Occupation Summary

Firefighters

O*NET 33-2011.00

Description:

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.

Annual Wages:
$53,635.00
Employment Rate:
Employment is expected to increase by 14.37%.
Education Level:
High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED). According to O*Net, the majority of people employed in this occupation have this level of education.
Endorsement:
Public Service

  1. Rescue victims from burning buildings, accident sites, and water hazards.
  2. Dress with equipment such as fire-resistant clothing and breathing apparatus.
  3. Assess fires and situations and report conditions to superiors to receive instructions, using two-way radios.
  4. Move toward the source of a fire, using knowledge of types of fires, construction design, building materials, and physical layout of properties.
  5. Respond to fire alarms and other calls for assistance, such as automobile and industrial accidents.
  6. Create openings in buildings for ventilation or entrance, using axes, chisels, crowbars, electric saws, or core cutters.
  7. Drive and operate fire fighting vehicles and equipment.
  8. Inspect fire sites after flames have been extinguished to ensure that there is no further danger.
  9. Position and climb ladders to gain access to upper levels of buildings, or to rescue individuals from burning structures.
  10. Select and attach hose nozzles, depending on fire type, and direct streams of water or chemicals onto fires.
  11. 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.
  12. Collaborate with other firefighters as a member of a firefighting crew.
  13. Patrol burned areas after fires to locate and eliminate hot spots that may restart fires.
  14. Collaborate with police to respond to accidents, disasters, and arson investigation calls.
  15. Participate in fire drills and demonstrations of fire fighting techniques.
  16. Maintain knowledge of current firefighting practices by participating in drills and by attending seminars, conventions, and conferences.
  17. Prepare written reports that detail specifics of fire incidents.
  18. Participate in physical training activities to maintain a high level of physical fitness.
  19. Protect property from water and smoke, using waterproof salvage covers, smoke ejectors, and deodorants.
  20. Inform and educate the public on fire prevention.
  21. Salvage property by removing broken glass, pumping out water, and ventilating buildings to remove smoke.
  22. Orient self in relation to fire, using compass and map, and collect supplies and equipment dropped by parachute.
  23. Clean and maintain fire stations and fire fighting equipment and apparatus.
  24. Inspect buildings for fire hazards and compliance with fire prevention ordinances, testing and checking smoke alarms and fire suppression equipment as necessary.
  25. Take action to contain any hazardous chemicals that could catch fire, leak, or spill.
  26. Extinguish flames and embers to suppress fires, using shovels or engine- or hand-driven water or chemical pumps.
  27. Administer first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation to injured persons or provide emergency medical care such as basic or advanced life support.
  28. Operate pumps connected to high-pressure hoses.
  29. Search to locate fire victims.
  30. Train new employees to control and suppress fires.

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National Industry Employment Patterns


Industry % of Firefighters employed Annual Growth Rate
Other support services 4.4 2.11


Labor Market Information


2022 Statewide average hourly wage $25.79
2022 National average hourly wage $27.07
2020 National employment 317,200
2020 Texas employment 24,590
Texas projected employment by 2030 28,123
Texas projected annual employment and Turnover openings through 2030 2,294




TEXAS COUNTY MAP BY WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AREA
* Due to confidentiality rules, not all regions may have the data displayed. The sum of all the regions may not be equal to the state total.


Top 10 Relevant Knowledge Areas Relevant Importance Levels
Public Safety and Security
Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
90.60%
Customer and Personal Service
Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
83.80%
Education and Training
Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
82.60%
Building and Construction
Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.
80.60%
English Language
Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
78.20%
Mechanical
Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
75.60%
Medicine and Dentistry
Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
72.40%
Telecommunications
Knowledge of transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
71.60%
Administration and Management
Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
68.60%
Transportation
Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.
68.40%


Top 10 Relevant Skill Areas Relevant Importance Levels
Critical Thinking
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
77.60%
Coordination
Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
72.40%
Service Orientation
Actively looking for ways to help people.
72.40%
Judgment and Decision Making
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
72.40%
Active Learning
Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
70.00%
Monitoring
Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
70.00%
Active Listening
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
70.00%
Speaking
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
70.00%
Social Perceptiveness
Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
67.60%
Complex Problem Solving
Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
65.00%


Top 10 Relevant Abilities Relevant Importance Levels
Problem Sensitivity
The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
82.40%
Oral Comprehension
The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
77.60%
Deductive Reasoning
The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
75.00%
Oral Expression
The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
75.00%
Arm-Hand Steadiness
The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
75.00%
Static Strength
The ability to exert maximum muscle force to lift, push, pull, or carry objects.
75.00%
Far Vision
The ability to see details at a distance.
75.00%
Near Vision
The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
72.40%
Speech Clarity
The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
72.40%
Stamina
The ability to exert yourself physically over long periods of time without getting winded or out of breath.
72.40%


  • Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
    -- Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
  • Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment
    -- Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or watercraft.
  • Assisting and Caring for Others
    -- Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
  • Making Decisions and Solving Problems
    -- Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
  • Performing General Physical Activities
    -- Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling materials.
Other Activities


  • Relationships
    - Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.
  • Support
    - Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.



Tools

Acoustic sensors: Listening devices;

Adjustable wrenches: Adjustable wrenches;

Agricultural tractors: Farm tractors;

Air bags for loading: Air bag lifting systems;

Air exhausters: Smoke ejectors;

Air samplers or collectors: Air samplers;

All terrain vehicles tracked or wheeled: All terrain vehicles ATV; Marsh rigs;

Anemometers: Wind gauges;

Armored recovery vehicle: Bomb response vehicles;

Binoculars: Surveillance binoculars;

Blocks or pulleys: Block and tackle equipment; Pulleys; Riggings;

Bolt cutters: Bolt cutters;

Calibrated resistance measuring equipment: Ground resistance testers; Electrical resistance meters;

Chemical test strips or papers: Chemical detection testers;

Claw hammer: Claw hammers;

Cold chisels: Cold chisels;

Diagonal cut pliers: Diagonal cutting pliers;

Digital camcorders or video cameras: Search cameras;

Ear plugs: Hearing protectors;

Electrocardiography EKG units: Electrocardiography EKG machines;

Electronic blood pressure units: Automatic blood pressure cuffs;

Extremity restraints: Limb restraints;

Facial shields: Face shields;

Fans: Ventilation fans;

Fire blankets: Bomb blankets; Fire blankets;

Fire escape equipment: Fire shelters;

Fire extinguishers: Carbon dioxide CO2 fire extinguishers; Dry chemical fire extinguishers; Multipurpose fire extinguishers;

Fire fighting chemical truck: HAZMAT response vehicles;

Fire fighting ladder truck: Ladder trucks;

Fire fighting pump truck: Pumper trucks;

Fire fighting watercraft: Water rescue boats;

Fire hoses or nozzles: High pressure fire hoses; Fire hose nozzles; Fire hoses; Charged fire hoses; Synthetic fire hoses; Uncharged fire hoses;

Fire pump sets: Power pumps; Foam pumps; Backpack pumps;

Fire retardant apparel: Fire resistant clothing; Protective fire coats;

Fire retardant footwear: Protective fire boots; Firefighting boots;

Fire suppression hand tools: Fire axes; Flat head axes; Ceiling hooks; McLeod tools; Pulaski tools; Pick head axes; Pike poles; Single-bit axes; Rubbish hooks;

Flares: Pyrotechnic flares; Safety flares;

Flatbed trailers: Equipment transport trailers;

Forestry saws: Tree saws;

Gas detectors: Combustible gas detectors;

Gas generators: Gas-powered generators;

Geological compasses: Geological compasses; Navigation compasses;

Glass cutters: Glass cutters;

Global positioning system GPS receiver: Global positioning system GPS receivers;

Glucose monitors or meters: Glucometers;

Goggles: Safety goggles;

Grounding hardware: Copper grounding cables; Grounding cables;

Hacksaw: Hacksaws; Reciprocating hacksaws;

Hammers: Non-sparking hammers;

Hand pumps: Hand-operated pumps;

Hand trucks or accessories: Hand trucks;

Hard hats: Hard hats;

Hazardous material protective apparel: Liquid splash protective clothing; Hazardous materials protective suits;

Hazardous material protective footwear: Chemical protection footwear;

Heat tracing equipment: Infrared thermometers; Thermal imaging cameras;

Hold down clamps: Fire hose clamps;

Hydraulic pumps: Hydraulic rams;

Intermittent positive pressure breathing IPPB machines: Intermittent positive pressure breathing IPPB ventilators;

Jacks: Trench rescue shoring jacks; Jacks;

Ladders: Aluminum ladders; Extension ladders; Wood ladders;

Life rings: Life throw rings;

Life vests or preservers: Life vests;

Lighters: Backfiring fusees; Drip torches;

Liquid leak detectors: Electronic leak detectors;

Locking pliers: Channel lock pliers; Vise grip pliers;

Machetes: Machetes;

Manlift or personnel lift: Aerial lifting apparatus;

Medical acoustic stethoscopes: Mechanical stethoscopes;

Medical gas cylinders or related devices: Oxygen cylinders;

Mercury blood pressure units: Manual blood pressure cuffs;

Metal cutters: Hydraulic extrication tools; Aviation snips;

Metal detectors: Metal detectors;

Mobile medical service intravenous IV kits: Intravenous IV administration sets;

Mobile medical services automated external defibrillators AED or hard paddles: Automated external defibrillators AED;

Mobile medical services basket stretchers: Evacuation baskets; Stokes baskets;

Mobile medical services cervical or extrication collars: Field emergency services neck braces;

Mobile medical services first aid kits: First aid kits; Trauma type first aid kits;

Mobile medical services litter: Evacuation chairs; Evacuation stretchers;

Mobile medical services spine boards: Full-spine immobilization devices; Backboards; Spinal immobilization equipment;

Mobile medical services suction antichoke devices: Emergency suction kits;

