# Firefighters

> Control and extinguish fires or respond to emergency situations where life, property, or the environment is at risk. Duties may include fire prevention, emergency medical service, hazardous material response, search and rescue, and disaster assistance.
- **Entity Type:** role
- **Schema Version:** role.v1
- **Soc Code:** 33-2011.00
- **Summary:** Control and extinguish fires or respond to emergency situations where life, property, or the environment is at risk. Duties may include fire prevention, emergency medical service, hazardous material response, search and rescue, and disaster assistance.

## Aliases

- Fire Engineer
- Fire Equipment Operator
- Firefighter
- Wildland Firefighter
- Fire Fighter
- Fire Management Specialist
- Fire Technician (Fire Tech)
- Forest Fire Suppression Specialist
- Forestry Fire Technician (Forestry Fire Tech)
- Hot Shot
- Airport Firefighter
- Apparatus Operator

## Tasks

| Text | Type | Iwa |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Rescue survivors from burning buildings, accident sites, and water hazards. | Core | 4.A.4.a.5.e |
| Dress with equipment such as fire-resistant clothing and breathing apparatus. | Core | 4.A.2.b.1.j |
| Assess fires and situations and report conditions to superiors to receive instructions, using two-way radios. | Core | 4.A.1.a.2.i |
| Move toward the source of a fire, using knowledge of types of fires, construction design, building materials, and physical layout of properties. | Core | 4.A.1.a.2.g |
| Respond to fire alarms and other calls for assistance, such as automobile and industrial accidents. | Core | 4.A.4.a.5.e |
| Create openings in buildings for ventilation or entrance, using axes, chisels, crowbars, electric saws, or core cutters. | Core | 4.A.3.a.1.b |
| Drive and operate fire fighting vehicles and equipment. | Core | 4.A.3.a.1.b |
| Inspect fire sites after flames have been extinguished to ensure that there is no further danger. | Core | 4.A.1.a.1.u |
| Position and climb ladders to gain access to upper levels of buildings, or to rescue individuals from burning structures. | Core | 4.A.3.a.1.b |
| Select and attach hose nozzles, depending on fire type, and direct streams of water or chemicals onto fires. | Core | 4.A.3.a.2.at |
| Operate pumps connected to high-pressure hoses. | Core | 4.A.3.a.1.b |
| Maintain contact with fire dispatchers at all times to notify them of the need for additional firefighters and supplies, or to detail any difficulties encountered. | Core | 4.A.4.a.2.g |

## Emerging Tasks


## Activities

| Name | Iwa |
| --- | --- |
| Rescue people from hazardous situations. | 4.A.4.a.5.e |
| Select tools, equipment, or technologies for use in operations or projects. | 4.A.2.b.1.j |
| Assess characteristics of fires. | 4.A.1.a.2.i |
| Relay information about incidents or emergencies to personnel using phones or two-way radios. | 4.A.4.a.2.g |
| Locate fires or fire danger areas. | 4.A.1.a.2.g |
| Respond to emergencies to provide assistance. | 4.A.4.a.5.e |
| Operate firefighting equipment. | 4.A.3.a.1.b |
| Examine debris to obtain information about causes of fires. | 4.A.1.a.1.u |
| Prepare hoses or water supplies to fight fires. | 4.A.3.a.2.at |
| Request emergency personnel. | 4.A.4.a.2.g |
| Communicate with other workers to coordinate activities. | 4.A.4.a.2.c |
| Patrol natural areas to ensure safety or enforce regulations. | 4.A.1.a.2.g |
| Collaborate with law enforcement or security agencies to respond to incidents. | 4.A.4.b.1.c |
| Demonstrate activity techniques or equipment use. | 4.A.4.b.3.e |
| Attend training to learn new skills or update knowledge. | 4.A.2.b.3.a |
| Maintain professional knowledge or certifications. | 4.A.2.b.3.a |
| Prepare investigation or incident reports. | 4.A.3.b.6.b |
| Participate in physical training to maintain fitness. | 4.A.3.a.1.p |
| Protect property from fire or water damage. | 4.A.3.a.1.b |
| Educate the public about fire safety or prevention. | 4.A.4.b.3.c |
| Maintain fire fighting tools or equipment. | 4.A.3.b.5.a |
| Inspect facilities to ensure compliance with fire regulations. | 4.A.1.b.2.e |
| Inspect equipment to ensure safety or proper functioning. | 4.A.1.b.2.g |
| Provide first aid or rescue assistance in emergencies. | 4.A.4.a.5.g |
| Treat medical emergencies. | 4.A.4.a.5.g |
| Implement advanced life support techniques. | 4.A.4.a.5.g |
| Train personnel on proper operational procedures. | 4.A.4.b.3.d |

