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Fire Chief Jobs (NOW HIRING)

City of Astoria

Fire Chief

Astoria, OR · On-site

FIRE CHIEF Astoria Fire Department Astoria, Oregon The City of Astoria is looking for the next Fire Chief to lead the Astoria Fire Department. This is an opportunity to serve a historic community ...

Orange County Fire Authority

Fire Chief

Irvine, CA · On-site

$367K/yr

DESCRIPTION Salary Range: $378,684 - $425,000 The Orange County Fire Authority Fire Chief recruitment is being administered by Jacob Green and Associates. To view the recruitment brochure, select the ...

City of Evanston

Fire Chief

Evanston, IL

$170K - $256K/yr

CITY OF EVANSTON FIRE CHIEF The City of Evanston seeks an innovative, collaborative, and visionary leader to serve as its next Fire Chief. This is a rare opportunity to lead a highly respected fire ...

New

Red Oak, City of (TX)

Fire Chief

Red Oak, TX

$195K - $220K/yr

Summary Fire Chief Recruitment Announcement Applications must include a cover letter, resume, and a recent headshot. The Fire Chief serves under the administrative direction of the Deputy City ...

City of Rocklin (CA)

Fire Chief

Rocklin, CA

$188K - $256K/yr

The next Fire Chief will have the chance to shape the future of fire and emergency services in a rapidly evolving city, advancing operational excellence, strategic planning, emergency preparedness ...

City of Evanston

Fire Chief

Evanston, IL · On-site

$170K - $256K/yr

Fire Department CITY OF EVANSTON FIRE CHIEF The City of Evanston seeks an innovative, collaborative, and visionary leader to serve as its next Fire Chief. This is a rare opportunity to lead a highly ...

New

City of Rocklin, CA

Fire Chief

Rocklin, CA · On-site

$188K - $256K/yr

The next Fire Chief will have the chance to shape the future of fire and emergency services in a rapidly evolving city, advancing operational excellence, strategic planning, emergency preparedness ...

City and Borough of Sitka, AK

Fire Chief

Sitka, AK · On-site

$119K/yr

The Fire Chief directly supervises two or more employees and is responsible for the supervision of all department staff if delegated to other managers or supervisors. The Fire Chief is a management ...

Sitka, City and Borough of (AK)

Fire Chief

Sitka, AK

$119K/yr

The Fire Chief directly supervises two or more employees and is responsible for the supervision of all department staff if delegated to other managers or supervisors. The Fire Chief is a management ...

City of Red Oak, TX

Fire Chief

Red Oak, TX · On-site

$195K - $220K/yr

The Fire Chief serves under the administrative direction of the Deputy City Manager and leads all Fire Department operations related to the protection of life and property. This role oversees fire ...

City of Hollister, CA

Fire Chief

Hollister, CA · On-site

$182K - $221K/yr

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS The Fire Chief is the executive management level class within the fire safety class series and has responsibility for managing and overseeing all organizational and ...

City of Watsonville

Battalion Fire Chief

Watsonville, CA

$121K - $163K/yr

The Battalion Fire Chief will be assigned either a 5 day/8 hour shift, a 4 day/10 hour shift, or to a 24 hour platoon duty as decided by the Fire Chief. Examples of Duties Duties may include, but are ...

City of Hollister

Fire Chief

Hollister, CA

$182K - $221K/yr

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS The Fire Chief is the executive management level class within the fire safety class series and has responsibility for managing and overseeing all organizational and ...

City of Watsonville

Battalion Fire Chief

Watsonville, CA · On-site

$121K - $163K/yr

The Battalion Fire Chief will be assigned either a 5 day/8 hour shift, a 4 day/10 hour shift, or to a 24 hour platoon duty as decided by the Fire Chief. Examples of Duties Duties may include, but are ...

