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What is a fire lieutenant and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
2 min read
There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a fire lieutenant. For example, did you know that they make an average of $27.26 an hour? That's $56,705 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 4% and produce 800 job opportunities across the U.S.
ScoreFire LieutenantUS Average
Salary
4.4

Avg. Salary $56,705

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
9.8

Growth rate 4%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
1.5
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.90%

Asian 2.26%

Black or African American 5.87%

Hispanic or Latino 8.25%

Unknown 5.74%

White 76.97%

Gender

female 3.52%

male 96.48%

Age - 49
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 49
Stress level
9.8

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity level
8.6

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance
6.8

Work life balance is good

6.4 - fair

Fire lieutenant career paths

Key steps to become a fire lieutenant

  1. Explore fire lieutenant education requirements

    Most common fire lieutenant degrees

    Associate

    37.9 %

    Bachelor's

    33.0 %

    High School Diploma

    17.6 %
  2. Start to develop specific fire lieutenant skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Emergency Situations10.13%
    EMT7.56%
    Life Safety5.44%
    Hazardous Materials5.20%
    Fire Suppression4.21%
  3. Complete relevant fire lieutenant training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New fire lieutenants learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a fire lieutenant based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real fire lieutenant resumes.
  4. Research fire lieutenant duties and responsibilities

    • Manage the combat logistics operations center's daily operations and ensure efficient information flow between internal and external organizations.
    • Apply lifesaving, firefighting, and prevention principles, practices, tools and techniques, and equipment to practical scenarios.
    • Evaluate firefighting methods and apparatus performance regarding new equipment and equipment utilize during emergency calls.
    • Render advanced paramedical care to injure or ill patients as required ensuring compliance with department regulations, protocol, and procedure.
  5. Prepare your fire lieutenant resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your fire lieutenant resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a fire lieutenant resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable fire lieutenant resume templates

    Build a professional fire lieutenant resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your fire lieutenant resume.
    Fire Lieutenant Resume
    Fire Lieutenant Resume
    Fire Lieutenant Resume
    Fire Lieutenant Resume
    Fire Lieutenant Resume
    Fire Lieutenant Resume
    Fire Lieutenant Resume
    Fire Lieutenant Resume
    Fire Lieutenant Resume
  6. Apply for fire lieutenant jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a fire lieutenant job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first fire lieutenant job

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Average fire lieutenant salary

The average fire lieutenant salary in the United States is $56,705 per year or $27 per hour. Fire lieutenant salaries range between $39,000 and $80,000 per year.

Average fire lieutenant salary
$56,705 Yearly
$27.26 hourly

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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