Mowers: Tractor-mounted mowers;

Multi gas monitors: Multi-gas detectors;

Needlenose pliers: Needlenose pliers;

Notebook computers: Laptop computers; Mobile data computers;

Nylon rope: Self-rescue ropes; Life safety ropes;

Open end wrenches: Open end wrenches;

Orthopedic splint systems: Orthopedic splint sets;

Parachutes: Parachutes;

Personal computers: Personal computers;

pH test strips or papers: pH testing strips;

Picks: Mattocks; Picks;

Pipe wrenches: Pipe wrenches;

Pneumatic hammer: Air chisels;

Portable data input terminals: Handheld computers;

Power saws: K-12 saws; Falling saws; Circular saws; Chain saws;

Protective gloves: Chemical protection gloves; Fire resistant gloves;

Protective hood: Protective hoods;

Pry bars: Pinch bars; Pry bars; Hux bars; Halligan bars;

Psychrometers: Psychrometers;

Pulse oximeter units: Pulse oximeters;

Radiation detectors: Field radiological measuring devices;

Radio frequency identification devices: Radio frequency identification RFID devices;

Rescue truck: Aerial trucks; Fire trucks; Wildland fire engines;

Respiration air supplying self contained breathing apparatus or accessories: Self-contained breathing apparatus;

Respirators: Escape respirators; Air purifying respirators;

Resuscitation masks: Ambu bags;

Safety glasses: Safety glasses;

Safety harnesses or belts: Body harnesses;

Safety helmets: Protective fire helmets; Safety helmets;

Saws: Handsaws;

Screwdrivers: Phillips head screwdrivers; Straight screwdrivers;

Scuba regulators: Scuba air regulators;

Shovels: Forest fire shovels; Shovels;

Sledge hammer: Sledgehammers;

Slip or groove joint pliers: Slip joint pliers;

Sockets: Socket wrenches;

Spanner wrenches: Non-sparking spanner wrenches; Spanner wrenches;

Specialty wrenches: Non-sparking bung wrenches; Hydrant shutoff wrenches;

Spill kits: Hazardous materials spill control devices;

Surface thermometers: Surface thermometers;

Telescopes: Spotting scopes;

Torso and belt restraints: Torso restraints;

Track bulldozers: Tracked bulldozers;

Two way radios: Radio communications systems; Two way radios;

Underwater cameras: Underwater video cameras;

Utility knives: Utility knives;

Water analyzers: Water testers;

Water pumps: Truck-mounted water pumps;

Weapon or explosives detectors and supplies: Explosive detection analyzers; Explosive detection robots;

Weather stations: Portable meteorological stations;

Wedges: Steel wedges;

Wetsuits: Scuba suits;

Wheel chocks: Truck wheel chocks;

Wheel nut or lug wrench: Lug wrenches;

Winches: Truck-mounted winches;

Wire cutters: Insulated wire cutters;


Technology

Analytical or scientific software: Plume modeling software;

Data base user interface and query software: Affiliated Computer Services ACS FIREHOUSE; Fire incident reporting systems; Microsoft Access;

Electronic mail software: Email software; Microsoft Outlook;

Geographic information system: Geographic information system GIS software;

Internet browser software: Web browser software;

Office suite software: Corel WordPerfect Office Suite; Microsoft Office software;

Operating system software: Operating system software; Microsoft Windows;

Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint;

Project management software: Incident command system ICS software;

Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel; Spreadsheet software;

Word processing software: Microsoft Word;


Related O*NET occupational titles for Firefighters include:
  • 53-3011.00 Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians
  • 29-2042.00 Emergency Medical Technicians
  • 33-2021.00 Fire Inspectors and Investigators
  • 17-2111.02 Fire-Prevention and Protection Engineers
  • 33-1021.00 First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers
  • 33-2022.00 Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists
  • 47-4041.00 Hazardous Materials Removal Workers
  • 33-9092.00 Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers
  • 19-5011.00 Occupational Health and Safety Specialists
  • 29-2043.00 Paramedics


Sources of Additional Information
  • For information about a career as a firefighter, contact your local fire department or visit: International Association of Fire Fighters
  • International Association of Women in Fire & Emergency Services
  • U.S. Fire Administration
  • National Fire Protection Association
  • For information about a career as a wildland firefighter, visit: National Wildfire Coordinating Group
  • For information about professional qualifications and a list of colleges and universities offering 2- or 4-year degree programs in fire science and fire prevention, visit: National Fire Academy, U.S. Fire Administration
  • For more information about emergency medical technicians and paramedics, visit: National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians
  • Firefighters

  • Contact Texas Workforce Commission
    Labor Market and Career Information  |  101 E. 15th Street, Annex Room 0252  |  Austin, Texas 78778
    Official Website  |  1-800-822-PLAN (7526)  |  512.936.3200

    ** The information in this report may be derived from many sources like O*NET, BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics), OOH (Occupational Outlook Handbook), and Career One Stop.