Joining a volunteer fire department is one way to get into an academy. You could become a firefighter at the age of 60 if a fire department was willing to hire you. Prepare yourself for the physical nature of the job as well as the demands of the test. On call at fire stations, firefighters sleep, eat, and perform other duties during shifts that often last 24 hours. Prospective firefighters must pass written and physical tests, complete interviews, and train at a fire academy. Copyright 2023 FireRescue1. West Sayville joins recruiting efforts for 'young blood' firefighters For example, Santa Clara County Fire Department ( SCCFD) in California has an age range for new firefighter from 21 to 35 years old. Most firefighters receive training at a fire academy. $44,490.37 per year to start. Firefighters provide medical attention in a variety of situations. Bonus firefighter statistic: There are about 29,705 fire departments in the U.S. To become a fireman, you must be between the ages of 18 and 35. A fully funded, vested pension system; available at age 52 with 25 years of service or age 57 with no service minimum. 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. The darker areas across the 50 states highlight the highest salaries. East Chicago, IN pays an annual average wage of $71,020, the highest in the US. At the very minimum, you'll need to obtain a high school diploma or GED. Hazardous materials removal workers identify and dispose of harmful substances such as asbestos, lead, and radioactive waste. Fire Rescue Careers, Reserve and Youth Programs - Orange County, Florida This article, originally published in 2011, has been updated. You must hold a current and valid C Class (Car) driver's licence when applying for the role. Firefighters typically need a high school diploma and training in emergency medical services. This means we may receive commissions when you click our links and make purchases. Using the Census Bureau data, we found out how the percentage of each ethnic category trended between 2010-2019 among fire fighters. Although improved building materials and building codes have resulted in a long-term decrease in fires and fire fatalities, firefighters will still be needed to respond to fires.