What is the employment outlook for a firefighter?
Employment prospects in the State of California can vary, since most firefighters tend to stay on the job anywhere from 20 to 40 years. While turnover is not high in most departments, residential and commercial growth can influence the hiring of additional firefighters to staff needed fire stations or apparatus. Also, many fire departments are at a turning point. In the 1970’s, many fire departments had large hiring campaigns resulting in the potential for a large amount of retiring personnel over the next few years. This, coupled with a new retirement option being utilized by numerous fire departments, leaves the potential for a higher number of entry-level positions the fire service has seen in many years. Prospects are fairly good for applicants who meet the high health and physical requirements. Those with college education and/or degrees, in addition to EMT certification and a Firefighter 1 academy completion certificate, may have a better chance. Depending on the agency, advancem
