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Fire Chief Jobs in Minnesota (NOW HIRING)

Volunteer Firefighter Under the direction of the Fire Chief, Volunteer Firefighters protect life and property by responding to emergency situations including fires, rescues, and other incidents.

General Description Under the direction of the Fire Chief, Volunteer Firefighters protect life and property by responding to emergency situations including fires, rescues, and other incidents. Duties ...

Social Media Director

Rochester, MN · On-site

$100K - $145K/yr

... Fire is offering a minimum $25,000 relocation/sign-on bonus for the Social Media Director position. Responsibilities * Work in close partnership with CEO and executive leadership to direct the ...

The Sr. Professional Building Operations - Chief Engineer position is responsible for setting up ... Responsible for keeping maintenance records and adhering to regulatory requirements on fire systems ...

Social Media Director

Rochester, MN · Hybrid

$100K - $145K/yr

... Fire is offering a minimum $25,000 relocation/sign-on bonus for the Social Media Director position. Responsibilities * Work in close partnership with CEO and executive leadership to direct the ...

Chief Building Engineer

Minneapolis, MN · On-site

$73K - $132K/yr

The Sr. Professional Building Operations - Chief Engineer position is responsible for setting up ... Responsible for keeping maintenance records and adhering to regulatory requirements on fire systems ...

Showing results 21-40

Fire Chief information

See Minnesota salary details

$30.4K

$103.4K

$179.2K

How much do fire chief jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 22, 2026, the average yearly pay for fire chief in Minnesota is $103,403.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $76,400.00 and $121,400.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a fire chief?

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.

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 the most commonly searched types of Fire Chief jobs in Minnesota?

The most popular types of Fire Chief jobs in Minnesota are:

What are popular job titles related to Fire Chief jobs in Minnesota?

For Fire Chief jobs in Minnesota, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What cities in Minnesota are hiring for Fire Chief jobs?

Cities in Minnesota with the most Fire Chief job openings:

What are popular job titles related to Fire Chief jobs in MN?

For Fire Chief jobs in MN, the most frequently searched job titles are:

Infographic showing various Fire Chief job openings in Minnesota as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 86% Full Time, 10% Part Time, 2% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 97% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 2% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $103,403 per year, or $49.7 per hour.

