Firefighters must be able to handle the stressfulness of their work, which may involve entering a burning building or treating medical emergencies. However, you are going to be expected to show the following characteristics: Be in a good state of health and be physically fit. Illinois is one such state in which your job experience with other nearby fire departments can get you into another firefighting job at a different department. The firefighters who died in 2019 ranged in age from 21 to 81, with a median age of 46.5. . Prepare yourself for the physical nature of the job as well as the demands of the test. On call at a fire station, firefighters regularly inspect equipment and practice drills. There's a lot of great opportunities out there for you to make a difference. Use our chart to find out where that salary is located. Stayup to date on firefighter employment and hiring information with these resources: From recruit to probie: Advice for the newest members joining the ranks, 5 habits of successful probationary firefighters. Our estimates are verified against BLS, Census, and current job openings data for accuracy. When responding to a fire, firefightersare responsible for connecting hoses to hydrants, operating the pumps that power the hoses, climbing ladders, and using other tools to break through debris. Again, there is no official maximum age though mandatory retirement may play a part in some places you cant work longer than its legal to work, thats for sure. Can a 40-year-old do all these things? When responding to an emergency, firefighters often wear protective gear, which can be very heavy and hot. But with overtime and holiday pay, which is often required, you can get additional compensation. NFPA estimates there were an estimated 1,041,200 career and volunteer firefighters in the United States in 2020. There also will likely be a maximum age, usually between 28 and 35 years old, depending on the. Using the data below, you can see how other job titles compare to fire fighters. Whats the Oldest Age You Can Work as a Firefighter? That means investing in training produces a much lower return on investment. In many cases, too low of a return to be worth it. Thats true even if youre 51. The study also showed that after age 40, mens fitness levels declined at a faster rate than women, regardless of their level of physical activity.. Privacy Policy You might wonder, why do some states enforce this upper age limit for firefighters? There are usually no upper age limits to be a volunteer firefighter. Some departments might even require an EMT certification; larger departments may require a paramedics license. For example, they must maintain a high level of physical fitness. Maybe you did more than just contemplate, but you decided to go forth and do it. The most common degree for fire fighters is bachelor's degree 31% of fire fighters earn that degree. However, typically, the younger a recruit is the better from the departments point of view. If you want to impress your fellow firefighters as a new Im Mike, a career firefighter/paramedic and the creator behind the FirefighterNOW YouTube Channel (if you haven't seen it, you should head over and check it out). Firefightersmay be promoted to engineer, then to lieutenant, captain, battalion chief, assistant chief, deputy chief, and chief. These estimates are available for the nation as a whole, for individual states, and for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. Send Sarah an email or reach out on LinkedIn. Recruit Firefighter Program 1 of 4 Recruit Expectations Revision: 01/15/2019 . Also read: What Age Do Firefighters Retire? However, many departments have no upper age limit to apply. This evaluation will look at your mental and emotional stability to withstand the stresses associated with firefighting. What Is The Age Limit To Be A Paramedic/EMT? Age and Becoming a Firefighter FireCareers.com - FCBlog Some fire departments do not have a maximum age limit for applicants. Composition by Sex 297k MALE WORKFORCE 13,364 13.9k FEMALE WORKFORCE 2,894 95.5% of Firefighters are Male, making them the more common sex in the occupation. If a fire department hires a 21 or 22 year old, the department can train the recruit before he or she has a chance to develop "bad" habits. If you have the relevant experience and youre 42 years old the day you send in your firefighting application, you could very well get the job. They also carry victims who cannot walk. If theres embarrassing, immature, risqu or otherwise inappropriate posts on your pages, remove them. White fire fighters have the lowest average salary at $56,325. Forest and conservation workers measure and improve the quality of forests. Last year, the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) found that according to a 2008 report, the majority of firefighters protecting communities of 2,500 or less were 40 years of age or older. Applicants for firefighter jobs typically must be at least 18 years old and have a valid drivers license. According to rules set forth by the FLSA, the youngest age that an individual in the country can be employed is 14. Certainly, yes. Firefighters typically need a high school diploma and training in emergency medical services. In fact, most calls to firefighters are for medical emergencies, not fires, according to theNational Fire Protection Association. 