Annual Salary
£24,191 to £32,244
Average UK salary in 2023 was £34,963
(source Office for National Statistics)
Swap to Armed forces or Security or go back to all job sectors
Swap to Armed forces or Security or go back to all job sectors
Firefighters help to protect people from fire and other dangers, and give advice on fire prevention.
Average UK salary in 2023 was £34,963
(source Office for National Statistics)
You could work: evenings / weekends / bank holidays; on shifts
There will be
0.2% fewer Firefighter jobs in 2027.
Every day will be different, but you could:
You may need to wear safety clothing and use safety equipment and a uniform.
You could work at a fire station, at a client's home or at a client's business.
Your working environment may be at height, physically and emotionally demanding and cramped.
You can get into this job through:
You could take a Level 2 or 3 Diploma in Public Services before applying to the fire service, although this is not essential.
You'll usually need:
You may be able to start training on an operational firefighter advanced apprenticeship.
You'll need to be employed by a fire service to do this.
You could train to be a firefighter in the Royal Air Force (RAF). You can find more information at:Royal Air Force
You'll usually need:
Volunteering or working in a support role, for example emergency call handling or fire safety, will give you an idea of what the job is like, as well as access to internal vacancies.
You can apply directly to join the fire service. Each one sets its own entry requirements.
Many ask for GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) in English and maths, or equivalent qualifications.
You'll need to pass:
If you're successful, you'll:
You could prepare to apply for a job by doing a Level 2 Certificate in Fire and Rescue Services in the Community. This course is usually run by local fire services and is aimed at people who have some responsibility for fire safety, like housing wardens and fire prevention officers.
You'll need to:
Most fire services take on new recruits once every 12 months, so you'll need to find out when they are recruiting next.
You can ask your local fire and rescue service for a firefighter careers and recruitment pack.
All fire services have a programme that lets you plan and track your career development.
You could work your way up to crew manager, watch manager or station manager. If you're prepared to move between services, you could become an area manager, a brigade manager or a chief fire officer.
If you're involved in fire safety and prevention work, you can take professional qualifications leading to membership of the Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE).
You could also get a Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) licence for driving fire engines.
You can ask your local fire and rescue service for a firefighter careers and recruitment pack.
You'll need: