How to hire firefighters
A job description you can copy, interview questions tied to the real work, and what to pay. Free.
Job description template
Copy it, fill in the brackets, and remove anything that does not fit your job. Keep only must-haves you would really turn someone away for.
[Job title] at [Company name] [City, State] · [Full-time / Part-time] · [Pay range] About the role [Two or three sentences about your team, the work and why it matters.] What you will do • Administer first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation to injured persons or provide emergency medical care such as basic or advanced life support. • Dress with equipment such as fire-resistant clothing and breathing apparatus. • Drive and operate fire fighting vehicles and equipment. • Move toward the source of a fire, using knowledge of types of fires, construction design, building materials, and physical layout of properties. • Operate pumps connected to high-pressure hoses. • Rescue survivors from burning buildings, accident sites, and water hazards. • Respond to fire alarms and other calls for assistance, such as automobile and industrial accidents. • Search to locate fire survivors. What you bring • [Required license, certification or years of experience, if any] • [Education, only if you truly need it. Typical to start in this job: Postsecondary nondegree award] • Strong active learning, active listening, critical thinking, monitoring, speaking and reading comprehension skills • Working knowledge of public safety and security • [Anything else you would really turn someone away for] Pay and benefits [Pay range]. For reference, the U.S. median for this job is $28.50 an hour ($59,280 a year). [Benefits, schedule and anything else candidates should know.] How to apply [Apply on JAI Bot. Every applicant hears back.]
Interview questions for firefighters
Ask every candidate the same questions, in the same order, and write down what they say. Questions about past work show what someone has actually done.
- Tell me about a time you had to administer first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation to injured persons or provide emergency medical care such as basic or advanced life support. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to dress with equipment such as fire-resistant clothing and breathing apparatus. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to drive and operate fire fighting vehicles and equipment. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to move toward the source of a fire, using knowledge of types of fires, construction design, building materials, and physical layout of properties. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about something new you had to learn quickly for work. How did you learn it?
- Tell me about a time you had to understand a request or problem that was explained poorly. How did you make sure you got it right?
- Describe a decision at work where the obvious answer was wrong. How did you work out the better choice?
- Why this job, and why now? What would make you stay here for the long term?
Good answers name a real situation, what the person did themselves and what happened. Avoid questions about age, family plans, religion, health, national origin or anything else unrelated to the job.
What firefighters do
- Administer first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation to injured persons or provide emergency medical care such as basic or advanced life support.
- Dress with equipment such as fire-resistant clothing and breathing apparatus.
- Drive and operate fire fighting vehicles and equipment.
- Move toward the source of a fire, using knowledge of types of fires, construction design, building materials, and physical layout of properties.
- Operate pumps connected to high-pressure hoses.
- Rescue survivors from burning buildings, accident sites, and water hazards.
- Respond to fire alarms and other calls for assistance, such as automobile and industrial accidents.
- Search to locate fire survivors.
Skills that matter most
Education, experience and outlook for firefighters
- Typical education to start: Postsecondary nondegree award (BLS)
- Related work experience most have: None (O*NET)
- Training on the job: Long-term on-the-job training (BLS)
- Job outlook: +3.7% over ten years, about as fast as average · about 26,800 openings a year (BLS)
What to pay firefighters
Pay depends a lot on where the job is. Highest and lowest median yearly pay by state:
| State | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| New York | $100,960 |
| Washington | $94,520 |
| California | $85,120 |
| New Jersey | $84,130 |
| Illinois | $78,380 |
| Kentucky | $37,150 |
| Mississippi | $35,880 |
| Louisiana | $33,120 |
See firefighters pay in every state
Related hiring guides
- First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers
- Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists
- Fire Inspectors and Investigators
- Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors
- Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers
- Emergency Medical Technicians
- Paramedics
- Occupational Health and Safety Specialists
- Forest and Conservation Workers
- Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians
Post this job on JAI Bot. Free to start: JAI Bot reads every applicant against your must-haves, shows the resume evidence behind each one, and helps you reply to everyone. People make every decision.
Post a job freePay by areaJob duties and skills: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. JAI Bot has modified this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. Pay: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, May 2025. Interview questions and the job description template: JAI Bot, based on the duties and skills above.