81% of Fire Fighters are male, and 18% are female, so there are more male Fire Fighters than female Fire Fighters in the United States. The average age of male Firefighters in the workforce is 38.5 and of female Firefighters is 36.7, and the most common race/ethnicity for Firefighters is White (Non-Hispanic). Getting your state entry-level firefighter certifications, such as Firefighter I and II, is a great move. Ninety-five percent of volunteer firefighters were in working at fire departments that protect a population of less than 25,000 in 2018. In some parts of the country, fire departments have a max hiring age for both paid and volunteer firefighters that might be around 35-40 years old or older. All rights reserved. This means that its not always economic to take on older firefighters. than an average amount of effort and success". The largest employers of firefighters were as follows: These employment numbers exclude volunteer firefighters, who share the same duties as paid firefighters. Here are the top 12 firefighter factsas compiled by the NFPA. Comparatively, there are 8.2% of the Hispanic or Latino ethnicity and 5.9% of the Unknown ethnicity. Do Not Sell My Personal Information, If you need further help setting your homepage, check your browsers Help menu, I cant breathe: Patient dies after 5 Calif. FF-medics violate policy, Chief shares details about Calif. firefighters' strip club scandal, Fla. FF files complaint over photo of chief with 'Hitler-style mustache' giving Nazi salute on duty, Video: 6 DCFEMS members placed on leave after physical fight on scene, Part 1: What to expect from a career in the fire service, Part 2: 11 critical steps on the path to becoming a firefighter, Download our how to become a firefighter infographic, 8 tips to survive your first firefighter shift. The median annual wage for firefighters was $50,700 in May 2021. Within every occupation, earnings vary by experience, responsibility, performance, tenure, and geographic area. For those younger than 18, you can look into limited involvement as a junior firefighter. There is also a salary info tool to search for wages by zip code. The analysis includes firefighters, fire departments, apparatus and stations. (Ive even heard talk that some departments will accept younger applicants). This is your time to shine and stand out. This site was created to help anyone with an interest in the fire service and it is where I share everything I know and have learned about being a firefighter. In some cases you can even get a tax break for saving for your children's education. Firefighters must be able to make difficult choices quickly, sometimes in life-or-death situations. The tables in this document are a companion to the US Fire Department Profile report. In 2020, 89,600 firefighters were female (9%). Information on this site allows projected employment growth for an occupation to be compared among states or to be compared within one state. You had prior experience, but you havent worked as a firefighter for several years. 12 firefighter facts everyone should know - FireRescue1 Firefighters control and put out fires and respond to emergenciesinvolving life, property, or the environment. A Jumpstart by WebMD article cites a 2005 study that reviewed the exercise capacity of people in different age groups. The wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. In addition, the industry that employs the most fire fighters is the government industry. Ive also a written articles for FireRescue1 and Fire Chief. Isnt that age discrimination? The reasons they may have upper age limits are because younger people can be more likely to demonstrate the other attributes that the job demands. How Old Is Too Old? Firefighter age limits - FirefighterNOW The entry-level education typically required to become a firefighter is a high school diploma or equivalent. You, the visitor, should assume that any and all links on this website are affiliate links. your time can be eligible for transfer. The projected numeric change in employment from 2021 to 2031. In 2018, firefighters responded to 499,000 structure fires. Watch the four-part video series that tackles the key steps to becoming a firefighter: Becoming a firefighter is no easy task. Both volunteering and joining a junior firefighting program are invaluable experiences to add to your resume. The real kicker though is this. Police officers protect lives and property. Heres what you can expect from a career in the fire service as you navigate the path and complete the critical steps along the way. The Work Environment tab includes the number of jobs held in the occupation and describes the workplace, the level of physical activity expected, and typical hours worked. All rights reserved. All rights reserved. That figure reflects an increase of more than 1.2 million over 2017. For most profiles, this tab has a table with wages in the major industries employing the occupation. The National Junior Firefighter Program was established in 2007 to train youths on what it takes to become a firefighter. There were 1,318,500 fires in 2018. Being a firefighter, as were sure we dont have to tell you, is physically and mentally grueling. Copyright 2023 This may be called Tools or use an icon like the cog. Structure Fires in Office Properties, U.S. More people are joining the Air Force in their late 30s These sessions cover topics including anti-arson techniques, disaster preparedness, hazardous materials control, and public fire safety and education. Becoming a firefighter requires passing a physical ability test. This is often overlooked, but the required background check covers credit score. The Job Outlook tab describes the factors that affect employment growth or decline in the occupation, and in some instances, describes the relationship between the number of job seekers and the number of job openings. This video interviews an 85-year-old volunteer firefighter at Rockaway Township Fire Department, in New York: Dont worry, though, you wont be the only volunteer who is a little older than average, its a very popular thing to do with generous citizens who are looking to give something back to their community, once theyve finished working or transitioned to part-time work later in their careers. Firefighters must complete continuing education to obtain or maintain these credentials. Asked if the age of 55 is the distinction Jim Chalmers thinks should be . Ask your friends to remove any such posts involving you from their pages. Some firefighters also work in hazardous materials (hazmat) units and are specially trained in controlling and cleaning up oil spills, chemical accidents, and other potentially harmful substances.