patrol records | Write a set of employer fire prevention patrol and rectification key points | Management-oriented setting; pay attention to plans and drill records |
Check the education, fire academy, and physical training requirements according to the target region and crew announcement, and record the announcement date; do not project the U.S. summary percentages onto the threshold for most positions in China.
Distinguish between “meeting physical fitness standards” and “being able to complete handling tasks under command”, and look at both.
Check requirements for certificates such as emergency medical technician (EMT), medical and physical fitness assessments, background checks, and duty systems.
Record the requirements and their validity period; changing employer or region requires re-verification.
Job Zone1-2, SVP<6.0, not marked Bright Outlook; the education summary shows 70% high school, 12% certificate, and 11% less than high school, with the remaining items not obtained this round, and they are not called unpublished.
The preparation level describes the occupation as a whole and does not represent the hiring and physical fitness standards of a specific organization; BLS indicates that the typical entry-level education is a postsecondary non-degree award, usually with no related work experience required and long-term on-the-job training needed.
Check the fire apparatus and pumps, hoses and nozzles, forcing and cutting tools, ladders and ropes, self-contained breathing apparatus and personal protective equipment, thermal imaging and gas detection devices, communications and dispatch equipment, and first aid equipment used.
List the actual usage scenarios and safety requirements, and do not use the tool list as a substitute for on-scene skills and safety judgment.
Provide the building type and number of floors, seat of the fire and smoke spread conditions, locations of trapped people, available fire apparatus and water sources, and order of arrival and crew assignments as the input for this exercise.
Mark units and missing items, and state that the material is completely fictitious.
List the missing information that could affect judgment.
State that the exercise uses fictitious materials and does not represent any real unit, premises, or incident.
Reviewable outputs: initial on-arrival assessment and what to report, hose and nozzle selection and the water supply plan, forcing and ventilation methods, the search route and safe withdrawal conditions, whom to coordinate with, and the decisions that must be made by the on-scene commander.
State the boundary: rescue tactics, medical, and safety conclusions must be made by the on-scene commander and professional bodies.
Require writing out protective equipment and breathing apparatus donning checks, the pre-entry safety assessment, withdrawal signals and assembly points, the forcing and ventilation sequence, and casualty handling and transport handover, and stating which actions are beyond one's training scope.
Exercise output: an executable set of on-scene handling and safety key points.
First complete the on-arrival assessment and report, then carry out firefighting and search and rescue according to the commander's orders and assignments, and finally check the scene and complete the records.
List the education, certificate, physical fitness test, and background check requirements of the target announcement item by item in a comparison table.
Mark items already met, to be completed, and to be verified.
Choose a fictitious scene and write out the assessment sequence, what to report, the hose and water supply plan, and withdrawal conditions.
Demonstrates the ability to let others understand the handling approach.
Use one page to record protective equipment and breathing apparatus check items, equipment status, safety notes, and handover points.
Mark the sources of basis and the parts that could not be verified.
Explain the equipment, detection devices, and communication equipment used and how they are checked so that others can reproduce the inspection process.
Mark which steps used digital tools and were checked by humans.
| Scenario | Questions that may be asked | Evidence that can be presented | Conclusions that cannot be inferred from this |
|---|---|---|---|
| Interview | Whether one can explain the handling process and safety notes. | Check whether one can explain the on-arrival assessment and division of labor clearly and show training records. | Whether to hire is judged by the employer according to prescribed procedures and is not decided by the individual. |
| Physical fitness test | Whether one can complete the physical fitness test events to standard. | Use physical fitness and skills assessment records to demonstrate executability. | Passing once does not mean one can take on all types of on-scene tasks. |
| Practical skills |
Excerpt one protection or withdrawal requirement and write out the execution and recording key points.
Write out the donning, seal check, and use limitations of breathing apparatus and protective clothing.
Write out the assessment sequence for fire conditions, structure, hazardous materials, and trapped people information.
Write out water source selection, hose laying, and pump and nozzle operation key points.
Write out the content of handling records and shift handover items.
