Is Firefighter a good career in 2026?
D
42/100 · Below Average
Moderate risk from automation. Consider adjacent skills to broaden earning power.
$66K
Median pay
+6%
vs US average
3%/yr
Demand growth
95/100
Future-proof
Reasons it's worth it
- ✓Relatively automation-resilient (95/100 future-proof).
- ✓In-demand skills: Fire Suppression, EMT, Rescue Operations, Hazmat.
Things to weigh
- !Modest demand growth (~3%/yr).
Dig into the numbers
Common questions
Is Firefighter a good career in 2026?
On our data, Firefighter scores 42/100 (Below Average). Moderate risk from automation. Consider adjacent skills to broaden earning power. Median pay is $66K (6% above the US average), demand is ~3%/yr, and automation risk is 5/100.
Does Firefighter pay well?
The median Firefighter earns about $66K, which is 6% above the US average wage of $62K.
Will Firefighter be automated by AI?
Automation risk is 5/100 (95/100 future-proof). Most of the role is hard to fully automate near-term.
Career score blends demand growth and automation risk; pay from BLS-anchored medians. A guide, not a guarantee.