Fireman demographics and statistics in the US
Fireman demographics research summary. Zippia estimates fireman demographics and statistics in the United States by using a database of 30 million profiles. Our fireman estimates are verified against BLS, Census, and current job openings data for accuracy. Zippia's data science team found the following key facts about firemen after extensive research and analysis:
- There are over 138,819 firemen currently employed in the United States.
- 11.8% of all firemen are women, while 88.2% are men.
- The average fireman age is 38 years old.
- The most common ethnicity of firemen is White (69.0%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (15.3%), Black or African American (8.1%) and Unknown (4.8%).
- In 2022, women earned 92% of what men earned.
- 3% of all firemen are LGBT.
- Firemen are 60% more likely to work at private companies in comparison to government companies.
On this page
Fireman demographics by:
Fireman gender statistics
11.8% of firemen are women and 88.2% of firemen are men.
- Male, 88.2%
- Female, 11.8%
Fireman gender ratio
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Male | 88.2% |
| Female | 11.8% |
Fireman gender pay gap
Women earn 92¢ for every $1 earned by men
Male income
$44,373
Female income
$41,010
Fireman gender ratio over time
This data breaks down the percentage of men and women in fireman positions over time. Currently, 11.8% of firemen are female.
Fireman gender ratio by year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 89.18% | 10.82% |
| 2011 | 87.39% | 12.61% |
| 2012 | 87.63% | 12.37% |
| 2013 | 86.68% | 13.32% |
| 2014 | 91.02% | 8.98% |
| 2015 | 84.23% | 15.77% |
| 2016 | 86.12% | 13.88% |
| 2017 | 87.92% | 12.08% |
| 2018 | 89.77% | 10.23% |
| 2019 | 89.23% | 10.77% |
| 2020 | 87.34% | 12.66% |
| 2021 | 88.24% | 11.76% |
Fireman related jobs gender ratio
We compared firemen with similar job titles to see how gender ratios vary. As you can see, fire observer and cannon fire direction specialist have the biggest gender ratio gaps.
| Job title | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Prevention Specialist | 33% | 67% |
| Fireman | 88% | 12% |
| Driver Engineer | 96% | 4% |
| Cannon Fire Direction Specialist | 96% | 4% |
| Fire Observer | 98% | 2% |
Male
Female
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
Fireman demographics by race
The most common ethnicity among firemen is White, which makes up 69.0% of all firemen. Comparatively, 15.3% of firemen are Hispanic or Latino and 8.1% of firemen are Black or African American.
- White, 69.0%
- Hispanic or Latino, 15.3%
- Black or African American, 8.1%
- Unknown, 4.8%
- Asian, 1.8%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0%
Fireman race
| Fireman race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 69.0% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 15.3% |
| Black or African American | 8.1% |
| Unknown | 4.8% |
| Asian | 1.8% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 1.0% |
Fireman race and ethnicity over time
See how fireman racial and ethnic diversity trended since 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau data.
Fireman race and ethnicity by year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 74.31% | 8.44% | 1.28% | 12.56% |
| 2011 | 74.97% | 7.68% | 1.48% | 12.04% |
| 2012 | 74.78% | 8.10% | 0.91% | 12.22% |
| 2013 | 74.09% | 7.21% | 1.21% | 12.84% |
| 2014 | 73.60% | 7.53% | 1.85% | 12.27% |
| 2015 | 74.09% | 8.21% | 1.51% | 12.25% |
| 2016 | 74.11% | 8.05% | 1.32% | 12.56% |
| 2017 | 73.06% | 7.57% | 1.22% | 14.01% |
| 2018 | 72.37% | 7.71% | 1.53% | 14.07% |
| 2019 | 74.98% | 6.92% | 1.85% | 13.58% |
| 2020 | 72.71% | 6.70% | 1.73% | 11.91% |
| 2021 | 69.03% | 8.10% | 1.84% | 15.30% |
Fireman wage gap by race
According to our data, hispanic or latino firemen have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities. Asian firemen have the lowest average salary at $40,585.
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $45,293 |
| White | $46,638 |
| Black or African American | $41,286 |
| Asian | $40,585 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $48,604 |
Average fireman age
See how the average age of firemen varies based on ethnicity and gender.
Male
Female
Fireman age by race and gender
| Race | Male age | Female age |
|---|---|---|
| Black or African American | 37.5 | 30 |
| Unknown | 38 | |
| Asian | 40 | |
| Hispanic or Latino | 36 | 40 |
| White | 39 | 37 |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 36 |
Fireman age breakdown
The average age of firemen is 40+ years years old, representing 45% of the fireman population.
