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Firefighter Jobs in Virginia (NOW HIRING)

Firefighter/EMT Lateral

Arlington, VA · On-site

$71K - $115K/yr

Lateral Firefighter Hiring Salary/Competitive Step Placement: Arlington County offers a unique opportunity for experienced career firefighters to receive a higher starting salary based on prior ...

Firefighter BLS

Manassas, VA · On-site

$60K - $81K/yr

Position Summary We welcome you to apply for our Firefighter BLS opportunity with the City of Manassas. Applications are being accepted to establish a Firefighter BLS eligibility list. Join our ...

Position Summary We welcome you to apply for our Firefighter ALS opportunity with the City of Manassas. Applications are being accepted to establish a Firefighter ALS eligibility list. Join our ...

COUNTY OF WARREN DEPARTMENT OF FIRE AND RESCUE FIREFIGHTER/EMT The County of Warren is seeking qualified and experienced individuals to form an eligibility list and fill current and/or anticipated ...

FIREFIGHTER

Blackstone, VA · On-site

$25 - $29/hr

WHAT YOU'LL DO As a Firefighter, you will provide fire protection, rescue response, emergency standby support, and operational readiness services in fast-paced training and operational environments.

Firefighter BLS

Manassas, VA · On-site

$60K - $81K/yr

Applications are being accepted to establish a Firefighter BLS eligibility list. Join our mission to protect the lives and property of the residents of the City of Manassas, its visitors, and the ...

Firefighter ALS

Manassas, VA · On-site

$75K - $96K/yr

Applications are being accepted to establish a Firefighter ALS eligibility list. Join our mission to protect the lives and property of the residents of the City of Manassas, its visitors, and the ...

Firefighter/Paramedic Performs responsible protective services by providing advanced life support. Supervises the rescue unit on call and serves as attendant in charge of patients. Performs other ...

Showing results 21-40

Firefighter information

See Virginia salary details

$28.3K

$59.1K

$99.1K

How much do firefighter jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 22, 2026, the average yearly pay for firefighter in Virginia is $59,095.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $45,100.00 and $68,400.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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 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.

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.

How do you become a firefighter?

To become a firefighter, candidates typically need to meet minimum age and education requirements, complete firefighter training at a state-approved academy, and obtain necessary certifications such as CPR and EMT. Applicants often must pass physical fitness tests, background checks, and written exams, and may need to gain experience as a volunteer or in related emergency services.

How long does it take to become a firefighter?

Becoming a firefighter typically requires completing a high school diploma or equivalent, followed by fire academy training which lasts about 12 to 14 weeks. Candidates often need to pass physical fitness tests, written exams, and background checks; some jurisdictions also require EMT certification, which can add several months to the 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, passing required tests, and obtaining necessary certifications are essential, regardless of age. Age should not be a barrier if you meet the qualifications and are prepared for the training and physical demands of the job.

What are the most commonly searched types of Firefighter jobs in Virginia?

The most popular types of Firefighter jobs in Virginia are:

What cities in Virginia are hiring for Firefighter jobs?

Cities in Virginia with the most Firefighter job openings:

What are popular job titles related to Firefighter jobs in VA?

For Firefighter jobs in VA, the most frequently searched job titles are:

Infographic showing various Firefighter job openings in Virginia as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 76% Full Time, 15% Part Time, and 9% Contract. Highlights an 99% Physical, and 1% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $59,095 per year, or $28.4 per hour.

$102K/yr

Part-time

Retirement

Posted 5 days ago


Job description

In this position you will work as a member of the Mount Weather Emergency Operations Center (MWEOC), Emergency Services Division, Fire Services Branch. The ideal candidate has experience managing a fire department, evaluating fire protection systems/programs, supervising firefighters and EMTs, and working effectively with stakeholders.
Come join us in a rewarding career where you can help make our nation safer, stronger, and more prepared! Visit www.careers.fema.gov for more information.

