Is Being A Firefighter A Good Career Choice?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

, , , ,

Is firefighting a good job to consider? Firefighting is a

rewarding career

that offers a very high level of job satisfaction. Being a firefighter is a great job if you enjoy helping people and serving your community, but be aware that it can be demanding, stressful, and even dangerous at times.

Is firefighter a bad career?

Firefighting can be an exciting career. You’re doing something that’s serving your community. …

It can be a dangerous job

, there is endless on the job training throughout your career, and you’ve got to keep yourself physically and mentally fit.

Is being a firefighter in demand?

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, demand for

firefighters is expected to increase by 7% by 2026

. Granted, the majority of firefighter positions are either part-time or volunteer but there is still a high demand for experienced firefighters in cities across the United States.

How competitive is becoming a firefighter?

Being a firefighter is not easy and neither is the process of becoming a firefighter. Competition is fierce and the hiring process can be very grueling and challenging, something many people do not endure or succeed at.

More than 70%

give up the pursuit of becoming a firefighter and move on to other career choices.

How hard is it to pass the fire academy?

Overall, most fire

academies are pretty hard to successfully complete

. You must be physically and mentally prepared for the task. … And lastly, we will give you some actionable, insider tips to prepare yourself to not just pass the academy, but excel!

Do firefighters live shorter lives?

Firefighters have

shorter life expectancies than the average population

and are three times more likely to die on the job, partly due to inherent risks, physical and mental stresses, and exposures to toxic and carcinogenic compounds released in smoke (source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, University of Cincinnati).

How much do firemen make?

Best-Paying States for Firefighters

The states and districts that pay Firefighters the highest mean salary are

California ($84,370)

, New Jersey ($80,890), Washington ($76,970), New York ($75,160), and Nevada ($69,310).

Is there a shortage of firefighters?

Tom Wieczorek, director for the Center for Public Safety Management, a research and consulting firm, said there is

a shortage of first responders and firefighters at every level

, including the Forest Service. … State and local fire agencies generally pay better and routinely keep firefighters employed year-round.

What is the hardest part of being a firefighter?

Firefighters are susceptible to burns,

smoke inhalation and crush injuries from collapsing structures

. They can suffer from heat exhaustion, as well as long-term job-related illnesses such as asthma, persistent coughing, heart disease, cancer and lung damage.

Do you sleep at the fire academy?

Now that you know more about the overall process of firefighting training, what it aims to teach, and what students learn during training, you can better understand a typical day in firefighting training. … Their classes meet Monday through Thursday, so

Friday students can sleep in.

Why do people fail the fire academy?

You can fail the fire academy and it can happen for a variety of reasons, including:

failing physical skills or written exams, resisting authority

, not being a team player, injuries, or bad attitudes. There are many pitfalls that can get someone unceremoniously kicked out of the fire academy.

Is 32 too old to become a firefighter?

You can become a professional firefighter after 30, 40, or even 50 at some fire departments. There are departments that have upper age limits between 28 and 40, while others

have no upper age requirements for firefighters

. There are usually no upper age limits to be a volunteer firefighter.

Can firefighters make 6 figures?

If you include extra pay and overtime, it’s

very possible for many firefighters to make over six figures per year

. … If you are in a more average paying area, you can still make more than 100 thousand dollars per year, depending on how much overtime hours are available and how much you are willing to work.

What’s the average lifespan of a firefighter?

The life expectancy of a fire fighter aged 20–24 year at entry was

54.9 years

, 2.7 and 2.8 years more in comparison to the German or Hamburg reference respectively. For a fire fighter aged 30–34 the advantage in life expectancy was 2.2 years compared to Hamburg and 2.4 years compared to Germany.

Do firefighters with degrees get paid more?

In some departments, firefighters with advanced education — such as a bachelor’s degree or master’s degree —

will receive higher wages

. … This allows firefighters to work for 1.5x their regular pay rate, which can end up being quite a boost to their annual salary.

How many firefighters are working the Dixie fire?


Roughly 21,000 federal firefighters

were working on the ground to battle big blazes throughout the Western United States, the Associated Press reported Sunday. More than 6,000 firefighters were battling the month-old Dixie Fire in California alone.

David Evans
Author
David Evans
David is a seasoned automotive enthusiast. He is a graduate of Mechanical Engineering and has a passion for all things related to cars and vehicles. With his extensive knowledge of cars and other vehicles, David is an authority in the industry.