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Firefighters in Minnesota

Firefighters in Minnesota

Want to work as a Firefighters in Minnesota? Here’s what you need to know. Control and extinguish fires or respond to emergency situations where life, property, or the environment is at risk. Duties may include fire prevention, emergency medical service, hazardous material response, search and rescue, and disaster assistance.

What do Firefighters Make in Minnesota?

The firefighters working in Minnesota, the typical annual salary is $41,990 per year (or roughly $20.19/hour).Annual wages span from $29,040 at the 10th percentile to $72,970 at the 90th percentile.

Wage Statistic Annual Hourly
10th percentile $29,040 $13.96
25th percentile $37,030 $17.80
Median (50th) $41,990 $20.19
75th percentile $60,040 $28.87
90th percentile $72,970 $35.08
Salary ranges for Firefighters in Minnesota

Location quotient — how concentrated this career is in Minnesota relative to the national average — is 0.78, meaning fewer firefighters per worker than the national average.

National Wage Comparison

Nationally, firefighters earn a median of $31,415 per year ($15.10/hour), above the Minnesota median.

Firefighters earnings in Minnesota vs. the national average

Employment Outlook

National employment for 208,197 firefighters in the U.S.. In Minnesota alone, about 4,890 people work in this role. That’s higher than the typical state, which employs around 4,690 firefighters.

Firefighters in Minnesota vs. the average state Forecasted number of jobs for Firefighters

Top Minnesota Metros for Firefighters

The largest metro-area employers of firefighters in Minnesota.

Metro Area Number Employed Annual Median Salary
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI 3,160 $43,470
Duluth, MN-WI 400 $42,900
Rochester, MN 160 $53,540
Mankato, MN 80 $42,970

Top States for Firefighters Employment

These states have the highest employment of firefighters work.

State Number Employed
Texas 30,400
California 27,580
Florida 21,470
Ohio 18,750
North Carolina 18,200
New York 14,730
Illinois 14,510
Massachusetts 11,910
Georgia 11,660
Virginia 10,820
Indiana 8,550
Wisconsin 8,010
Washington 8,000
South Carolina 7,570
Michigan 7,390
Alabama 6,930
Arizona 6,870
Missouri 6,740
New Jersey 6,590
Tennessee 6,510

Highest-Paying States for Firefighters

These states pay the most for firefighters.

State Annual Median Salary
Washington $93,490
New York $88,380
New Jersey $87,660
California $83,400
District of Columbia $79,430
Illinois $79,080
Connecticut $77,660
Colorado $76,560
Oregon $73,270
Massachusetts $73,110

Skills

Key firefighters skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Critical Thinking  3.9 / 5
0
5
Service Orientation  3.6 / 5
0
5
Coordination  3.6 / 5
0
5
Judgment and Decision Making  3.6 / 5
0
5
Active Learning  3.5 / 5
0
5
Speaking  3.5 / 5
0
5

Knowledge Areas

Important knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Public Safety and Security  4.5 / 5
0
5
Customer and Personal Service  4.2 / 5
0
5
Education and Training  4.1 / 5
0
5
Building and Construction  4.0 / 5
0
5
English Language  3.9 / 5
0
5
Mechanical  3.8 / 5
0
5

Abilities

The abilities that matter most for firefighters, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Problem Sensitivity  4.1 / 5
0
5
Oral Comprehension  3.9 / 5
0
5
Oral Expression  3.8 / 5
0
5
Deductive Reasoning  3.8 / 5
0
5
Arm-Hand Steadiness  3.8 / 5
0
5
Static Strength  3.8 / 5
0
5

Daily Tasks

Day-to-day, firefighters typically:

  • Rescue survivors from burning buildings, accident sites, and water hazards.
  • Dress with equipment such as fire-resistant clothing and breathing apparatus.
  • Assess fires and situations and report conditions to superiors to receive instructions, using two-way radios.
  • Move toward the source of a fire, using knowledge of types of fires, construction design, building materials, and physical layout of properties.
  • Respond to fire alarms and other calls for assistance, such as automobile and industrial accidents.
  • Create openings in buildings for ventilation or entrance, using axes, chisels, crowbars, electric saws, or core cutters.
  • Drive and operate fire fighting vehicles and equipment.
  • Inspect fire sites after flames have been extinguished to ensure that there is no further danger.
  • Position and climb ladders to gain access to upper levels of buildings, or to rescue individuals from burning structures.
  • Select and attach hose nozzles, depending on fire type, and direct streams of water or chemicals onto fires.
  • Operate pumps connected to high-pressure hoses.
  • Maintain contact with fire dispatchers at all times to notify them of the need for additional firefighters and supplies, or to detail any difficulties encountered.

Work Activities

  • Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
  • Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment
  • Assisting and Caring for Others
  • Making Decisions and Solving Problems
  • Performing General Physical Activities
  • Getting Information
  • Performing for or Working Directly with the Public
  • Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
  • Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
  • Handling and Moving Objects
  • Documenting/Recording Information
  • Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge

Tools & Technology

Common tools and software used in this occupation include: Hot technologies: Microsoft Access

What Major Will Prepare You For This Career?

Programs that train for this career include:

  • Fire Protection
  • Natural Resource Management

Careers similar to firefighters include:

Also Known As

Airport Firefighter, Apparatus Operator, Crash Fire Firefighter, Fire Alarm Operator, Fire Apparatus Engineer, Fire Chief's Aide, Fire Engine Pump Operator, Fire Engineer, Fire Equipment Operator, Fire Fighter, Fire Hydrant Operator, Fire Management Specialist, Fire Medic, Fire Suppression Technician, Fire Technician (Fire Tech).

References

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