average age of firefighter recruit

There is no official average age for recruits, though, this is probably because such data would be hard to aggregate over dozens of different fire departments in a state let alone the number nationwide. This doesnt mean that a 40-year-old cant be fitter than a 20-year-old, for example. After all, when you think of recruits to the fire service, you tend to think of younger people fresh from college, rather than older individuals. The median annual wage for firefighters was $50,700 in May 2021. 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. Having both a fire and EMS background will improve your odds of being hired. These sessions cover topics including anti-arson techniques, disaster preparedness, hazardous materials control, and public fire safety and education. Wildland firefighters will still be needed to combat active fires and manage the environment to reduce the impact of fires. Fire inspectors detect fire hazards, recommend prevention measures, ensure compliance with state and local fire regulations, and investigate causes of fires. Ive also a written articles for FireRescue1 and Fire Chief. You had prior experience, but you havent worked as a firefighter for several years. Since then, the active duty enlisted force has brought in 574 operations and support airmen between ages 35 and 39 comprising. However, you must be capable of keeping your wits about you as much as possible to What Is "Jobtown"? For example, wildland firefighters may have to stay for days or weeks when a wildland fire breaks out. The percent change of employment for each occupation from 2021 to 2031. All rights reserved. Now you can see why some states employ upper age limits for firefighters. Ninety-five percent of volunteer firefighters were in working at fire departments that protect a population of less than 25,000 in 2018. The Whats the Youngest Age You Can Work as a Firefighter? We need people who can do the. How will you stand out against other applicants? Firefighter statistics categorized by age group: 16-19 (3%), 20-29 (21%), 30-39 (27%), 40-49 (23%), 50-59 (17%), 60 and over (9%). Median wage data are from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey. You must be at least 18 years old to be hired as a firefighter. If theres embarrassing, immature, risqu or otherwise inappropriate posts on your pages, remove them. However, there are many others that have no age limit. However, that doesnt mean that all firefighters start young, I know a few people who managed to get into the job in their 40s, even though in some areas the cut off age is 35. People are becoming firefighters later than you might think. And 8 other unique firefighter terms. If youre reading this blog my guess is you are interested in the fire service. 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. Instead, take ownership for your mistakes. Do You Need One. Welcome to Firefighter Insider. Interested in becoming a firefighter? The more pertinent question though is this. CollegeSavings.org has free . Check with your local state licensing agency or local fire department for more information. Yes, there is a lower and upper age limit for firefighting beginning at 18 years old. The Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program produces employment and wage estimates annually for over 800 occupations. Copyright 2023 Additional training needed (postemployment) to attain competency in the skills needed in this occupation. The . Lexipol. Maybe you did more than just contemplate, but you decided to go forth and do it. You have to handle heavy fire equipment, climb into burning buildings, use fire hoses, and rescue victims. Copyright 2023 The age limit to become a firefighter is usually between 18 and 35. The upper age limit might be 35 years old, but many fire departments across the country don't have upper age limits. However, this does not impact our reviews and comparisons. Other types of emergency calls that firefighters respond to include disaster aid, search-and-rescue operations, and traffic accidents. If they can bring somebody on board when they are a fresh-faced 21 or 22-year-old theyve got a blank slate to work with. SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program. Working in public safety is all about community service. 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 typically need a high school diploma and training in emergency medical services. Firefighters must be able to make difficult choices quickly, sometimes in life-or-death situations. It's the most comprehensive and trusted online destination for fire service professionals worldwide. How to Become a Firefighter: The Complete Guide, Career Change to Firefighter: What You Need to Know. There are links in the left-hand side menu to compare occupational employment by state and occupational wages by local area or metro area. Some firefighters make presentations about fire safety to educate the public, such as at a school. My site is dedicated to helping answer questions people have about the fire service. By the time youre done reading, youll know whether you can still pursue this career on a paid basis. . Volunteer firefighters account for the largest share of firefighters nationwide, especially in communities of fewer than 25,000, according to the National Fire Protection Association. Of those fires, an estimated property loss of $25.6 billion was reported, including $12 billion due to Northern California wildfires. The information you receive from this e-mail is directly from Fire Human Resources. This firefighter statistic reflects the fact that the population density is relational to the number of firefighters needed to protect the community. Explain to the hiring panel how you've changed and what you've done to change. Lets say that you didnt just decide at the age of 35 to become a firefighter. In some states such as Alabama and Nebraska, youre considered a legal adult at age 19, and in Mississippi, its 21, but those states are the exception and not the rule. There are over 25,813 Fire Fighters in the United States. Can I become a firefighter at 30/40/50? FireRescue1 is revolutionizing the way the fire service community I work with a few who got hired in their mid-forties, so its not too late. What Is the Age Limit to Become a Firefighter? And its not necessarily safe to do so either. Lexipol. 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. Enter https://www.firerescue1.com/ and click OK. When responding to an emergency, firefighters often wear protective gear, which can be very heavy and hot. 