Ask an experienced firefighter or commander to point out omissions in the handling and safety steps and record the feedback.
| Qualification / preparation item | Applicable group | Role for this occupation | Whether generally required | Path to obtain | Approximate duration | Boundary statement |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High school diploma or equivalent (some positions require an associate degree or above) | Applying for entry-level positions | Check the education against the target position announcement; the summary percentages are not the threshold for most employers in China | The main entry condition indicated by both BLS and the education survey on this page | General high school or equivalency examination, with further education later | Depends on individual progress | Education does not mean passing the physical fitness test and skills assessment |
| Fire academy or on-the-job training (firefighting and rescue subjects) |
Typical scope：Able to complete basic subjects to standard and record
Readiness evidence：Training and assessment records
Credential boundary：Training and assessment records
Next moves：Complete equipment checks, hose laying, and basic subject training under supervision
Typical scope：Able to independently complete position tasks under command
Readiness evidence：Dispatch and handling records
Credential boundary：Dispatch and handling records
Next moves：Participate in firefighting, forcing and ventilation, and search and rescue and report as required
Typical scope：Able to carry out handling according to protection levels and control the scene
Readiness evidence：Special duty and handling records
Credential boundary：Special duty and handling records
Next moves：Take on hazardous materials detection, isolation, and special rescue tasks
Typical scope：Able to organize crew action and complete handover
Readiness evidence：Crew leadership and training records
Credential boundary：Crew leadership and training records
Next moves：Lead the crew in handling tasks and organize daily training
Typical scope：Able to complete basic first aid treatment according to procedures
Readiness evidence：First aid and training records
Credential boundary：First aid and training records
Next moves：Complete first aid equipment preparation and basic handling assistance under supervision
Typical scope：Able to handle according to procedure and record transport
Readiness evidence：Medical treatment and transport records
Credential boundary：Medical treatment and transport records
Next moves：Independently provide first aid and CPR and assist in transporting casualties
Typical scope：Able to inspect according to procedures and propose handling opinions
Readiness evidence：Inspection and maintenance records
Credential boundary：Inspection and maintenance records
Next moves：Take on fire facility inspection, equipment maintenance, and technical services
Typical scope：Able to complete standby duty and records according to institutional rules
Readiness evidence：Standby and inspection records
Credential boundary：Standby and inspection records
Next moves：Complete standby patrols, equipment checks, and records under supervision
Typical scope：Able to handle incipient fires and organize evacuation
Readiness evidence：Handling and drill records
Credential boundary：Handling and drill records
Next moves：Participate in employer fire alarm handling and organizing emergency drills
Typical scope：Able to drive hazard rectification and carry out training
Readiness evidence：Patrol and rectification records
Credential boundary：Patrol and rectification records
Next moves：Carry out fire prevention patrols, hazard rectification tracking, and training
Able to complete equipment donning and basic handling tasks under command
Able to complete firefighting, search and rescue, and records according to procedures and report truthfully
Able to carry out handling according to protection levels and the authorized scope
Able to organize crew action, assess on-scene safety, and complete handover
United States · Firefighters（33-2011.00）
About 344,900 people
Employment size
Employment size is on an employed-person definition, does not include volunteer firefighters, and most positions are in the public sector
Does not establish：Scale and openings are not the same indicator; openings are the annual average for the projection period and include replacement needs
Mainland China · Public administration, social security, and social organizations; water conservancy, environment, and public facilities management (industry categories)
Public administration, social security, and social organizations non-private 119,465 yuan / year; water conservancy, environment, and public facilities management non-private 70,172 and private 49,527 yuan / year; construction non-private 92,036 and private 66,275 yuan / year; national non-private 129,441 and private 71,590 yuan / year
Industry wage (industry proxy)
The industry average covers multiple occupations; total wages include labor remuneration such as allowances and subsidies within the statistical definition, and do not substitute for this occupation's income.
Does not establish：Industry and job category proxies, not the exact occupational wage; duty allowances, overtime pay, or hazardous-duty subsidies are not excluded across the board.
These are capability relationships, not automatic promotions or credential waivers.
