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How to hire a fire marshal

Fire marshal hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring fire marshals in the United States:

  • There are currently 12,666 fire marshals in the US, as well as 3,541 job openings.
  • Fire marshals are in the highest demand in Brigham City, UT, with 3 current job openings.
  • The median cost to hire a fire marshal is $1,633.
  • It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
  • Human Resources use 15% of their expenses on recruitment on average.
  • On average, it takes around 12 weeks for a new fire marshal to become settled and show total productivity levels at work.

How to hire a fire marshal, step by step

To hire a fire marshal, you should clearly understand the skills and experience you are looking for in a candidate, and allocate a budget for the position. You will also need to post and promote the job opening to reach potential candidates. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to hire a fire marshal:

Here's a step-by-step fire marshal hiring guide:

  • Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
  • Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
  • Step 3: Make a budget
  • Step 4: Write a fire marshal job description
  • Step 5: Post your job
  • Step 6: Interview candidates
  • Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new fire marshal
  • Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist
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  1. Identify your hiring needs

    The fire marshal hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

    Determine employee vs contractor status
    Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

    A fire marshal's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, fire marshals from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

    This list presents fire marshal salaries for various positions.

    Type of Fire MarshalDescriptionHourly rate
    Fire Marshal$16-38
    Company CommanderIn the military, a company commander serves as the commanding officer to a unit of soldiers. They are primarily in charge of overseeing every soldiers' performance and the overall company's daily progress, taking responsibility for every activity and outcome... Show more$37-73
    Fire ChiefA Fire Chief's responsibility is to maintain the fire station's efficient response, the working order of all equipment, and all staff's readiness. They meet with the fire board to discuss the safety directives for the community... Show more$19-58
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • Fire Protection
    • Fire Safety
    • NFPA
    • Hazardous Materials
    • Plan Review
    • Emergency Response
    • Fire Hazards
    • State Fire
    • Safety Codes
    • CPR
    • Fire Investigations
    • Fire Inspections
    • Firefighting
    • Public Education
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Manage regulatory compliance (NRC, INPO, NFPA, WANO, etc .).
    • Lead infantry teams in combat operations, providing tactical and technical guidance to subordinates and professional support to superiors.
    • Train shipboard personnel in the operation, maintenance and repair of systems, equipment and various firefighting methods.
    • Determine ladder requirements, direct ladder placement, deploy personnel on ladders, and monitor ladder operations to ensure safety.
    • Lead infantry teams in combat operations, providing tactical and technical guidance to subordinates and professional support to superiors.
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in your fire marshal job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A fire marshal can vary based on:

    • Location. For example, fire marshals' average salary in vermont is 53% less than in california.
    • Seniority. Entry-level fire marshals 58% less than senior-level fire marshals.
    • Certifications. A fire marshal with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
    • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a fire marshal's salary.

    Average fire marshal salary

    $52,890yearly

    $25.43 hourly rate

    Entry-level fire marshal salary
    $34,000 yearly salary
    Updated December 22, 2025
  4. Writing a fire marshal job description

    A good fire marshal job description should include a few things:

    • Summary of the role
    • List of responsibilities
    • Required skills and experience

    Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a fire marshal job description:

    Fire marshal job description example

    We have had several of our current Tooele City 1st Class Volunteer Firefighters express interest in this position but they are lacking one or more of the required qualifications. These are capable and competent firefighters who we are confident, with some additional training and certification, will be successful in this position.

    Therefore, we are opening this recruitment to current Tooele City 1st Class Volunteer Firefighter on an "underfill" basis pursuant to Tooele City P&P Section 9: B13. This provides for assignment of an employee to a lower salary grade than the job's classification while the employee obtains necessary training and/or experience to meet the minimum qualifications for the job with the goal of being fully assigned to the job within an established time period.

    If hired on an underfill basis, incumbent will be placed at salary grade 20 between $65K & $78K and will promote to salary grade 21 between $71 & $80K after attaining the specified certifications. This will be a FLSA Exempt position. Tooele City expects that all required qualifications be obtained within approximately 6 months of assignment to position.


    ABOUT THE POSITION

    As the Fire Marshal / Emergency Management Supervisor you will oversee fire inspectors, and the activities and operations of fire prevention and mitigation of emergencies and disasters through proper planning, public education, and code enforcement. You'll lead the development and implementation of a comprehensive fire prevention and inspection program, community risk reduction programs, and coordinate and participate in fire operation, prevention, and investigation activities. You will support our volunteer firefighters with response to fire calls (especially during work hours) with primary duty of preparing and driving fire apparatus and equipment to scene and performing 1st class firefighting as needed.

    This position will also serve as Tooele City's statutorily-required emergency manager. As the City's top emergency management specialist you will have responsibility and broad oversight in the development, implementation, training, and administration of a comprehensive emergency management plan for the City that covers a diverse array of emergencies that may impact the organization.

    We are seeking applicants with the following qualifications:

    • Graduation from an accredited college or university with an associate's degree or higher in fire science or related field.
    • 5-7 years of related experience (or an equivalent combination of related education and experience). Prefer 4 years of experience at a Fire Department command staff level.
    • Current Utah State Firefighter I & II certifications.
    • Current Utah State Fire Officer I certification.
    • Current Utah State Fire Inspector I certification.
    • Strong computer and writing skills to establish written programs, implement technology to advance the department and City's comprehensive emergency management systems, and to prepare written documentation as needed.
    • Exceptional communication and collaboration skills.
    • Complete within 12 months from assignment to position or next reasonable training time as coordinated with the Chief: NIMS 100, 200, 300, 400, 700a, 800b & Fire Inspector II certification
    • Complete within 24 months from assignment to position or next reasonable training time as coordinated with the Chief: ICC Fire Plans Examiner certification & Utah fire investigator or equivalent.
    • Must reside within 15 miles of Tooele City limits.

    A full copy of the job description, including additional qualifications, is available from the HR office.

    Pre-employment background check and pre-employment/random safety-sensitive drug screening is required.

    EEO/ADA Employer



    Job Posted by ApplicantPro
  5. Post your job

    To find fire marshals for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

    • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
    • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any fire marshals they would recommend.
    • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level fire marshals with the right educational background.
    • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.
    Post your job online:
    • Post your fire marshal job on Zippia to find and recruit fire marshal candidates who meet your exact specifications.
    • Use field-specific websites.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    To successfully recruit fire marshals, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

    It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to the technical interview.

    The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

  7. Send a job offer and onboard your new fire marshal

    Once you've decided on a perfect fire marshal candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

    You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

    To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

  8. Go through the hiring process checklist

    • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
    • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
    • Define job responsibilities and requirements
    • Establish budget and timeline
    • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
    • Write job description
    • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
    • Promote the job internally
    • Process applications through applicant tracking system
    • Review resumes and cover letters
    • Shortlist candidates for screening
    • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
    • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
    • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
    • Conduct background checks on top candidates
    • Check references of top candidates
    • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
    • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
    • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
    • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
    • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
    • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)
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How much does it cost to hire a fire marshal?

Before you start to hire fire marshals, it pays to consider both the one-off costs like recruitment, job promotion, and onboarding, as well as the ongoing costs of an employee's salary and benefits. While most companies that hire fire marshals pay close attention to the initial cost of hiring, ongoing costs are much more significant in the long run.

The median annual salary for fire marshals is $52,890 in the US. However, the cost of fire marshal hiring can vary a lot depending on location. Additionally, hiring a fire marshal for contract work or on a per-project basis typically costs between $16 and $38 an hour.

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