Firefighter in : Crassus's fire brigade for profit

From first application to riding a truck, usually one to two years in career systems. The hiring pipeline — written exam, physical test, interviews, background and medical checks — often takes longer than the training itself. Fire academies run roughly three to eight months in the US and Japan, while Germany's Brandmeister training lasts about eighteen months; nearly everywhere a probationary year follows.

Do you need a university degree to become a firefighter? No. In most countries the entry requirements are secondary education, a driving licence, and passing competitive written, physical and medical tests. Credentials that genuinely help vary by country: EMT or paramedic certification in the United States, a completed trade apprenticeship in Germany, strong civil-service exam scores in Japan and France. Degrees matter later, for officer promotion, more than at the door.

It depends heavily on country and overtime. The US median was about $57,000 in 2023, with big-city firefighters often earning far more through overtime; a UK competent firefighter earns roughly £37,000; Australian professionals typically A$90,000–110,000 with allowances; Swiss professionals around CHF 95,000. In much of the world the majority of firefighters are volunteers and are paid little or nothing.