Transfers：Fire scene observation and recording; inspection enforcement and evidence collection to be supplemented separately
Build next：Requires supplementary site inspection and enforcement procedure ability
View career profileTransfers：Fire protection equipment and risk awareness; engineering calculation and design to be supplemented separately
Build next：Requires supplementary engineering design and calculation ability
View career profileTransfers：On-scene information reporting and collaboration; plans and resource coordination to be supplemented separately
Build next：Requires supplementary plan development and interagency coordination ability
View career profileTransfers：Existing first aid collaboration and transport experience must be checked; medical certificates to be verified separately
Build next：Requires supplementary medical treatment and certificate requirements
View career profileTransfers：On-scene handling and reporting; public order and criminal enforcement authority to be verified separately
Build next：Requires supplementary public order and criminal enforcement ability
View career profileTransfers：Risk observation and protection awareness; occupational health methods to be supplemented separately
Build next：Requires supplementary occupational safety and health management ability
View career profileTransfers：First aid collaboration within the trained scope; target medical training to be verified separately
Build next：Requires supplementary emergency medical services system training
View career profileTransfers：On-scene information and rescue collaboration; advanced life support and clinical skills to be supplemented separately
Build next：Requires supplementary advanced life support and clinical training
View career profilePrimary tasks and authority differ: this occupation's main output is firefighting, rescue, and on-scene emergency handling, and it also handles emergency medical care and hazardous materials; fire inspectors and investigators focus on premises inspection, permits, and fire cause investigation under fire codes and belong to the enforcement and investigation category; fire prevention and protection engineers produce technical solutions for fire protection systems and building fire protection design; emergency management directors focus on plan development, resource coordination, and interagency coordination; emergency medical technicians focus on prehospital emergency medical care and transport and usually do not fight fires; police and patrol officers focus on public order maintenance and criminal enforcement; and occupational health and safety specialists focus on workplace hazard identification and safety management.
U.S. O*NET-SOC 33-2011.00 “Firefighters”: interest code R, Job Zone 1-2 (requiring little to some preparation, SVP below 6.0), not marked as Bright Outlook (projected average growth of 3% to 4% for 2024—2034). Definition notes: wages, employment, and growth are on the exact occupation definition (2025 median hourly wage $28.50, median annual wage $59,280; the 10th, 25th, 75th, and 90th percentiles about 34,910, 44,490, 77,250, and 101,040 USD / year respectively; 2024 employment about 344,900; average annual job openings about 27,100). BLS OOH separately gives 355,300 employed in 2025, 4% growth for 2025—2035, an increase of about 13,100, and about 26,800 average annual openings, which is on a same-period definition and marked in the body text. The education survey has published the leading items (high school diploma or equivalent 70%, postsecondary certificate 12%, less than a high school diploma 11%), the remaining items are not published, and this page does not fill them in.
O*NET lists this occupation as Job Zone 1-2 (requiring little to some preparation, SVP below 6.0). Work context shows that work schedules are mostly irregular (58%), with 37% regular; among weekly work hours, 31% exceed 40 hours and 69% are less than 40 hours (largely affected by the 24-hour shift system); 86% consider the work to require extremely precise or highly accurate work combined; the consequences of error are extremely serious for 49% and very serious for 26%; 22% have strict deadlines every day; conflict situations occur every day for 11%; 50% stand more than half the time every day; 47% walk or run more than half the time every day; 33% work outdoors in all weather every day and 44% once a week or more; 27% are exposed to contaminants every day; 32% are exposed to hazardous equipment every day; 33% are in dangerous conditions every day; 73% have very high responsibility for the health and safety of others; the degree of automation of the work is 32% not at all automated, 26% slightly, and 31% moderately. Duty often uses a 24-hour shift system including night and holiday response.
The more accurate judgment is that steps such as dispatch order assignment, information lookup, and record and training material organization will be taken over by tools, and the occupation as a whole will mainly see augmentation. The ILO 2023 study shows that task exposure varies greatly across occupations, that the share of highly exposed tasks in managerial and professional occupations is relatively low, and that technical feasibility does not mean agencies have already adopted it; on-scene assessment, search and rescue decisions, safety judgments, and command responsibility must be borne by trained personnel, so the conclusion is that the way of working will change, not that the occupation as a whole will be replaced.
For this exact occupation in 2025, the median hourly wage is $28.50 and the median annual wage is $59,280; the 10th, 25th, 75th, and 90th percentiles are about 34,910, 44,490, 77,250, and 101,040 USD / year respectively (May 2025 OEWS, presented via O*NET). The 2025 median annual wage given by BLS OOH is also $59,280 (hourly $28.50). The median is the midpoint of the wage distribution of the employed, not a starting wage; OEWS is on an employed-person definition and does not include volunteer firefighters, and BLS has not published a readable figure for this occupation's industry-specific wages. Personal income also depends on region, rank, duty allowance, and overtime arrangements.