Qualifications:

Current Federal employees must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade or equivalent grade band in the Federal service. The qualification requirements listed below must be met by the closing date of this announcement.

To qualify for this position at the GS-12 level, you must possess one full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-11 level in the Federal government, which has equipped you with the skills needed to successfully perform the duties of the position. Experience may be obtained in the federal government, a state or local government, or private sector, and must demonstrate the following:

  1. Evaluating facilities or construction sites for adequacy of fire protection and life safety features; AND
  2. Providing advice on fire protection; AND
  3. Managing firefighters' performance; AND
  4. Supervising or leading a fire station and equipment.
AND
In addition to the minimum qualifications described above, you must have the following certifications to be considered qualified for the position. Please upload your certifications or Firefighter transcripts showing you currently hold the required certifications in order to be found qualified. Failure to upload at time of application will result in the applicant being found not qualified.
  • Fire Officer I and II (Fire Officer III certification must be obtained within 12 months of placement into position)
  • Fire Inspector I and II
  • Fire Instructor I and II
  • Hazardous Material Incident Commander
  • Driver/Operator - Pumper
  • Driver/Operator - Aerial
  • Current State Emergency Medical Technician Certification (EMT-B or EMT-P)
  • Hazardous Materials Technician Certification
This is a primary firefighter position under the special retirement provisions of 5 U.S.C. 8336(c) and 8412 (d). Appointees to positions covered under these provisions must not have reached their 37th birthday at the time of initial appointment. Applicants over age 37 with previous firefighter experience under CSRS/FERS, may have their previous firefighter experience credited to determine if age requirement met.
Special Retirement Provision for Secondary Firefighter position: This position has been designated as eligible for FERS special retirement coverage per 5 CFR 842.801(a)(1), 5 CFR 842.803(b)(1) covered by 5 USC 8412(d) or CSRS special retirement coverage per 5 CFR 831.904(a) covered by 5 USC 8336(c).


Please read the following important information to ensure we have everything we need to consider your application:

  • Do not copy and paste the duties, specialized experience, or occupational assessment questionnaire from this announcement into your resume as that will not be considered a demonstration of your qualifications for this position.
  • Please limit your resume to two pages. The USAJOBS database will not allow an applicant to submit an application that includes a resume over two pages.
  • Your resume serves as the basis for experience related qualification determinations, and you must highlight your most relevant and significant work experience and education (if applicable), as it relates to this job opportunity. Please use your own words, be clear, and specific when describing your work history. We cannot make assumptions regarding your experience.

Are you qualifying based on your work experience?

  • Qualifications are based on your ability to demonstrate in your resume that you possess one year of the specialized experience for this announcement at a comparable scope and responsibility. To ensure all of the essential information is in your resume, we encourage you to use the USAJOBS online Resume Builder. If you choose to use your own resume, it must contain the following information organized by experience/position: (1) job title, (2) name of employer, (3) start and end dates of each period of employment (from MM/DD/YY to MM/DD/YY), (4) detailed description of duties performed, accomplishments, and related skills, and (5) hours worked per week (part-time employment will be prorated in crediting experience). Federal experience/positions must also include the grade level, occupational series and dates in which you held each grade level.
  • Are you a current or former FEMA Reservist/Disaster Assistance Employee (DAE)? To accurately credit your experience from intermittent positions and Reservist Deployments, you must list the dates (from MM/DD/YY to MM/DD/YY) of deployments that are relevant to your qualifying experience, along with the job title and specific duties you were responsible for during each deployment.
  • Determining length of General or Specialized Experience is dependent on the above information. Failure to provide the above information in your resume may result in your application being found "not qualified."
  • Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional, philanthropic, religious, spiritual, community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills, and provides valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
  • For additional information on crediting experience and/or education, please reference the OPM General Schedule Qualification Standards
Education:

No Educational Substitution: There is no educational substitution for this position, and you must meet the qualifications listed in the "requirements" section of this announcement.

Employment Type: OTHER