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All JobsFire Chief Jobs

Fire Chief information

See salary details

$31K

$105.6K

$183K

How much do fire chief jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 20, 2026, the average yearly pay for fire chief in the United States is $105,577.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $78,000.00 and $124,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Fire Chief, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Fire Chief, you need extensive knowledge of fire science, emergency management, and leadership, typically supported by experience as a firefighter and advanced certifications like Fire Officer or Fire Chief credentials. Familiarity with incident command systems, fire reporting software, and emergency communication tools is essential. Outstanding decision-making, communication, and team leadership skills help manage personnel and maintain public trust. These competencies are critical for ensuring effective emergency response, firefighter safety, and overall department performance.

What are the typical challenges a Fire Chief faces when managing both emergency operations and administrative duties?

Fire Chiefs often juggle the demands of leading emergency response efforts while also overseeing administrative responsibilities like budgeting, personnel management, and policy development. Balancing immediate operational needs—such as coordinating teams during fires or disasters—with long-term planning and resource allocation can be challenging. Effective Fire Chiefs foster strong communication within their teams, delegate tasks appropriately, and remain adaptable to rapidly changing scenarios. This dual focus requires strong leadership, organizational skills, and the ability to make quick, informed decisions under pressure.

What is the difference between Fire Chief vs Fire Captain?

AspectFire ChiefFire Captain
CertificationsFire Officer I & II, Incident Command, EMT/ParamedicFirefighter I & II, EMT/Paramedic, Incident Command
Work EnvironmentAdministrative, strategic planning, overseeing entire departmentOn-scene incident management, supervising firefighters
ResponsibilitiesDepartment leadership, policy development, budget managementLeading firefighting teams during emergencies, training

The Fire Chief is responsible for overall department management and strategic planning, while the Fire Captain focuses on on-the-ground incident command and team supervision. Both roles require similar certifications and work in firefighting environments, but differ in scope and leadership level.

What are Fire Chiefs?

Fire Chiefs are the highest-ranking officers in a fire department, responsible for overseeing all operations and administration. They manage personnel, develop policies, coordinate emergency response, and ensure compliance with safety regulations. Fire Chiefs also work with local government, budget resources, and lead public education efforts on fire prevention. Their leadership is crucial in both daily department management and during major emergency incidents.

What Does a Fire Chief Do?

A fire chief is a public service officer who oversees the operation of the fire department. As a fire chief, your responsibilities include responding to calls and working as a firefighter, but you are primarily the administrator for the department. Your duties are to train and assess firefighters, set schedules, monitor budgets, make requests for new equipment and fire engines, and ensure that the department is functioning properly. You will also work with local government officials to assess community needs and ensure they are being met.

More about Fire Chief jobs
What cities are hiring for Fire Chief jobs? Cities with the most Fire Chief job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Fire Chief jobs? The most popular types of Fire Chief jobs are:
Who are the top companies hiring for Fire Chief jobs? The top employers for Fire Chief jobs are:
What states have the most Fire Chief jobs? States with the most job openings for Fire Chief jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Fire Chief jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Fire Chief jobs are:
What are popular job titles related to Fire Chief jobs? For Fire Chief jobs, the most frequently searched job titles are:
Fire Chief jobs near you
Infographic showing various Fire Chief job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Internship, 1% As Needed, 89% Full Time, 8% Part Time, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 92% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $105,577 per year, or $50.8 per hour.

Fire Chief

City of Astoria

Astoria, OR • On-site

Full-time

Posted 27 days ago

Job description

FIRE CHIEF
Astoria Fire Department
Astoria, Oregon

The City of Astoria is looking for the next Fire Chief to lead the Astoria Fire Department. This is an opportunity to serve a historic community while providing leadership and management of all aspects of department operations including personnel management, financial administration, strategic planning, emergency response, fire prevention, and training. We are looking for a collaborative leader committed to excellence, integrity, and service.

Please follow this link to APPLY: Fire Chief Recruitment Page

Apply