## Capabilities

| Name | Family | Value |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Public Safety and Security | knowledge | 4.53 |
| Customer and Personal Service | knowledge | 4.19 |
| Education and Training | knowledge | 4.13 |
| Problem Sensitivity | ability | 4.12 |
| Building and Construction | knowledge | 4.03 |
| English Language | knowledge | 3.91 |
| Critical Thinking | essential_skill | 3.88 |
| Oral Comprehension | ability | 3.88 |
| Mechanical | knowledge | 3.78 |
| Oral Expression | ability | 3.75 |
| Deductive Reasoning | ability | 3.75 |
| Arm-Hand Steadiness | ability | 3.75 |
| Static Strength | ability | 3.75 |
| Far Vision | ability | 3.75 |
| Coordination | transferable_skill | 3.62 |
| Service Orientation | transferable_skill | 3.62 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | transferable_skill | 3.62 |
| Medicine and Dentistry | knowledge | 3.62 |
| Inductive Reasoning | ability | 3.62 |
| Control Precision | ability | 3.62 |
| Multilimb Coordination | ability | 3.62 |
| Stamina | ability | 3.62 |
| Near Vision | ability | 3.62 |
| Speech Clarity | ability | 3.62 |
| Telecommunications | knowledge | 3.58 |
| Active Listening | essential_skill | 3.5 |
| Speaking | essential_skill | 3.5 |
| Active Learning | essential_skill | 3.5 |
| Monitoring | essential_skill | 3.5 |
| Information Ordering | ability | 3.5 |
| Flexibility of Closure | ability | 3.5 |
| Manual Dexterity | ability | 3.5 |
| Reaction Time | ability | 3.5 |
| Dynamic Strength | ability | 3.5 |
| Trunk Strength | ability | 3.5 |
| Speech Recognition | ability | 3.5 |
| Administration and Management | knowledge | 3.43 |
| Transportation | knowledge | 3.42 |
| Law and Government | knowledge | 3.4 |
| Social Perceptiveness | transferable_skill | 3.38 |

## Skills

| Name | Type |
| --- | --- |
| English Language | Common Skill |
| Critical Thinking | Common Skill |
| Deductive Reasoning | Common Skill |
| Inductive Reasoning | Common Skill |
| Telecommunications | Specialized Skill |
| Speech Recognition | Specialized Skill |
| Information Ordering | Specialized Skill |
| Active Listening | Common Skill |
| Active Learning | Common Skill |
| Social Perceptiveness | Common Skill |
| Chemistry | Specialized Skill |
| Visualization | Specialized Skill |
| Complex Problem Solving | Common Skill |
| Psychology | Specialized Skill |
| Mathematics | Common Skill |
| Time Management | Common Skill |
| Reading Comprehension | Common Skill |
| Depth Perception | Common Skill |
| Microsoft Word | Common Skill |
| Microsoft Windows | Common Skill |
| Microsoft PowerPoint | Common Skill |
| Microsoft Outlook | Common Skill |
| Microsoft Excel | Common Skill |
| Microsoft Access | Specialized Skill |
| Instructing | Specialized Skill |
| Finger Dexterity | Common Skill |
| Writing | Common Skill |
| Systems Analysis | Specialized Skill |
| Physics | Specialized Skill |
| Learning Strategies | Specialized Skill |
| Equipment Selection | Specialized Skill |
| Equipment Maintenance | Specialized Skill |
| Geography | Specialized Skill |
| Negotiation | Common Skill |
| Biology | Specialized Skill |
| Email Software | Specialized Skill |
| Foreign Language | Common Skill |
| Installation | Specialized Skill |
| Project Management Software | Specialized Skill |
| Presentation Software | Specialized Skill |

