Those who become firefighters and gain experience by working in the field may consider pursuing higher education in fire sciences to boost their qualifications even further. Earning an advanced degree can open up opportunities for promotions and salary raises.
Volunteer departments are a great place to begin training that can eventually lead to the needed qualifications for enrollment in a fire science degree program or other related fields of study, according to an article published by FireChief.com.
Dennis Compton, a 40-year-old veteran and co-chair of the fire service-based EMS Advocates, told the new source that "there are a lot of fire departments who have fully integrated EMS into their systems." He added that "almost all fire departments do at least first response."
In May 2008, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that 50 percent of firefighters earned between $31,180 and $58,440. Employment is projected to grow by 19 percent by 2018, faster than the 10 percent increase expected in all other occupations.
