Firefighters
Protective Service Occupations- O*NET-SOC code
- 33-2011.00
Control and extinguish fires or respond to emergency situations where life, property, or the environment is at risk. Duties may include fire prevention, emergency medical service, hazardous material response, search and rescue, and disaster assistance.
- Data source: BLSPublished: 2026-08
Low· relative
LowFour relative bandsVery highGroup-level value
Scale, basis and source
Four relative bands (Low / Moderate / High / Very high)
831 detailed occupations in the BLS Employment Projections table. Assigned per National Employment Matrix (NEM) code, so occupations sharing a NEM code carry the same band
- Data source: AnthropicPublished: 2026-03
0.000
0.000Range of values carried here0.745Scale, basis and source
Observed exposure index, 0–1 as published
Mapped onto O*NET tasks
Published per SOC 2018 occupation; every O*NET occupation with the same SOC 2018 code carries this value
- Data source: ILOPublished: 2025
0.18
0.09Range of values carried here0.70Group-level value
Scale, basis and source
Generative AI exposure index, 0–1 as published
Published per ISCO-08 unit group. Linked to this occupation, wholly or in part, by applying U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics crosswalks (ISCO-08 to 2010 SOC, 2010 SOC to 2018 SOC) as published
What kind of figure this source publishes
The BLS category is a relative rank, not an absolute level, and it is not a first-hand measurement: it groups an occupation's percentile ranks across several published studies into four bands. It is not an employment or wage forecast, not a probability of adoption, and it does not separate automation from augmentation.
Task-level exposure
Exposed tasks only30 rated tasks · 5 tasks with β ≥ 0.5 (16.7%)
β = direct exposure (E1) + 0.5 × exposure when tools are available (E2), per the source repository's definition.
- Source unit: O*NET 27.2 tasks → O*NET 31.0 occupation code
- All rated tasks are in the O*NET 31.0 task list.
- Source
- OpenAI "GPTs are GPTs" exposure rubric
- Release
- gh-main-0471612
- License
- MIT License, Copyright (c) 2024 OpenAI
Values in this tab are predicted labels, not observations. Eloundou et al. (2023) published two rating regimes — human raters and GPT-4 — and the β shown here is derived from the GPT-4 rater basis alone; the same task can take a different value under the other regime. The unit and the meaning differ from the observed shares (%) in the other tabs, so do not place them on the same axis.
| Task (O*NET 27.2) | βE1 + 0.5 × E2 |
|---|---|
Assess fires and situations and report conditions to superiors to receive instructions, using two-way radios.O*NET Task ID 22963 | 1.0 |
Maintain contact with fire dispatchers at all times to notify them of the need for additional firefighters and supplies, or to detail any difficulties encountered.O*NET Task ID 22971 | 1.0 |
Prepare written reports that detail specifics of fire incidents.O*NET Task ID 22977 | 1.0 |
Inspect fire sites after flames have been extinguished to ensure that there is no further danger.O*NET Task ID 22968 | 0.5 |
Inform and educate the public on fire prevention.O*NET Task ID 22980 | 0.5 |
Rescue victims from burning buildings, accident sites, and water hazards.O*NET Task ID 22961 | 0.0 |
Dress with equipment such as fire-resistant clothing and breathing apparatus.O*NET Task ID 22962 | 0.0 |
