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What Does it Take to Be a Municipal Firefighter?
Occupation Description Control and extinguish municipal fires, protect life and property and conduct rescue efforts.
What Do Municipal Firefighters Do On a Daily Basis?
- Salvage property by removing broken glass, pumping out water, and ventilating buildings to remove smoke.
- Operate pumps connected to high-pressure hoses.
- Respond to fire alarms and other calls for assistance, such as automobile and industrial accidents.
- Move toward the source of a fire, using knowledge of types of fires, construction design, building materials, and physical layout of properties.
- Spray foam onto runways, extinguish fires, and rescue aircraft crew and passengers in air-crash emergencies.
- Dress with equipment such as fire-resistant clothing and breathing apparatus.
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Qualities of a Municipal Firefighter
When polled, Municipal Firefighters say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Operation Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Operation and Control: Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others’ actions.
Related Job Titles
- Oil Fire Specialist
- Fire Alarm Operator
- Volunteer Firefighter
- Fire Engineer
- Apparatus Operator
Is There Going to be Demand for Municipal Firefighters?
In 2016, there was an estimated number of 327,300 jobs in the United States for Municipal Firefighter. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 7.2% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 23,600 new jobs for Municipal Firefighter by 2026. There will be an estimated 24,300 positions for Municipal Firefighter per year.
The states with the most job growth for Municipal Firefighter are Utah, Texas, and Nevada. Watch out if you plan on working in New Jersey, Maryland, or Alaska. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
How Much Does a Municipal Firefighter Make?
The average yearly salary of a Municipal Firefighter ranges between $25,170 and $88,920.
Municipal Firefighters who work in New York, New Jersey, or Washington, make the highest salaries.
How much do Municipal Firefighters make in each U.S. state?
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $41,740 |
| Alaska | $51,110 |
| Arizona | $45,150 |
| Arkansas | $37,800 |
| California | $81,580 |
| Colorado | $61,160 |
| Connecticut | $63,630 |
| Delaware | $48,800 |
| Florida | $53,340 |
| Georgia | $38,060 |
| Hawaii | $62,670 |
| Idaho | $40,490 |
| Illinois | $56,710 |
| Indiana | $49,460 |
| Iowa | $43,970 |
| Kansas | $37,930 |
| Kentucky | $33,520 |
| Louisiana | $30,600 |
| Maine | $36,750 |
| Maryland | $61,780 |
| Massachusetts | $60,080 |
| Michigan | $45,440 |
| Minnesota | $37,690 |
| Mississippi | $30,370 |
| Missouri | $51,100 |
| Montana | $49,230 |
| Nebraska | $47,880 |
| Nevada | $66,830 |
| New Hampshire | $48,640 |
| New Jersey | $76,530 |
| New Mexico | $36,590 |
| New York | $73,710 |
| North Carolina | $35,500 |
| North Dakota | $42,980 |
| Ohio | $46,310 |
| Oklahoma | $43,450 |
| Oregon | $66,330 |
| Pennsylvania | $56,090 |
| Rhode Island | $55,240 |
| South Carolina | $36,300 |
| South Dakota | $44,710 |
| Tennessee | $40,280 |
| Texas | $52,520 |
| Utah | $37,960 |
| Vermont | $37,070 |
| Virginia | $51,510 |
| Washington | $73,850 |
| West Virginia | $36,820 |
| Wisconsin | $40,310 |
| Wyoming | $43,810 |
What Tools & Technology do Municipal Firefighters Use?
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Municipal Firefighters may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Web browser software
- Microsoft Access
- Email software
- Microsoft Windows
- Spreadsheet software
- Geographic information system GIS software
- Corel WordPerfect Office Suite
- Fire incident reporting systems
- Incident command system ICS software
- Affiliated Computer Services ACS FIREHOUSE
- Plume modeling software
Becoming a Municipal Firefighter
Education needed to be a Municipal Firefighter:
How many years of work experience do I need?
Where do Municipal Firefighters Work?
The table below shows the approximate number of Municipal Firefighters employed by various industries.
Related Careers
Are you already one of the many Municipal Firefighter in the United States? If you’re thinking about changing careers, these fields are worth exploring:
References:
Image Credit: Airman 1st Class Sergio A. Gamboa via Public domain
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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