## Tools

| Example | Category | Hot | In Demand |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Microsoft Access | Data base user interface and query software | yes | no |
| Microsoft Excel | Spreadsheet software | yes | no |
| Microsoft Office software | Office suite software | yes | no |
| Microsoft Outlook | Electronic mail software | yes | no |
| Microsoft PowerPoint | Presentation software | yes | no |
| Microsoft Windows | Operating system software | yes | no |
| Microsoft Word | Word processing software | yes | no |
| Affiliated Computer Services ACS FIREHOUSE | Data base user interface and query software | no | no |
| Corel WordPerfect Office Suite | Office suite software | no | no |
| Email software | Electronic mail software | no | no |
| Fire incident reporting systems | Data base user interface and query software | no | no |
| Geographic information system GIS software | Geographic information system | no | no |
| Incident command system ICS software | Project management software | no | no |
| Plume modeling software | Analytical or scientific software | no | no |
| Web browser software | Internet browser software | no | no |

## Work Context

| Name | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams | 4.85 |
| Contact With Others | 4.73 |
| Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team | 4.71 |
| Physical Proximity | 4.62 |
| Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets | 4.6 |
| Deal With External Customers or the Public in General | 4.52 |
| Health and Safety of Other Workers | 4.47 |
| Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions | 4.47 |
| Exposed to Contaminants | 4.28 |
| Exposed to Sounds, Noise Levels that are Distracting or Uncomfortable | 4.27 |
| Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results | 4.27 |
| Importance of Being Exact or Accurate | 4.27 |
| In an Enclosed Vehicle or Operate Enclosed Equipment | 4.26 |
| Telephone Conversations | 4.24 |
| Exposed to Hazardous Equipment | 4.19 |
| Consequence of Error | 4.19 |
| Coordinate or Lead Others in Accomplishing Work Activities | 4.15 |
| Frequency of Decision Making | 4.13 |
| Exposed to Extremely Bright or Inadequate Lighting Conditions | 4.08 |
| Exposed to Disease or Infections | 4.07 |
| Work Outcomes and Results of Other Workers | 3.96 |
| E-Mail | 3.95 |
| Freedom to Make Decisions | 3.94 |
| Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals | 3.88 |
| Wear Specialized Protective or Safety Equipment such as Breathing Apparatus, Safety Harness, Full Protection Suits, or Radiation Protection | 3.83 |
| Exposed to Hazardous Conditions | 3.79 |
| Exposed to Very Hot or Cold Temperatures | 3.7 |
| Indoors, Not Environmentally Controlled | 3.64 |
| Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls | 3.64 |
| Exposed to Cramped Work Space, Awkward Positions | 3.63 |
| Level of Competition | 3.61 |
| Time Pressure | 3.6 |
| Exposed to High Places | 3.57 |
| Dealing With Unpleasant, Angry, or Discourteous People | 3.52 |
| Importance of Repeating Same Tasks | 3.44 |
| Spend Time Standing | 3.43 |
| Indoors, Environmentally Controlled | 3.4 |
| Conflict Situations | 3.39 |
| Outdoors, Under Cover | 3.32 |
| Exposed to Minor Burns, Cuts, Bites, or Stings | 3.21 |

## Preparation

- **Job Zone:** 3
- **Job Zone Name:** Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
- **Education:** Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
- **Experience:** Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
- **Svp Range:** (6.0 to < 7.0)

### Education Distribution

| Label | Percentage |
| --- | --- |
| High School Diploma | 35.89 |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 24.6 |
| Some College Courses | 19.5 |
| Less than a High School Diploma | 9.36 |
| Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 7.15 |
| First Professional Degree | 2.96 |
| Bachelor's Degree | 0.43 |
| Doctoral Degree | 0.1 |