Move toward the source of a fire, using knowledge of types of fires, construction design, building materials, and physical layout of properties.O*NET Task ID 22964 | 0.0 |
Respond to fire alarms and other calls for assistance, such as automobile and industrial accidents.O*NET Task ID 22965 | 0.0 |
Create openings in buildings for ventilation or entrance, using axes, chisels, crowbars, electric saws, or core cutters.O*NET Task ID 22966 | 0.0 |
Drive and operate fire fighting vehicles and equipment.O*NET Task ID 22967 | 0.0 |
Position and climb ladders to gain access to upper levels of buildings, or to rescue individuals from burning structures.O*NET Task ID 22969 | 0.0 |
Select and attach hose nozzles, depending on fire type, and direct streams of water or chemicals onto fires.O*NET Task ID 22970 | 0.0 |
Collaborate with other firefighters as a member of a firefighting crew.O*NET Task ID 22972 | 0.0 |
Patrol burned areas after fires to locate and eliminate hot spots that may restart fires.O*NET Task ID 22973 | 0.0 |
Collaborate with police to respond to accidents, disasters, and arson investigation calls.O*NET Task ID 22974 | 0.0 |
Participate in fire drills and demonstrations of fire fighting techniques.O*NET Task ID 22975 | 0.0 |
Maintain knowledge of current firefighting practices by participating in drills and by attending seminars, conventions, and conferences.O*NET Task ID 22976 | 0.0 |
Participate in physical training activities to maintain a high level of physical fitness.O*NET Task ID 22978 | 0.0 |
Protect property from water and smoke, using waterproof salvage covers, smoke ejectors, and deodorants.O*NET Task ID 22979 | 0.0 |
Salvage property by removing broken glass, pumping out water, and ventilating buildings to remove smoke.O*NET Task ID 22981 | 0.0 |
Orient self in relation to fire, using compass and map, and collect supplies and equipment dropped by parachute.O*NET Task ID 22982 | 0.0 |
Clean and maintain fire stations and fire fighting equipment and apparatus.O*NET Task ID 22983 | 0.0 |
Inspect buildings for fire hazards and compliance with fire prevention ordinances, testing and checking smoke alarms and fire suppression equipment as necessary.O*NET Task ID 22984 | 0.0 |
Take action to contain any hazardous chemicals that could catch fire, leak, or spill.O*NET Task ID 22985 | 0.0 |
Extinguish flames and embers to suppress fires, using shovels or engine- or hand-driven water or chemical pumps.O*NET Task ID 22986 | 0.0 |
Administer first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation to injured persons or provide emergency medical care such as basic or advanced life support.O*NET Task ID 22987 | 0.0 |
Operate pumps connected to high-pressure hoses.O*NET Task ID 22988 | 0.0 |
Search to locate fire victims.O*NET Task ID 22989 | 0.0 |
Train new employees to control and suppress fires.O*NET Task ID 22990 | 0.0 |
β = E1 + 0.5 × E2 · E1 = tasks where direct LLM access alone cuts time by at least 50%, E2 = tasks where software built on top of an LLM cuts time by at least 50%. Values take only 0 / 0.5 / 1.0.
Data sources & licenses — O*NET®, Eloundou et al. (2023): see full notices on the Credits page
All O*NET 31.0 task statements (30)
All O*NET 31.0 task statements for this occupation (English, as published; task type core or supplemental). Exposure values are not listed here; they are in the table above, next to each task statement as worded in the O*NET version each source used.
