Also called: ARFF Firefighter, Airport Firefighter
Responds to airplane emergencies at airports with specialized crash trucks.
ARFF firefighters stand by for every emergency landing, drive huge trucks that can spray foam while moving, and must reach the middle of a runway within three minutes. They also handle medical calls in the terminal.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
High school diploma, about 1 year after high school. High school diploma, EMT certification, fire academy (Firefighter I/II), and passing written and physical (CPAT) tests. FAA-required ARFF training.
Ways in: Certification, On-the-job training, Military. Training cost: Get paid while you train.
Majors to look at: Fire Science, Aviation.
Growing about average (about 3% over 10 years). BLS firefighters 2024-34.
Low risk for 10 years. Crash trucks gain sensors and aids; responding to aircraft fires on the runway stays human.
Classes: Chemistry, PE / strength training, Health / first aid, Physics.
Official data: O*NET occupation 33-2011.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.