There are departments that have upper age limits between 28 and 40, while others have no upper age requirements for firefighters. By becoming either a careeror a volunteer firefighter, youre making a valuable contribution to your community and to society at large. Prepare yourself for the physical nature of the job as well as the demands of the test. 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. However, there are many others that have no age limit. Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. This data shows how men and women predominate in the fire fighter position over time. Here are four additional questions you'll be sure to get in a firefighter interview how you answer will influence a panel's hiring decision. They work with hazardous materials removal workers in these cases. Want to study up on your facts? Hazardous materials removal workers identify and dispose of harmful substances such as asbestos, lead, and radioactive waste. All state projections data are available at www.projectionscentral.org. Interestingly enough, the average age of fire fighters is 40+ years old, which represents 89% of the population. All rights reserved. Although some departments schedule firemen for eight or 12-hour shifts, this is not the norm. Joining a volunteer fire department is one way to get into an academy. Read on to learn more about the age restrictions on becoming a firefighter. Privacy Policy It does not include pay for self-employed workers, agriculture workers, or workers in private households because these data are not collected by the Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, the source of BLS wage data in the OOH. Those wishing to become wildland firefighters may attend apprenticeship programs that last up to 4 years. Learn more about firefighters by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations. PDF Recruit Firefighter Program Expectations According to rules set forth by the FLSA, the youngest age that an individual in the country can be employed is 14. Firefighters typically work 10 of the 24-hour shifts per month, giving them around 20 days off each month. In some cases, it makes sense to close out your accounts. Copyright 2023 Working as a volunteer firefighter may behelpful in getting a job as a career firefighter. Download this how to become a firefighter infographic as a starting point. A close second is associate degree with 28% and rounding it off is high school diploma with 26%. . Some departments might even require an EMT certification; larger departments may require a paramedics license. Reaction tests are a good way of gauging mental fitness and youll find that younger people do better than older ones in this respect. This report provides an overview of local and municipal fire departments in the United States. We have listed below the most common questions we get asked on a regular basis and hope these answer most of yours. Look for a box or option labeled Home Page (Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari) or On Startup (Chrome). Of the total number of firefighters 364,300 (35%) were career firefighters and 676,900 (65%) were volunteer firefighters. Firefighters must be able to make difficult choices quickly, sometimes in life-or-death situations. Clich, we know. After graduating the Academy as a firefighter, you receive a pay increase. 5.8% of Fire Fighters are Black or African American, Most a are White, with 76.8% of Fire Fighters belonging to this ethnicity. Im Mike, Im a full time firefighter/paramedic and the founder of FirefighterNOW. If youre 34 and a half, you could still apply for a firefighting job in a state with an upper age limit because youre within that limit. How you've acted to rectify your mistakes will be important when applying to become a firefighter. Firefighters provide medical attention in a variety of situations. How To Become a Firefighter in California (Plus Salary Data) Is There An Age Limit For Firefighters? (Minimum & Maximum Age) It's the most comprehensive and trusted online destination for fire service professionals worldwide. You will, however, find that you will be around quite a few very young firefighters too, as its highly recommended for kids looking to pursue a career in the fire service to cut their teeth as volunteers. There were 1,318,500 fires in 2018. If youre interested in starting a career in firefighting, or if you are already employed in that field, you willbe interested in reviewing the top 12firefighter facts. If you are asked about your past record during an interview, do not lie. Firefighters must be strong enough to carry heavy equipment and move debris at an emergency site. Download a copy of this fact sheet to have or hang in the station. "The toughest part with recruitment is the . As a firefighter, I recommend everyone has updated smoke detectors that dont require battery changes, like these ones from Kidde,a fire extinguisher, like this one from Amerex, and a fire escape ladder if you have bedrooms above the first floor, I recommend this one from Hausse. The What They Do tab describes the typical duties and responsibilities of workers in the occupation, including what tools and equipment they use and how closely they are supervised. Expect all potential employers to scan your social media presence. Instead, take ownership for your mistakes. This test is offered on a monthly basis for those interested in becoming an Orange County Fire firefighter, paramedic, firefighter recruit. Getting your state entry-level firefighter certifications, such as Firefighter I and II, is a great move. On call at fire stations, firefighters sleep, eat, and do other nonemergency tasks, such as work on equipment. This evaluation will look at your mental and emotional stability to withstand the stresses associated with firefighting. About 28,000 openings for firefighters