Paramedic/Firefighter - Lateral

City of Edina, MN

Minneapolis, MN • On-site

$93K - $118K/yr

Other

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 6 days ago


Job description

Salary: $93,241.00 - $118,727.00 Annually
Location : Fire Station #1 6250 Tracy Avenue, MN
Job Type: Regular Full-Time
Job Number: 202600074
Department: Fire
Opening Date: 08/14/2026
Closing Date: 8/30/2026 8:00 AM Central
Position Description
Are you ready to take on a rewarding career that makes a real difference in your community?
Join our team as a Paramedic Firefighter! In this vital role, you'll be responsible for all aspects of fire protection, prevention, EMS, technical rescue, hazardous material response, and public education. You'll also perform maintenance on fire equipment and station facilities, ensuring they remain in top condition.
As a Paramedic Firefighter, you may be called upon to lead emergency situations, using your sound judgment and decisive actions to protect lives and property. Be a part of a dedicated team making an impact every day in your community.
  • Paramedic/firefighters may receive an additional up to $3,000 per year in incentives for education and special operations.
Per the Local 1275 contract, upon hire after January 1, 2026, a lateral transfer may be credited with their years of full-time experience for the purpose of wage placement and vacation accrual, as determined by the Fire Chief.
Lateral Transfer Credit:
Eligible candidates may receive up to five (5) years of service credit based on qualifying continuous full-time experience in:
Paramedic Firefighter roles providing both 911 ALS transport and fire suppression (year-for-year credit)
ALS transport-only Paramedic roles (1 year credit for every 2 years served)
Fire suppression-only firefighter roles (1 year credit for every 2 years served)
A minimum of two (2) years of continuous service at each employer is required for eligibility. Applicable certifications and licensure requirements must be met at or before hire.
What the city of Edina offers:
  • Comprehensive Health & Dental Coverage: 6 affordable Health Partners medical plans and 1 dental plan with employer covered individual plan and low-cost family plans.
  • Vision: Optional supplemental vision plan for glasses and contacts.
  • Disability Insurance: Long-term disability at no cost and an optional short-term disability plan.
  • Life Insurance: $50,000 basic life insurance at no cost with an optional buy-up.
  • Retirement Plan: Participation in the Public Employees Retirement Association (PERA) with City contributions, plus a 457 Deferred Compensation plan.
  • Paid Time Off: 12+ days of paid vacation per year which increases with length of time employed, 13 paid holidays, and 12 days of sick leave accrual per year.
  • Paid Parental Leave: Six weeks of paid leave for birth of baby/adoption
Note: The listed salary information reflects 2026 wages.
Essential Functions
Click HERE to view complete job description.
Qualifications
Minimum Qualifications:
  • High school diploma, GED, or equivalent.
  • Paramedic certification by the date of hire.
  • Firefighter certification on the date of hire.
  • Licensed as a firefighter by the Minnesota Board of Firefighter Training and Education (MBFTE) within one year of hire.
  • Valid Minnesota driver's license within 60 days of hire and maintained during employment as an Edina Fire employee.
Desired Qualifications:
  • Associate's in applied science degree in Fire Science or bachelor's degree in Fire Administration or a related field.
  • Previous experience as a paramedic/firefighter, emergency response preferred.
  • Current licensure as a firefighter by the Minnesota Board of Firefighter Training and Education (MBFTE).
  • Completion of Firefighter I/II curriculum as approved by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) or an equivalent program conforming to NFPA 1001, certified by the International Fire Service Accreditation Congress (IFSAC) and/or Pro Board.
  • Current paramedic certification through the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians.
Supplemental Information
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required for Successful Job Performance:
  • Knowledge of current Department rules, regulations, procedures and policies;
  • Knowledge and ability to operate all fire control equipment, including specialized devices such as thread adapters, fittings and connectors not frequently used, as well as their locations on each vehicle;
  • Knowledge of capabilities and limitations of department vehicles and equipment, and ability to anticipate conditions that may exceed limitations;
  • Knowledge of City ordinances, local, State and Federal laws, regulations and codes relating to Department activities and services;
  • High level of flexibility and adaptability, and the ability to respond quickly;
  • The ability to maintain composure in stressful situations;
  • The ability to perform strenuous duties in emergency and austere situations;
  • The ability to respond as a leader in emergency situations requiring the use of sound judgment and decisive actions;
  • Verbal and written communication skills sufficient to effectively respond to questions from a wide variety of audiences and to perform public speaking, and reading comprehension skills sufficient to read, understand and interpret varied work-related materials;
  • Interpersonal skills sufficient to exchange and/or convey information, receive work direction, and maintain effective working relationships;
  • Ability to prepare written reports on EMS patients using computer software.
  • Ability to work and incorporate the perspectives of multiple communities, people from diverse racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds.

Physical Requirements: Employees are required to take appropriate safety precautions, wear protective clothing and equipment, observe and hear commands and see signals for help, climb ladders, balance, kneel, crouch, reach, walk and/or run on uneven surfaces, and drag up to, and in excess of, 150 pounds.
This position is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check, medical exams and drug testing.
Full time Employee Benefits:
The City of Edina offers a competitive benefits package and uses a "cafeteria plan" model, which gives the employee a monthly sum of money and allows them the flexibility to choose how to spend it on the various benefits offered. All insurance coverage takes effect the 1st of the month following date of employment.
  • Medical: 9 plans to choose from through Health Partners. All individual plans are fully covered and have leftover money towards other benefits. Family health insurance is also low cost and high quality.
  • Dental: 2 plans to choose from through Health Partners depending on your dental needs.
  • Vision: Supplemental Vision plan for glasses and contacts
  • Long & Short-Term Disability: All full-time employees receive Long Term disability at no cost, with an option to purchase short term disability.
  • Life insurance: All full-time employees receive a $20,000 Basic Life policy at no cost, with an additional buy up option.
  • Retirement: All public employees are required by the State to participate in the Public Employees Retirement Association (PERA). 6.5% of the employee's gross wage or salary is matched with a 7.5% contribution from the City. Some Police and Fire employees are mandated to participate in PERA at a rate of 11.8% of their gross wage or salary, matched by 17.70% contribution by the City. 457 Deferred Compensation plans are also available.
  • Supplemental Accident, Critical Illness and Hospital Care plans
  • Employee Assistance Program (EAP): Free and confidential service for all employees and their families