## Person Fit

| Name | Family | Value |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Dependability | work_style | 9 |
| Integrity | work_style | 8 |
| Cooperation | work_style | 7 |
| Physical/Manual Labor | specific_interest_area | 6.63 |
| Realistic | career_interest_type | 6.49 |
| Self-Control | work_style | 6 |
| Stress Tolerance | work_style | 5 |
| Protective Service | specific_interest_area | 4.8 |
| Perseverance | work_style | 4 |
| Transportation/Machine Operation | specific_interest_area | 3.97 |
| Conventional | career_interest_type | 3.47 |
| Social | career_interest_type | 3.39 |
| Nature/Outdoors | specific_interest_area | 3.13 |
| Enterprising | career_interest_type | 3.01 |
| Adaptability | work_style | 3 |
| Investigative | career_interest_type | 2.92 |

## Related Roles

| Soc Code | Slug | Title | Tier |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 33-1021.00 | role-33-1021-00 | First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers | Primary-Short |
| 33-2022.00 | role-33-2022-00 | Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists | Primary-Short |
| 33-2021.00 | role-33-2021-00 | Fire Inspectors and Investigators | Primary-Short |
| 17-2111.02 | role-17-2111-02 | Fire-Prevention and Protection Engineers | Primary-Short |
| 33-9092.00 | role-33-9092-00 | Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers | Primary-Short |
| 29-2042.00 | role-29-2042-00 | Emergency Medical Technicians | Primary-Long |
| 29-2043.00 | role-29-2043-00 | Paramedics | Primary-Long |
| 19-5011.00 | role-19-5011-00 | Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | Primary-Long |
| 45-4011.00 | role-45-4011-00 | Forest and Conservation Workers | Primary-Long |
| 53-3011.00 | role-53-3011-00 | Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians | Primary-Long |
| 53-5031.00 | role-53-5031-00 | Ship Engineers | Supplemental |
| 19-5012.00 | role-19-5012-00 | Occupational Health and Safety Technicians | Supplemental |

## Career Clusters

| Cluster | Slug |
| --- | --- |
| Energy & Natural Resources | energy-natural-resources |
| Public Service & Safety | public-service-safety |

## Education Level

- **Category:** Postsecondary nondegree award

## Study Programs

| Title | Slug |
| --- | --- |
| Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services | homeland-security-law-enforcement-firefighting-and-related-protective-services |
| Natural Resources and Conservation | natural-resources-and-conservation |

## Market

- **Median Wage:** 59530
- **Mean Wage:** 63890
- **Pct10Wage:** 34490
- **Pct25Wage:** 44180
- **Pct75Wage:** 77410
- **Pct90Wage:** 101330
- **Employment:** 332240
- **Area Title:** U.S.

## Industries


### Top

| Naics | Slug | Title | Level | Employment | Median Wage | Lq |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 56 | 56 | Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | Sector | 20110 | 37310 | 1.03 |
| 62 | 62 | Health Care and Social Assistance | Sector | 490 | 45660 | 0.01 |
| 31-33 | 31-33 | Manufacturing | Sector | 460 | 68120 | 0.02 |
| 61 | 61 | Educational Services | Sector | 460 | 54430 | 0.02 |
| 621910 | 621910 | Ambulance Services | National industry | 330 | 42430 | 0.93 |
| 81 | 81 | Other Services (except Public Administration) | Sector | 320 | 51850 | 0.03 |
| 54 | 54 | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | Sector | 250 | 63130 | 0.01 |
| 48-49 | 48-49 | Transportation and Warehousing | Sector | 120 | 74930 | 0.01 |
| 71 | 71 | Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | Sector | 120 | 43130 | 0.02 |
| 22 | 22 | Utilities | Sector | 60 | 105790 |  |
| 221113 | 221113 | Nuclear Electric Power Generation | National industry | 40 | 105790 |  |