O*NET lists this occupation as Job Zone 1-2 (requiring little to some preparation, SVP below 6.0); the O*NET summary page lists the education level required of new employees: high school diploma or equivalent 70%, postsecondary certificate 12%, and less than a high school diploma 11%, with the remaining items unpublished and not filled in by this page. BLS indicates that the typical entry-level education is a postsecondary non-degree award, usually with no related work experience required and long-term on-the-job training needed, and that most people are trained at a fire academy. In mainland China, a high school education or above, fire academy or on-the-job training, and physical fitness assessment are commonly required; the specifics are subject to the job posting and local regulations.
Most regions and employers require completion of fire academy training and may require certificates such as emergency medical technician (EMT), a physical fitness test and medical examination, and a background check; some positions also require fire vehicle and equipment operation qualifications or specialty training in special rescue and hazardous materials handling. These requirements vary by state or locality and must be verified against the original text of the target employer, the competent department, and local regulations; this page does not provide legal or compliance advice and does not equate a certificate with on-scene handling ability.
Responsibility for on-scene handling and for one's own and teammates' safety is borne by duty personnel; fireground command authority and emergency handling decisions are made by the on-scene commander according to procedures, and matters involving enforcement, accident determination, hazardous materials handling, and medical treatment authority must be carried out by authorized personnel and professional bodies. The scene must be worked according to handling procedures and personal protection requirements, with the withdrawal route and safety conditions confirmed before entering; rescue records and information about casualties and involved parties are kept confidential according to institutional rules. When using dispatch and monitoring type tools, tool outputs do not constitute command orders or accident conclusions, and matters beyond one's training and authorization are handed to authorized personnel. This page does not replace fire and rescue and emergency response procedures, hazardous materials management and handling regulations, occupational safety and health requirements, emergency medical treatment protocols, or vehicle and equipment maintenance standards.
For this exact occupation, 2024 employment was about 344,900, the projected average growth for 2024—2034 is 3% to 4%, and average annual job openings are about 27,100; most openings come from replacement needs, and individual development depends more on maintaining physical fitness, certificates, and specialty skills. Common transfers include: fire inspectors and investigators (requires supplementary site inspection and enforcement procedure ability), fire prevention and protection engineers (requires supplementary engineering design and calculation ability), emergency management directors (requires supplementary plan development and interagency coordination ability), emergency medical technicians (requires supplementary medical treatment and certificate requirements), police and patrol officers (requires supplementary public order and criminal enforcement ability), occupational health and safety specialists (requires supplementary occupational safety and health management ability), emergency medical technicians (requires supplementary emergency medical services system training), and emergency medical care personnel (requires supplementary advanced life support and clinical training). The feasibility of a transfer depends on the target position announcement and local regulations.
FermatMind career content research process
2026-09-20
Source and fact register for this page (O*NET 33-2011.00 occupational profile and detailed data, BLS OEWS May 2025 exact occupation wage percentiles, BLS OOH: Firefighters (wages, employment, outlook, and on-the-job training), the BLS 2024—2034 projection presented by O*NET, National Bureau of Statistics 2025 industry category and job category average wages, ILO Working Paper 96, NIST AI RMF)
Limitations：The education survey publishes only the leading items and this page does not merge them into a complete distribution; U.S. materials do not automatically imply certificate, physical fitness, and duty requirements for mainland China.
Limitations：Projections are not equal to actual results; average annual openings include replacement needs and cannot be broken down into the probability of an individual obtaining a position or passing a physical fitness assessment; the statistics do not include volunteer firefighters.
Limitations：The median is not a starting wage; OEWS is on an employed-person definition and does not include volunteer firefighters or some allowances; industry-specific values are not readable.
Industry average wages and job category average wages cover multiple occupations and cannot be treated as this occupation's median or starting wage; they also do not include duty allowances, overtime, and hazardous-duty subsidies.
Limitations：Task exposure does not equal actual adoption, productivity, or job changes; on-scene assessment, search and rescue, and command responsibility must still be borne by trained personnel.