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. Here's a quick breakdown of what you should (and should not) do as you prepare to join the fire service. Its fair to say that those under 18 are treated differently as volunteers when compared to those over 18. Be in a good state of mental health and be mentally fit. In 2020, 89,600 firefighters were female (9%). information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely. But thats the problem most fire departments arent hiring older firefighters. Thus, while before, being 35 years old, you would have been ineligible to work as a firefighter, now that your adjusted age is 29, you can still apply to become a firefighter at your age. You can't study for this one. French has a bachelors degree in communications/journalism with a minor in criminology from Ramapo College in New Jersey. The firefighting career field is very competitive, too. For example, Santa Clara County Fire Department (SCCFD) in California has an age range for new firefighter from 21 to 35 years old. To become a fireman, you must be between the ages of 18 and 35. Additionally, fire departments may require firefighters to have other credentials, such as emergency medical technician (EMT) certification. It is possible to get other jobs in the fire service that dont require these characteristics, as support personnel are very important too. Use our chart to find out where that salary is located. After graduating the Academy as a firefighter, you receive a pay increase. The tables in this document are a companion to the US Fire Department Profile report. Yet the average age of firefighters is increasing, and "at 70 or 75 they might be able to drive the fire truck, but they can't run into the [burning] building . Companies that used three or four methods had 7.1 new members, on average. Firefighters may need certain credentials, such as emergency medical technician (EMT) and paramedic certifications. Common Recruitment Questions. and that the data you submit is exempt from Do Not Sell My Personal Information requests. And 8 other unique firefighter terms. As the New Jersey state webpage above explains, youre technically over 35 on the day of your 35th birthday. We hope the information in this article helped you plan your next career move. The upper age limit might be 35 years old, but many fire departments across the country dont have upper age limits. They also learn how to fight fires with standard equipment, including axes, chain saws, fire extinguishers, and ladders. Also read: What Age Do Firefighters Retire? I hope you find what you're looking for. Firefighters will also continue to respond to medical emergencies. Police officers protect lives and property. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire. If you want to become a volunteer firefighter, some fire departments in the country might allow you to start volunteering as young as 16 years old. Just because you are over 35, that doesn't necessarily rule you out from becoming a firefighter. Firefighters also enter burning buildings to extinguish fires, rescue any occupants inside, and give medical treatment as needed. The number of civilian injuries reported was 15,200. It's the most comprehensive and trusted online destination for fire service professionals worldwide. This tab also includes links to relevant occupational information from the Occupational Information Network (O*NET). According to rules set forth by the FLSA, the youngest age that an individual in the country can be employed is 14. You must enable JavaScript in your browser to view and post comments. Download this how to become a firefighter infographic as a starting point. The most common degree for fire fighters is bachelor's degree 31% of fire fighters earn that degree. When combating forest and wildland fires, firefighters may work for extended periods. There's information on fitness, gear, interviews, tests and more. The link(s) below go to OEWS data maps for employment and wages by state and area. This may be called Tools or use an icon like the cog. Forest and conservation workers measure and improve the quality of forests. Some belonged to training programs at their . Copyright 2023 FireRescue1. I am passionate about helping to share what I have learned and assisting those who are pursuing a career as a firefighter. The CPAT events are stair climb, hose drag, equipment carry, ladder raise and extension, forcible entry, search, rescue, ceiling breach and pull. By taking away those years in the military from your age, youre 29 years old. In order to become a firefighter, you will need a valid driver's license and meet the age requirement of 18 years old. H6 Radio Straps Decon Comfort Functionality, If youre interested in becoming a firefighter, or already are one, you will be interested in reviewing the top 12 firefighter facts. In some states, this prior experience can be enough to get you the job even though youre technically over the upper age limit. If so, then youre in luck. Most fire departments are looking to recruit someone quite young for their roles. Some wildland firefighters, known as smoke jumpers, parachute from airplanes to reach otherwise inaccessible areas. Firefighters must be able to handle the stressfulness of their work, which may involve entering a burning building or treating medical emergencies. After five years, a Firefighter can make more than $100,000, including overtime and holiday pay. Officially, there is no maximum age to become a firefighter. Here is how you know. It requires hard work, long hours of training, dedication and a sincere desire to help others. Yes, but your employment options may become more limited as you get older. of equipment around with you, possibly for hours, when on a call. In the United States, the Fair Labor Standards Act or FLSA mandates the standards of youth employment. Work for wildland firefighters may be seasonal. Some departments might even require an EMT certification; larger departments may require a paramedics license. The total number of firefighter responses in 2018 was 36,746,500, about 2 million more than the previous year. For those younger than 18, you can look into limited involvement as a junior firefighter. 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.. These estimates are available for the nation as a whole, for individual states, and for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. Percent change in employment, projected 2021-31, Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program. Our estimates are verified against BLS, Census, and current job openings data for accuracy. Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. Im Mike, Im a full time firefighter/paramedic and the founder of FirefighterNOW. There were 29,452 fire departments in the United States in 2020. We try our best to keep things fair and balanced, in order to help you make the best choice for you. East Chicago, IN pays an annual average wage of $71,020, the highest in the US. This e-mail is checked on regular city business days. Working as a volunteer firefighter may behelpful in getting a job as a career firefighter. At one point in your life, you've probably done something you're not proud of. Even those that do might relax the rules if you have prior local firefighting experience or relevant military experience. They also use prescribed fires to burn potential fire fuel under controlled conditions. They will usually have a more restricted number of duties they carry out and are often not allowed to do shift work or attend calls (except to observe) until they are older. Can a 40-year-old handle the physical rigors of firefighting as well as a 20-year-old? By looking over 4,729 fire fighters resumes, we figured out that the average fire fighter enjoys staying at their job for 1-2 years for a percentage of 24%. For example, they must maintain a high level of physical fitness. Getting your state entry-level firefighter certifications, such as Firefighter I and II, is a great move. Not only does a younger firefighter have the physical advantage, but the mental one as well. Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Using a database of 30 million profiles, Zippia estimates demographics and statistics for fire fighters in the United States. Reaction tests are a good way of gauging mental fitness and youll find that younger people do better than older ones in this respect. The study involved 800 participants, all men. Even those that do might relax the rules if you have prior local firefighting experience or relevant military experience. This is the biggest stumbling block for older people. Firefighters aged 50 and over accounted for just over . The increase will empower local public schools to reach the goal of achieving a statewide average teacher salary of $60,000. They get someone that has had no real chance to pick up any bad working habits and someone with 20-30 productive years (or more) in front of them. 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). The estimated number of firefighters working in the U.S. is 1,115,000. In firefighting, instant reactions are critical. In 2014, the NVFC received a $2.4 million Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency. Just based on the number of employees within each industry, we were able to determine the most common industries that employ fire fighters. 8.2% of Fire Fighters are Hispanic or Latino, 5.9% of Fire Fighters are Unknown, 5.8% of Fire Fighters are Black or African American, 2.3% of Fire Fighters are Asian, and 1.0% of Fire Fighters are American Indian and Alaska Native. The . A close second is associate degree with 28% and rounding it off is high school diploma with 26%. A long-term commitment. We found most fire fighters work for a government company. Here is a firefighter in Milwaukee that was hired at 51 years old: Also read: Career Change to Firefighter: What You Need to Know. View our Terms of Service For example, the highest salary of fire fighters is $74,414. Of those fires, an estimated property loss of $25.6billion was reported, including $12 billion due to Northern California wildfires. This is usually for safety or legal reasons. However, many departments have no upper age limit to apply. Copyright 2023 This chart breaks down the ages of fire fighter employees. All rights reserved. More Information, Including Links to O*NET, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/protective-service/firefighters.htm, Local government, excluding education and hospitals, State government, excluding education and hospitals, Federal government, excluding postal service, Drive firetrucks and other emergency vehicles, Put out fires using water hoses, fire extinguishers, and water pumps, Find and rescue occupants of burning buildings or other emergency situations, Prepare written reportsabout emergency incidents, Conduct and participate in drills related to rescue tactics, equipment use, and treatment of victims in emergency medical situations. The number of structure fires per year has been below 500,000 every year since 2009, except for 2015, when there were 501,500. Other exceptions exist as well. There were 1,318,500 fires in 2018. Firefightersmay be promoted to engineer, then to lieutenant, captain, battalion chief, assistant chief, deputy chief, and chief. A 2014 study that reviewed more than 3,300 people between the ages of 16 and 44 discovered that at 24 years old, your brain has the fastest response times. 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. 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. In other fields, yes, it would be. 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. After extensive research and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that: 18.1% of fire fighters are women and 81.9% of fire fighters are men. Entry-level firefighters receive a few months of training at fire academies run by the fire department or by the state. There's a lot of great opportunities out there for you to make a difference. On call at fire stations, firefighters sleep, eat, and perform other duties during shifts that often last 24 hours. In 2021, women earned 98% of what men earned. Between 2008 and 2018, this is how the number of fire fighters changed. Some firefighters eventually become fire inspectors or investigators after gaining enough experience. than an average amount of effort and success". and Privacy Policy. By 16 years old, in many states, you can work a full-time job, which means you work at least 30 hours per week. But with overtime and holiday pay, which is often required, you can get additional compensation. 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. Open the tools menu in your browser. There are scheduled increases in pay to the present maximum of $80,240 a year. Certainly, yes. The average age limit seems to be around 35 years old. used one or two recruitment methods had, on average, 5.2 new members. While the lower limit for firefighters varies only in some states, the upper limit is all over the map. The amount you can make as a fire fighter can depend on where you live. Im also a columnist for FireRescue1. Recruit Firefighter Program 1 of 4 Recruit Expectations Revision: 01/15/2019 . This report provides an overview of local and municipal fire departments in the United States. Look for a box or option labeled Home Page (Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari) or On Startup (Chrome). By looking through more than 4,729 resumes, we found that the most popular places for fire fighters are Houston, TX and New York, NY. To further your education. By submitting your information, you agree to be contacted by the selected vendor(s) Some states offer tax deductions and tax credits for contributing to a 529 plan. You might not be for very much longer, but you are for now. 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, For information about a career as a wildland firefighter, visit, 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.

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