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Firefighter Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

US Department of the Navy

FIREFIGHTER

Barstow, CA

$46K/yr

Firefighter I, Firefighter II, Airport Firefighter,HazMat Operations, Driver Operator Pumper, and Driver Operator ARFF. These certifications must have been awarded by DoD, IFSAC or ProBoard to meet ...

U.S. Department of Defense (DOD)

$46K/yr

Firefighter I, Firefighter II, Airport Firefighter,HazMat Operations, Driver Operator Pumper, and Driver Operator ARFF. These certifications must have been awarded by DoD, IFSAC or ProBoard to meet ...

US Department of the Navy

FIREFIGHTER

Bridgeport, CA · On-site

$46K/yr

Firefighter I, Firefighter II, Airport Firefighter,HazMat Operations, Driver Operator Pumper, and Driver Operator ARFF. These certifications must have been awarded by DoD, IFSAC or ProBoard to meet ...

US Department of the Navy

$46K/yr

Firefighter I, Firefighter II, Airport Firefighter,HazMat Operations, Driver Operator Pumper, and Driver Operator ARFF. These certifications must have been awarded by DoD, IFSAC or ProBoard to meet ...

US Department of the Navy

FIREFIGHTER

Barstow, CA

$42K/yr

Firefighter I Firefighter II Airport Firefighter Hazardous Materials Awareness Hazardous Materials Operations National Registry of EMT GS4 : Incumbent has 1 year to complete the following ...

US Department of the Navy

FIREFIGHTER

San Diego, CA

$47K/yr

Serving as a Firefighter (Paramedic) providing fire prevention, and protection, assist in emergency operations to include hazardous material responses, and responding to medical emergencies ...

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Firefighter information

See California salary details

$28.1K

$58.8K

$98.7K

How much do firefighter jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 9, 2026, the average yearly pay for firefighter in California is $58,826.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $44,900.00 and $68,100.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

How do you become a firefighter in PA?

To become a firefighter in Pennsylvania, candidates typically need to meet age and education requirements, complete firefighter training at a state-approved academy, and obtain necessary certifications such as CPR and EMT. Applicants must also pass physical fitness tests, background checks, and often a written exam or interview process.

Is 25 too late to be a firefighter?

Firefighter careers typically have no maximum age limit, and many departments accept applicants in their mid-20s and older. Physical fitness, relevant training, and passing required exams are essential, regardless of age, making 25 a viable age to start a firefighting career.

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

To thrive as a Firefighter, you need physical fitness, emergency response expertise, and completion of firefighter training programs—often including EMT certification. Familiarity with firefighting equipment, rescue tools, and communication systems like radios and dispatch software is vital. Strong teamwork, decision-making under pressure, and clear communication are essential soft skills in this role. These competencies are crucial for ensuring safety, effective emergency response, and saving lives in high-risk situations.

What are some common challenges firefighters face during emergency response, and how are they supported in handling them?

Firefighters often encounter physically and emotionally demanding situations, such as working in hazardous environments, responding to unpredictable emergencies, and witnessing traumatic events. To help manage these challenges, fire departments provide comprehensive training, strong teamwork, and access to peer support or counseling programs. Regular drills, debriefings after major incidents, and a culture of open communication also play key roles in supporting firefighters' well-being and effectiveness on the job.

Is it difficult to get hired as a firefighter?

Getting hired as a firefighter can be competitive, as it often requires passing written exams, physical fitness tests, background checks, and interviews. Candidates typically need relevant training, such as fire academy certification, and must meet specific health and fitness standards to qualify for employment.

What do firefighters do?

Firefighters respond to emergency fire calls. They monitor phones and radios for emergencies, drive fire trucks and other emergency vehicles, put out fires, and find and rescue victims in burning buildings or other emergency situations. Many Firefighters are also paramedics and may be called to assist on emergency medical calls.

More about Firefighter jobs
What are the most commonly searched types of Firefighter jobs in California? The most popular types of Firefighter jobs in California are:
What are popular job titles related to Firefighter jobs in California? For Firefighter jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Firefighter jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Firefighter jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Firefighter jobs? Cities in California with the most Firefighter job openings:
What are popular job titles related to Firefighter jobs in CA? For Firefighter jobs in CA, the most frequently searched job titles are:
Firefighter jobs near you
Infographic showing various Firefighter job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 51% Full Time, 20% Part Time, 3% Temporary, and 26% Contract. Highlights an 95% Physical, and 5% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $58,826 per year, or $28.3 per hour.

FIREFIGHTER

US Department of the Navy

Barstow, CA

$46K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 19 days ago

United States Navy rating

6.4

Company rating: 6.4 out of 10

Based on 379 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

42nd of 49 rated military and defense

Job description

This vacancy announcement may be used to fill positions at various Department of the Navy Commands, including but not limited to Marine Corps and Commander, Navy Installations.Qualifications:GS-06:
Your resume must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the GS-05 grade level or pay band in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private or public sector. Specialized experience must demonstrate the following: 1) Controlling or extinguishing fires as a member of an organized military, industrial, volunteer, or governmental fire department brigade performing any of the following tasks; 2) Performing rescue operations; 3) Detecting, reducing, or eliminating potential fire hazards; 4) Operating fire communications equipment; and 5) Controlling hazardous materials incidents. NOTE: This information must be supported in your resume to be considered for the position.
GS-05:
Your resume must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the GS-04 grade level or pay band in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private or public sector. Specialized experience must demonstrate the following: 1) Performing structural and crash firefighting duties; 2) Operating firefighting communication equipment; 3) Using firefighting equipment such as: operating hoses, using ladders and hydrants; 4) Detecting the presence of potentially hazardous material. 5) Maintaining firefighting equipment and fire station facilities, performing functional test and inspection of firefighting equipment.
NOTE: This information must be supported in your resume to be considered for the position.
Certifications for GS-06:
This position requires the incumbent to possess the following certifications: Firefighter I, Firefighter II, Airport Firefighter,HazMat Operations, Driver Operator Pumper, and Driver Operator ARFF. These certifications must have been awarded by DoD, IFSAC or ProBoard to meet the requirement. If you do not possess all of the above certifications you will be rated ineligible. Do you possess the above certifications?
Certifications for GS-05:
This position requires the incumbent to possess the following certifications: Firefighter I\II and HAZMAT Operations. The certifications must have been awarded by DOD, IFSAC, or ProBoard to meet the requirement. If you do not possess all of the above certifications you will be rated ineligible. Do you possess the above certifications?
Additional qualification information can be found from the following Office of Personnel Management website:https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/0000/fire-protection-and-prevention-series-0081/Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., professional, philanthropic, religious, spiritual, community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment.Education:This job does not have an education qualification requirement.Employment Type: OTHER

What United States Navy employees say

Pay

Benefits

Hours and flexibility

Workplace

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About US Navy

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Industry

National security, national security and international affairs, public safety statistics centers and offices, guided missile and space vehicle manufacturing and public administration

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Washington, DC, US

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