| Task (O*NET 31.0) | Type |
|---|---|
| Rescue survivors from burning buildings, accident sites, and water hazards. | Core |
| Dress with equipment such as fire-resistant clothing and breathing apparatus. | Core |
| Assess fires and situations and report conditions to superiors to receive instructions, using two-way radios. | Core |
| Move toward the source of a fire, using knowledge of types of fires, construction design, building materials, and physical layout of properties. | Core |
| Respond to fire alarms and other calls for assistance, such as automobile and industrial accidents. | Core |
| Create openings in buildings for ventilation or entrance, using axes, chisels, crowbars, electric saws, or core cutters. | Core |
| Drive and operate fire fighting vehicles and equipment. | Core |
| Inspect fire sites after flames have been extinguished to ensure that there is no further danger. | Core |
| Position and climb ladders to gain access to upper levels of buildings, or to rescue individuals from burning structures. | Core |
| Select and attach hose nozzles, depending on fire type, and direct streams of water or chemicals onto fires. | Core |
| Maintain contact with fire dispatchers at all times to notify them of the need for additional firefighters and supplies, or to detail any difficulties encountered. | Core |
| Collaborate with other firefighters as a member of a firefighting crew. | Core |
| Patrol burned areas after fires to locate and eliminate hot spots that may restart fires. | Core |
| Collaborate with police to respond to accidents, disasters, and arson investigation calls. | Core |
| Participate in fire drills and demonstrations of fire fighting techniques. | Core |
| Maintain knowledge of current firefighting practices by participating in drills and by attending seminars, conventions, and conferences. | Core |
| Prepare written reports that detail specifics of fire incidents. | Core |
| Participate in physical training activities to maintain a high level of physical fitness. | Core |
| Protect property from water and smoke, using waterproof salvage covers, smoke ejectors, and deodorants. | Core |
| Inform and educate the public on fire prevention. | Core |
| Salvage property by removing broken glass, pumping out water, and ventilating buildings to remove smoke. | Core |
| Clean and maintain fire stations and fire fighting equipment and apparatus. | Core |
| Inspect buildings for fire hazards and compliance with fire prevention ordinances, testing and checking smoke alarms and fire suppression equipment as necessary. | Core |
| Take action to contain any hazardous chemicals that could catch fire, leak, or spill. | Core |
| Extinguish flames and embers to suppress fires, using shovels or engine- or hand-driven water or chemical pumps. | Core |
| Administer first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation to injured persons or provide emergency medical care such as basic or advanced life support. | Core |
| Operate pumps connected to high-pressure hoses. | Core |
| Search to locate fire survivors. | Core |
| Train new employees to control and suppress fires. | Core |
| Orient self in relation to fire, using compass and map, and collect supplies and equipment dropped by parachute. | Supplemental |
0.26/ 3· Robot exposure index
Scale, basis and source
Each physical task is graded 0–3 by the setting in which robots that have been deployed, sold or demonstrated could do it (0 none · 1 purpose-built robot settings such as a fenced machine cell or a bottling line · 2 structured facilities such as a hospital pharmacy or a container port · 3 unstructured settings such as a private home or a construction site), and the grades are averaged by share of working time
Physical tasks among this occupation's O*NET 29.3 tasks
Anthropic estimated the grades and time shares with Claude Opus 5 using web search, as of 2026.
The robot exposure index is a different measure from the AI exposure figures on this site and cannot be added to or compared with them. It does not measure actual adoption or cost, and 0 also covers occupations with no physical tasks.
Tier of each physical task
Robot environment tiers (E0–E3)
E0 noneDetails
Rated not doable by robots that have been deployed, sold or demonstrated, even in a purpose-built setting
E1 purpose-built robot settingsDetails
Rated doable in a setting built around the machine, such as a fenced machine cell or a bottling line
E2 structured facilitiesDetails
Rated doable in a human work facility that an institution keeps to a working standard, such as a hospital pharmacy or a container port
E3 unstructured settingsDetails
Rated doable in a setting that no institution keeps to a working standard, such as a private home or a construction site
Only tasks classified as physical are listed; other tasks have no tier in the source.
