Fire fighter vs fire hydrant operator

The differences between fire fighters and fire hydrant operators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a fire fighter has an average salary of $56,792, which is higher than the $41,774 average annual salary of a fire hydrant operator.

Fire fighter vs fire hydrant operator overview

	Fire Fighter	Fire Hydrant Operator
Yearly salary	$56,792	$41,774
Hourly rate	$27.30	$20.08
Growth rate	6%	4%
Number of jobs	3,398	28,968
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 31%	High School Diploma, 60%
Average age	49	39
Years of experience	8	-

Fire fighter vs fire hydrant operator salary

Fire fighters and fire hydrant operators have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Fire Fighter	Fire Hydrant Operator
Average salary	$56,792	$41,774
Salary range	Between $35,000 And $89,000	Between $27,000 And $64,000
Highest paying City	East Chicago, IN	-
Highest paying state	Indiana	-
Best paying company	1 8 3 Lanes	-
Best paying industry	Technology	-

Differences between fire fighter and fire hydrant operator education

There are a few differences between a fire fighter and a fire hydrant operator in terms of educational background:

	Fire Fighter	Fire Hydrant Operator
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 31%	High School Diploma, 60%
Most common major	Fire Science And Protection	Supply Chain Management
Most common college	-	-

Fire fighter vs fire hydrant operator demographics

Here are the differences between fire fighters' and fire hydrant operators' demographics:

	Fire Fighter	Fire Hydrant Operator
Average age	49	39
Gender ratio	Male, 81.9% Female, 18.1%	Male, 82.4% Female, 17.6%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 5.8% Unknown, 5.9% Hispanic or Latino, 8.2% Asian, 2.3% White, 76.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1%	Black or African American, 6.1% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 11.1% Asian, 1.7% White, 75.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0%
LGBT Percentage	7%	3%

Differences between fire fighter and fire hydrant operator duties and responsibilities

Fire fighter example responsibilities.

Lead infantry teams in combat operations, providing tactical and technical guidance to subordinates and professional support to superiors.
Administer medical care to injure people, providing CPR, first aid, as well as other emergency responses.
Task with testing SCBA, centrifugal pump systems, foam induction systems, structural gear inspections and HAZMAT equipment.
Cut and clear brush, dig trenches in order to create fire lines, using axes, chainsaws or shovels.
Maintain SCBA equipment and records.
Serve as paramedic on ALS transport ambulance.

Fire hydrant operator example responsibilities.

Utilize optimum use of firefighting and first-aid techniques following proper safety protocols.
Administer first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation to injure persons.

Fire fighter vs fire hydrant operator skills

Common fire fighter skills

CPR, 7%
Public Safety, 7%
Non-Emergency Calls, 6%
Fire Prevention, 5%
Fire Suppression, 4%
Hazmat, 4%

Common fire hydrant operator skills

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Fire Fighter vs Fire Hydrant Operator

Updated January 8, 2025

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