### Concentrated

| Naics | Slug | Title | Level | Employment | Lq |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 56 | 56 | Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | Sector | 20110 | 1.03 |
| 621910 | 621910 | Ambulance Services | National industry | 330 | 0.93 |
| 81 | 81 | Other Services (except Public Administration) | Sector | 320 | 0.03 |
| 31-33 | 31-33 | Manufacturing | Sector | 460 | 0.02 |
| 61 | 61 | Educational Services | Sector | 460 | 0.02 |
| 71 | 71 | Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | Sector | 120 | 0.02 |
| 48-49 | 48-49 | Transportation and Warehousing | Sector | 120 | 0.01 |
| 54 | 54 | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | Sector | 250 | 0.01 |
- **Count:** 11

## Ai Signals

| Source | Label | Score | Scale | Release |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| frey_osborne | Computerization probability | 0.17 | 0-1 probability | 2013-baseline-2016-employment-snapshot |
| felten_aioe | AI occupational exposure | -1.320232 | relative exposure score | 2021-plus-generative-ai-workbooks |
| felten_image_generation_aioe | Image generation occupational exposure | -1.016914 | relative exposure score | 2021-plus-generative-ai-workbooks |
| felten_language_modeling_aioe | Language modeling occupational exposure | -1.287125 | relative exposure score | 2021-plus-generative-ai-workbooks |

## Ai Outlook


### Index

- **Value:** 16
- **Percentile:** 13
- **Band:** Low
- **Version:** ai-exposure-index-v1

#### Components

| Percentile | Source |
| --- | --- |
| 8 | felten_aioe |
| 22 | openai_gpts_are_gpts |
| 18 | microsoft_working_with_ai |
- **Component Count:** 3

### Exposure

| Source | Label | Value | Percentile | Band | Note |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| felten_aioe | Overall AI exposure (Felten et al.) | -1.320232 | 8 | Low | How much this job's abilities overlap with what AI systems can do, across many AI capabilities. A relative research score, not a forecast of job loss. |
| eloundou_gamma | LLM task exposure, γ (OpenAI / Eloundou) | 0.17543859649122806 | 22 | Low | Share of this job's tasks where a large language model plus simple tools could cut the time to do them by at least half. γ is capped at 1.0 and many jobs reach that ceiling, so treat a top score as 'in the top group', not a precise rank. |
| microsoft_applicability | AI assistant applicability (Microsoft) | 0.07040006207298728 | 18 | Low | How applicable today's AI assistants are to this job's activities, measured from real Microsoft Copilot conversations. Applicability is not the same as replacement. |

### Frey Historical

- **Source:** frey
- **Label:** Computerization probability (Frey & Osborne, 2013)
- **Value:** 0.17
- **Percentile:** 32
- **Band:** Low
- **Note:** A pre-LLM (2013) estimate of how automatable this job is by computerization and robotics. Shown for historical context only — it is not part of any current AI ranking.
- **Teleworkable:** no

### Eloundou

- **Alpha:** 0.10526315789473684
- **Beta:** 0.14035087719298245
- **Gamma:** 0.17543859649122806

### Usage Tasks


### Bls

- **Growth Percent:** 3.4
- **Growth Percentile:** 57
- **Direction:** About average
- **Annual Openings Thousands:** 27.1
- **Annual Openings Percentile:** 82
- **Employment2024Thousands:** 344.9
- **Employment2034Thousands:** 356.7

### Sources

| Source | Version |
| --- | --- |
| bls_employment_projections | 2024-2034 |
| dingel_neiman | dingel-neiman-workathome |
| felten_aioe | felten-raj-seamans-aioe |
| frey_osborne | frey-osborne-automation |
| microsoft_working_with_ai | working-with-ai |
| openai_gpts_are_gpts | gpts-are-gpts |

## Counts

- **Tasks:** 30
- **Skills:** 40
- **Capabilities:** 120
- **Tools:** 15
- **Related Roles:** 20

## Source

- **Dataset:** gold.onet_role_starter_surface
- **Version:** 30.3
- **Generated At:** 2026-06-02T21:00:32.945303+00:00
- **Content Hash:** bb12b0fc781fbc3d