| Task (O*NET 29.3) | Robot environment tier |
|---|---|
| Rescue survivors from burning buildings, accident sites, and water hazards. | E0 none |
| Dress with equipment such as fire-resistant clothing and breathing apparatus. | E0 none |
| Move toward the source of a fire, using knowledge of types of fires, construction design, building materials, and physical layout of properties. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Respond to fire alarms and other calls for assistance, such as automobile and industrial accidents. | E0 none |
| Create openings in buildings for ventilation or entrance, using axes, chisels, crowbars, electric saws, or core cutters. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Drive and operate fire fighting vehicles and equipment. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Inspect fire sites after flames have been extinguished to ensure that there is no further danger. | E0 none |
| Position and climb ladders to gain access to upper levels of buildings, or to rescue individuals from burning structures. | E0 none |
| Select and attach hose nozzles, depending on fire type, and direct streams of water or chemicals onto fires. | E2 structured facilities |
| Collaborate with other firefighters as a member of a firefighting crew. | E0 none |
| Patrol burned areas after fires to locate and eliminate hot spots that may restart fires. | E0 none |
| Collaborate with police to respond to accidents, disasters, and arson investigation calls. | E0 none |
| Participate in fire drills and demonstrations of fire fighting techniques. | E0 none |
| Maintain knowledge of current firefighting practices by participating in drills and by attending seminars, conventions, and conferences. | E0 none |
| Participate in physical training activities to maintain a high level of physical fitness. | E0 none |
| Protect property from water and smoke, using waterproof salvage covers, smoke ejectors, and deodorants. | E0 none |
| Salvage property by removing broken glass, pumping out water, and ventilating buildings to remove smoke. | E0 none |
| Orient self in relation to fire, using compass and map, and collect supplies and equipment dropped by parachute. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Clean and maintain fire stations and fire fighting equipment and apparatus. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Inspect buildings for fire hazards and compliance with fire prevention ordinances, testing and checking smoke alarms and fire suppression equipment as necessary. | E0 none |
| Take action to contain any hazardous chemicals that could catch fire, leak, or spill. | E0 none |
| Extinguish flames and embers to suppress fires, using shovels or engine- or hand-driven water or chemical pumps. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Operate pumps connected to high-pressure hoses. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Administer first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation to injured persons or provide emergency medical care such as basic or advanced life support. | E0 none |
| Search to locate fire survivors. | E0 none |
| Train new employees to control and suppress fires. | E0 none |
Occupation information
Employment outlook (BLS)
- Employment, 2025
- 355K
- Projected employment, 2035
- 368K
- Change (2025–35)
- +3.7%
- Median annual wage, 2025
- $59,280
- Typical education needed for entry
- Postsecondary nondegree award
Korea classification links (KSCO)
Links from the current release of the Korea Occupation Direct Crosswalk v1.1, made by AI Changing Work. Relation values are read from the O*NET-SOC occupation side.
| KSCO code | KSCO title | Relation | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 41120 | 소방관 | Same scope | confirmed |
| 24911 | 119 구조대원 | Overlapping, not the same | confirmed |
Relation and status definitions(kr-direct v1.1)
ILO occupational description
AI Changing Work links the ISCO-08 unit groups below to this occupation by applying the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics crosswalks (2018 SOC to 2010 SOC, 2010 SOC to ISCO-08) as published, without case-by-case selection; each link may be whole or partial.
- ISCO-08 5411Fire Fighters
The definition, tasks and examples below are the ILO's description of that unit group, not of this occupation.
Fire fighters prevent, fight and extinguish fires and assist in other emergencies, protect life and property and conduct rescue efforts.
Tasks
- (a) responding to fire alarms and other calls for assistance, such as automobile and industrial accidents, bomb threats and other emergencies;
- (b) controlling and extinguishing fires using manual and power equipment and fire-fighting chemicals;
- (c) fighting special types of fires and using special equipment in industrial establishments;
- (d) rescuing people from burning buildings and accident sites and those trapped in dangerous situations;
- (e) preventing or limiting the spread of dangerous substances in case of fires or accidents;
- (f) informing the public about fire prevention.
Example occupations
Fire fighter · Forest firefighter
Sources: ILO ISCO-08 — details: Credits
ESCO occupational vocabulary
Each entry below is matched to this occupation in the published ESCO-O*NET Crosswalk (version 1, 2022). The match types are that crosswalk's; the wording is AI Changing Work's.
- firefighterESCO 5411.1Same scope
Firefighters are responsible for emergency response in case of a fire outbreak or other hazardous situations. They oversee the evacuation of the endangered premises and ensure victims are rescued and taken care of by the appropriate professionals. Once the premises are clear of victims, they ensure the fire is extinguished, compliant with health and safety regulations. They also regulate the clean-up of the scene and assess the damage.
