Many people look for the ideal career where they feel they have contributed to society. Unfortunately, the common misconception about careers in the fire service is that there are only one, firefighters. Don’t get me wrong – firefighters are great! The world of fire safety opportunities is bigger than that. There are a wide variety of jobs available in the fire industry. So, is fire safety a good career?
What Jobs Are Available?
There’s a wide variety of career options available depending on your physicality, initiative, risk tolerance, education level, ability to pass rigorous licensing exams, and personality type. Here are some examples:
- Fire Marshal
- Fire Technician
- Fire insurance appraiser
- Certified safety professional
- Rescue technician
- Occupational safety and risk manager
What Are the Benefits of a Fire Safety Career?
If you are looking to get involved in fire safety, you could benefit from some of the following:
Numerous Career Paths
Depending on your experience, skills, and passions, you could lead a very diverse career path, from trainee to field technician and so much more. The fire safety career path is far from linear. With the right training opportunities, you can broaden your skills and have a very robust and fulfilling career.
A Diverse Workload
From maintenance to inspections and everything associated with fire safety, being safe is one of the most important things we need in society. With a wide range of products like fire alarms, extinguishers, and fire suppression systems, you can work in diverse settings and projects where no one day is the same.
It is Always in Demand
It is a career choice where you will be assured of longevity. While there are modern concerns with the economy, not least massive layoffs, employment in the fire industry is one of the few projected to increase. According to the Centers for Excellence for Labor Market Research (COE), it is expected to go up to 9% by 2024. In addition, the CareerOneStop hub, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor, projects an increase of 20% for firefighters and 19% for fire inspectors through 2024 in Texas.
The Impact You Make
You should not underestimate the importance of fire safety. The right person must step up and use their skills to serve the community at large. The fact is that it’s not just an industry that can be lucrative, with the average annual income of certified safety professionals being more than $25,000 than the average occupational health and safety specialist (insert source data please to support this claim with link to source data). Beyond the money, you’ll want to find an organization that matches your principles.
Is Fire Safety a Good Career Choice?
Fire safety is a solid, stable career choice. Demand remains high for fire safety specialists, you will not go wrong if you are looking for a career that will leave you satisfied and ensure you go home at the end of the day feeling you’ve done a world of good. It is a satisfactory career with industry support and development opportunities. Money is obviously extremely important but it is also good to know that fire safety leaves you with the feeling you are protecting people.
