All About Municipal Firefighters
Occupation Description Control and extinguish municipal fires, protect life and property and conduct rescue efforts.
Municipal Firefighter Responsibilities
- Rescue victims from burning buildings, accident sites, and water hazards.
- Salvage property by removing broken glass, pumping out water, and ventilating buildings to remove smoke.
- Participate in physical training activities to maintain a high level of physical fitness.
- Search burning buildings to locate fire victims.
- Inspect fire sites after flames have been extinguished to ensure that there is no further danger.
- Establish firelines to prevent unauthorized persons from entering areas near fires.
Featured schools near , edit
Municipal Firefighter Skills
Below is a list of the skills most Municipal Firefighters say are important on the job.
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.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Operation and Control: Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Operation Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Related Job Titles for this Occupation:
- Oil Fire Specialist
- Fire Chief’s Aide
- Fire Captain
- Tail Board Man
- Marine Fire Fighter
Job Demand for Municipal Firefighters
There were about 327,300 jobs for Municipal Firefighter in 2016 (in the United States). 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. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 24,300 job openings in this field each 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.
What is the Average Salary of a Municipal Firefighter
The typical yearly salary for Municipal Firefighters is somewhere 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 different U.S. states?
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 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Municipal Firefighters
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Municipal Firefighters:
- 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
- Plume modeling software
- Affiliated Computer Services ACS FIREHOUSE
Becoming a Municipal Firefighter
Education needed to be a Municipal Firefighter:

How many years of work experience do I need?

Where Municipal Firefighters Are Employed

Below are examples of industries where Municipal Firefighters work:

You May Also Be Interested In…
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.
Featured Schools
![]() |
Southern New Hampshire University You have goals. Southern New Hampshire University can help you get there. Whether you need a bachelor's degree to get into a career or want a master's degree to move up in your current career, SNHU has an online program for you. Find your degree from over 200 online programs. Learn More > |