Limitations：The governance framework contains no occupational or employment statistics and cannot serve as career outlook or employment evidence; on-scene command and safety requirements are governed by the original text of institutional and competent department requirements.
Limitations：Not an external occupational fact source, and does not replace official statistics, regulations, handling procedures, or competent department requirements.
Limitations：Editorial ratings use the existing occupational responsibilities and AI task analysis on this page. They are not adoption rates, measured effects, job-disappearance or personal-unemployment probabilities, or official scores from Stanford or another external institution. No measured time weights or future robot deployment are assumed.
Currently 355,300 employed in 2025, a growth category of 3% to 4% for 2025—2035 (OOH lists 4%), and 26,800 average annual openings; the 2025 median wage is $28.50 per hour and $59,280 per year. The shared old 2024—2034 card figures of 344,900 and 27,100 are read for the original period. The current OOH has published industry median wages of state government 64,980, federal 63,270, and local 59,850 USD / year, and the old shared industry gap card retains history. The education figures 70 / 12 / 11 are the leading summary items; the complete distribution and the original 25th and 75th extended tables were not obtained. NBS wages include bonuses, allowances, and overtime within the definition, while OEWS excludes specific items such as overtime premium. China's exact national wage, AI adoption effects, and health and authorization jurisdictions were not verified.
MBTI (English) · Big Five (English) · MBTI (Chinese) · Big Five (Chinese)
Check safety and protection requirements
Check the composition of pay and allowances
For structural safety, hazardous materials, or authorization issues that cannot be confirmed, keep them as unknown and ask the commander or authorized personnel to confirm, rather than handling them by experience.
State that the reference approach is only an example, not the only correct method.
This exercise does not constitute rescue tactics, medical, or safe-operating conclusions; on-scene command, hazardous materials handling, and medical treatment are carried out by the on-scene commander and authorized personnel according to institutional rules and procedures.
| Use practical assessment records to demonstrate skill level. |
| One single skill does not mean one can lead a crew in handling independently. |
| Duty and probation period | Whether one can coordinate according to command relationships and complete handover and records. | Use duty and dispatch records to demonstrate reliability. | Following procedures does not replace the commander's on-scene judgment and responsibility. |
|---|
Write down whether you are willing to continue, what needs to be supplemented, and which decisions cannot be made by yourself.
| All newly hired personnel |
| Meets the basic skill requirements of the position |
| Required by most employers |
| Organized by the employer or the fire academy |
| Check against the actual fire academy or employer training plan |
| Completing training does not mean one can lead a crew in handling independently |
| Certificates such as emergency medical technician (EMT) | Positions that carry out emergency medical treatment | Meets on-scene medical treatment and position requirements | Depends on regional and employer requirements | According to the training institution and examination arrangements | Check against the target course and examination arrangements | A certificate does not mean one can take on all medical treatment |
|---|
| Physical fitness test, medical examination, and background check | All applicants | Meets the physical fitness and hiring conditions of the position | Generally required | According to the recruitment announcement and employer arrangements | Check against the specific recruitment plan | Passing once does not mean maintaining the physical fitness standard over the long term |
|---|
| Specialty training in special rescue and hazardous materials handling | Special duties and hazardous materials handling direction | Authorization and skills supporting special handling tasks | Depends on position requirements | Specialty training by a professional body or the employer | Check against the specialty course, trained subjects, and employer plan | Specialty training does not mean one can handle all hazardous materials |
|---|
| Fire vehicle and equipment operation qualification | Driving and operating positions | Meets vehicle and equipment operation requirements | Depends on position requirements | Employer training and assessment | Check against the vehicle and equipment and the actual training and assessment arrangements | Obtaining a qualification does not exempt one from safe-operation responsibility |
|---|
Typical scope：Able to organize training and manage equipment ledgers
Readiness evidence：Training and equipment records
Credential boundary：Training and equipment records
Next moves：Organize skills training and take charge of equipment management
Typical scope：Able to coordinate fire management and emergency preparedness
Readiness evidence：Management and plan records
Credential boundary：Management and plan records
Next moves：Coordinate the employer's fire management, plans, and drills
Limitations：The work context percentages are survey results from respondents and do not represent all positions; certificate and physical fitness requirements must be verified separately.