are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Other credential requirements, such as emergency medical technician (EMT) certification, vary by state or locality. This section highlights information about where fire fighters work. Other exceptions exist as well. Firefighters | Data USA Research Summary. The analysis includes firefighters, fire departments, apparatus and stations. Additional training needed (postemployment) to attain competency in the skills needed in this occupation. information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely. Frequently asked questions | Metropolitan Fire Service East Chicago, IN pays an annual average wage of $71,020, the highest in the US. Entry-level firefighters receive a few months of training at fire academies run by the fire department or by the state. On call at a fire station, firefighters regularly inspect equipment and practice drills. Here is how you know. Employees with the fire fighter job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. Median wage data are from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey. Lexipol. 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. Using the data below, you can see how other job titles compare to fire fighters. make sure you're on a federal government site. Good luck! Recruits learn firefighting and fire-prevention techniques, local building codes, and emergency medical procedures. Expert shares creative way to fund your child's 529 plan Once you're ready to start preparing for the written exam, download our written exam checklist to keep yourself on track. Your # 1 priority is keeping your family safe. Bad credit will hurt you. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Firefighters, When firefighters are not responding to an emergency, they often participate in other activities related to their work. However, some postsecondary instruction, such as in assessing patients conditions, dealing with trauma, and clearing obstructed airways, is usually needed to obtain the emergency medical technician (EMT) certification. But with overtime and holiday pay, which is often required, you can get additional compensation. Not only does a younger firefighter have the physical advantage, but the mental one as well. For example, lets say youre 35 years old and you served six years in the military. Certainly, yes. You, the visitor, should assume that any and all links on this website are affiliate links. The younger you are, the more healthy that you are likely to be. The percent change of employment for each occupation from 2021 to 2031. We need people who can do the. If you live in a state where the legal adult age limit is higher, then you might have to wait until youre a legal adult in that state to apply for firefighting work. Send Sarah an email or reach out on LinkedIn. The projected percent change in employment from 2021 to 2031. Fifty percent of firefighters are between 30 and 49 years old. Many firefighters are responsible for providing medical attention. You'll be up against hundreds, possibly thousands of applicants depending on the department. I would point out though, that not every role in a fire department is in operational firefighting. The most common ethnicity among fire fighters is White, which makes up 76.8% of all fire fighters. CollegeSavings.org has free . San Diego Fire faces challenges in recruitment, retention - The San You must enable JavaScript in your browser to view and post comments. The Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program produces employment and wage estimates annually for over 800 occupations. Our estimates are verified against BLS, Census, and current job openings data for accuracy. Just because you are over 35, that doesn't necessarily rule you out from becoming a firefighter. In some cases you can even get a tax break for saving for your children's education. They can join the service as volunteers from the age of 16 onwards. Firefighters - U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Forest and conservation workers measure and improve the quality of forests. What Is the Age Limit to Become a Firefighter? Take a look. Welcome to Firefighter Insider. But you better prepare for this question. Medical assistance was the number one reason for firefighter response in 2018, at 23,551,500 incidents. Comparatively, there are 8.2% of the Hispanic or Latino ethnicity and 5.9% of the Unknown ethnicity. Nationwide 37% of fire departments provided no emergency medical services, 46% provided basic life support (BLS), and 17% provided advanced life support (ALS). It might surprise you to learn that the number one killer of firefighters is not fires or even smoke. Sure, youre not actually 29, but thats the age that the state fire department would view you, at least in New Jersey. Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for firefighters. Video transcript available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNK5dYGn3Fg. Another exception is the National Junior Firefighter Program through the National Volunteer Fire Council or NVFC. Explain to the hiring panel how you've changed and what you've done to change. Some firefighters eventually become fire inspectors or investigators after gaining enough experience. Firefighter Life Expectancy: Do Firemen Have Short Lifespan? NFPA estimates there were an estimated 1,041,200 career and volunteer firefighters in the United States in 2020. The National Fire Protection Association said more than half of the volunteers in the U.S. are over 40 years old and about 23 percent are less than 29. Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Study, study, study. In 2018, firefighters responded to 499,000 structure fires. But thats the problem most fire departments arent hiring older firefighters. All rights reserved. Factory blaze leaves two firefighters in hospital .