- industrial firefighterESCO 5411.1.1This occupation is broader
Industrial firefighters are responsible for emergency response in case of a fire outbreak or other hazardous situations in industrial areas or facilities. They actively respond to contain fires and the outbreak of other hazardous substances to protect the industrial crews and premises. They ensure the industrial facility complies with health and safety regulations. They also regulate the clean-up of the scene and assess the damage.
- marine firefighterESCO 5411.1.2This occupation is broader
Marine firefighters are responsible for emergency response in case of a fire outbreak or other hazardous situations in marine environments. They actively respond to contain fires and the outbreak of other hazardous on vessels, docks and other marine facilities. They ensure the marine installation complies with health and safety regulations. They also regulate the clean-up of the scene and assess the damage.
- chief fire officerESCO 1349.8Overlapping, not the same
Chief fire officers supervise a fire department. They coordinate the operations of the department, and supervise and lead the fire and rescue staff during firefighting and rescue activities to ensure the safety of the staff and limitation of risks. They perform administrative duties to ensure record maintenance, and implement policies to improve the department's operations.
- fire service vehicle operatorESCO 8332.5Overlapping, not the same
Fire service vehicle operators drive and operate emergency fire service vehicles such as firetrucks. They specialise in emergency driving and assist firefighting operations. They ensure that all material is well stored on the vehicle, transported and ready for usage.
Source: European Commission, DG EMPL — ESCO API 2026-08-08 (bridge v1.2.1)
License: CC BY 4.0 (EU Reuse Notice)
ESCO reuse terms and the modification notice are in Credits.
France classification links (ROME)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and ROME 4.0 job profiles, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side. Links marked “provisional” were adopted on the judgments of two judges from the same model family (Claude) alone, or by an operator rule applied to their judgments, so they rest on weaker evidence than confirmed links.
| ROME code | ROME title (French) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| K1745 | Pompier / Pompière | Same scopeprovisional |
| K1705 | Secouriste | Related, not a matchprovisional |
| K1747 | Equipier / Equipière sécurité civile | Related, not a matchprovisional |
Source: France Travail — Répertoire Opérationnel des Métiers et des Emplois (ROME 4.0), version 61, last updated 15 June 2026 (https://www.data.gouv.fr/datasets/repertoire-operationnel-des-metiers-et-des-emplois-rome). Licence Ouverte 2.0.
ROME codes and titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET-SOC occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not a France Travail correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: fr-direct v1)
Spain classification links (CNO-11)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and CNO-11 occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.
| CNO-11 code | CNO-11 title (Spanish) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 5931 | Bomberos (excepto forestales) | Same scopeprovisional |
| 5932 | Bomberos forestales | This occupation is broaderprovisional |
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE), National Classification of Occupations 2011 (CNO-11, Royal Decree 1591/2010) — www.ine.es · Licensed CC BY 4.0. CNO-11 codes and Spanish titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not an INE correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: es-direct v1)
Germany classification links (KldB)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and KldB occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.
| KldB code | KldB title (German) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 53132 | Berufe im Brandschutz - fachlich ausgerichtete Tätigkeiten | Same scopeprovisional |
Source: © Statistik der Bundesagentur für Arbeit — Klassifikation der Berufe 2010 – überarbeitete Fassung 2020, https://statistik.arbeitsagentur.de. KldB codes and titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own mapping (eigene Zuordnung) and are not a Bundesagentur für Arbeit correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: de-direct v1)
Japan classification links (JSCO)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and JSCO occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.
| JSCO code | JSCO title (Japanese) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 452 | 消防員 | Same scopeprovisional |
Source: Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC), Japan Standard Occupational Classification (Dec. 2009, MIC Notification No. 555). JSCO codes and Japanese titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not a MIC correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: jp-direct v1)
Sources, licenses and AI Changing Work's modification and translation notices for this page: Credits & sources