Fireman age breakdown
| Fireman Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 45% |
| 30-40 years | 37% |
| 20-30 years | 17% |
Fireman educational attainment
The most common degree for firemen is high school diploma, with 37% of firemen earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are bachelor's degree degree at 29% and bachelor's degree degree at 21%.
- High School Diploma, 37%
- Bachelor's, 29%
- Associate, 21%
- Diploma, 6%
- Other Degrees, 7%
Firemen by degree level
| Fireman degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma | 37% |
| Bachelor's | 29% |
| Associate | 21% |
| Diploma | 6% |
| Other Degrees | 7% |
Fireman jobs you might like
Fireman wage gap by degree level
According to the data, firemen with a Master's degree earn more than those without, at $52,895 annually. With a Bachelor's degree, firemen earn a median annual income of $52,218 compared to $48,444 for firemen with an Associate degree.
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $52,895 |
| High School Diploma or Less | $42,090 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $52,218 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $48,444 |
Fireman employment statistics
Most firemen work for a private in the government industry.
Company size where firemen work
Below, you can see the size of companies where firemen work.
Fireman jobs by employer size
| Company size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| < 50 employees | 9% |
| 50 - 100 employees | 19% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 30% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 10% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 23% |
| > 10,000 employees | 9% |
Fireman jobs by company type
Employees with the fireman job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most firemen prefer to work at private companies over government companies.
Fireman jobs by sector
| Company type | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 10% |
| Public | 6% |
| Private | 60% |
| Government | 24% |
Fireman jobs by industry
The most common industries for firemen are government, manufacturing and education.
Fireman industry statistics
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Government | 24% |
| Manufacturing | 13% |
| Education | 8% |
| Professional | 6% |
| Retail | 6% |
| Technology | 6% |
| Construction | 5% |
| Transportation | 4% |
| Media | 4% |
| Finance | 4% |
| Hospitality | 4% |
| Health Care | 3% |
| Fortune 500 | 3% |
| Telecommunication | 2% |
| Utilities | 2% |
| Energy | 1% |
| Non Profits | 1% |
| Real Estate | 1% |
| Automotive | 1% |
| Agriculture | 1% |
Fireman turnover and employment statistics
Fireman unemployment rate over time
The unemployment rate for firemen between 2008 and the most recent data has varied, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Fireman unemployment rate by year
| Year | Fireman unemployment rate |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 3.88% |
| 2011 | 3.10% |
| 2012 | 2.78% |
| 2013 | 2.98% |
| 2014 | 2.13% |
| 2015 | 2.46% |
| 2016 | 1.95% |
| 2017 | 1.87% |
| 2018 | 1.53% |
| 2019 | 1.06% |
| 2020 | 2.13% |
| 2021 | 1.45% |
Average fireman tenure
The average fireman stays at their job for 1-2 years, based on the 2,306 firemen resumes in Zippia's database.
Fireman tenure statistics
| Number of years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 14% |
| 1-2 years | 31% |
| 3-4 years | 20% |
| 5-7 years | 13% |
| 8-10 years | 6% |
| 11+ years | 15% |
Fireman LGBT ratio compared to similar jobs
Review the percent of firemen that are members of the LGBT community. You can see how this compares to similar jobs in the chart below.
| Job title | LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Fireman | 3.06% | - |
| Loss Prevention Analyst | 5.54% | 62,658 |
| Lifeguard Supervisor | 5.88% | 4,311 |
| Nuclear Security Officer | 6.63% | 124,879 |
| Correctional Sergeant | 8.48% | 72,839 |
| Security Screener | 9.37% | 45,041 |
| Fire Ranger | 11.81% | 3,830 |
Similar fireman jobs LGBT demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Loss Prevention Analyst | 5.54% | 62,658 |
| Lifeguard Supervisor | 5.88% | 4,311 |
| Nuclear Security Officer | 6.63% | 124,879 |
| Correctional Sergeant | 8.48% | 72,839 |
| Security Screener | 9.37% | 45,041 |
| Fire Ranger | 11.81% | 3,830 |
Foreign languages spoken by firemen
The most common foreign language among firemen is Spanish at 55.9%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is French at 20.6% and Korean is the third-most popular at 5.9%.
- Spanish, 55.9%
- French, 20.6%
- Korean, 5.9%
- German, 2.9%
- Japanese, 2.9%
- Other, 11.8%
Fireman languages spoken
| Foreign language | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Spanish | 55.9% |
| French | 20.6% |
| Korean | 5.9% |
| German | 2.9% |
| Japanese | 2.9% |
| Other | 11.8% |