Vacation/Sick Leave/Holidays:
  • Paid vacation is available to all regular full-time employees and begins with accruing 3.08 hours/paycheck (10 days per year). The amount increases as the years of service increase.
  • Sick leave accrues at 3.69 hours/paycheck (12 days per year).
  • Each regular full-time employee is eligible for 13 paid holidays during the year.

Part time & Seasonal Employee Benefits:
  • Extended Part-time (30-39 hours/week year-round): Eligible for Health Insurance, 13 paid holidays, Retirement, and Employee Assistance (EAP) program. Employees also accrue Paid Time Off (PTO) at 1 hour for every 30 hours worked.
  • Regular Part-time (20-29 hours/week year-round): Eligible for 6 paid holidays, Retirement, and Employee Assistance (EAP) Program. Employees also accrue Paid Time Off (PTO) at 1 hour for every 30 hours worked.
  • Flexible Part-time and Seasonal employees: Employees accrue Paid Time Off (PTO) at 1 hour for every 30 hours worked and are eligible for the Employee Assistance Program (EAP).

*Individual benefits may vary slightly depending on the specific position, full or part-time status or union contract.
01
Each applicant must complete this supplemental questionnaire as a part of the application screening and selection process. The information you provide will be reviewed and used to determine your eligibility to move forward in the selection process. Incomplete responses, false statements, omissions, or partial information may result in disqualification from the selection process. Do you agree to answer each supplemental question truthfully and that your responses can be verified from information included within the application?
  • Yes
  • No

02
Do you at least have a High School diploma or GED?
  • Yes
  • No

03
Do you have a current NREMT - Paramedic certification?
  • Yes (Please attach certification on the previous screen)
  • No

04
If not, are you currently enrolled in Paramedic school?
  • Yes
  • No

05
If you are currently enrolled in a Paramedic school, please provide the name of the school below.
06
Are you currently a licensed firefighter by the Minnesota Board of Firefighter Training and Education (MBFTE)?
  • Yes (Please provide your license number in your resume)
  • No

07
If not, are you currently certified as a Firefighter I and Firefighter II (Pro Broad OR IFSAC)
  • Yes (Please attach certification on the previous screen)
  • No
  • N/A

08
If not, are you currently enrolled in Firefighter training?
  • Yes
  • No
  • N/A

09
Do you have a valid Driver's License within 90 days of hire?
  • Yes
  • No

10
Do you have an Associate's degree in fire or EMS or a related field?
  • Yes
  • No

11
Do you have a Bachelor's degree or higher in Fire Administration or related field?
  • Yes
  • No

12
What best describes your Fire/EMS work experience?
  • None
  • Firefighter
  • Paramedic
  • Paramedic/Firefighter

13
Which answer best describes your years of firefighting experience (volunteer and/or paid)?
  • None
  • 0 - 2 years of experience
  • 2 - 5 years of experience
  • 5 years of more

14
Which answer best describes your overall firefighting experience
  • None
  • Part-time, paid-on-call, or volunteer
  • Full time
  • Mix of full time and part-time, paid-on-call, or volunteer

15
Which answer best describes your years of Paramedic experience?
  • None
  • 0-2 years
  • 2-5 years
  • 5 or more years

16
Which answer best describes your overall Paramedic (ALS) experience?
  • None
  • I work or have worked for an ALS transport service
  • I work or have worked for an ALS service which does not also provide transport
  • I have worked for a combination of ALS services: both transport and non-transport

17
Have you completed Firefighter I/II training per NFPA 1001 Standard?
  • Yes
  • No

18
What is your proficiency in speaking another language besides English?
  • I do not speak a second language
  • Beginner
  • Intermediate
  • Advanced

19
Which type of veteran's preference points did you apply for?
  • I did not request veteran's preference points.
  • Veteran or Spouse of Deceased Veteran
  • Disabled Veteran or Spouse of a Disabled Veteran

Required Question