What Do Fire Marshals Do?
Wondering what the job is really like for fire marshals?
You've come to the right place.
Keep reading to find detailed information about what fire marshals do, including the type of work they are tasked with on a daily basis, industries in which they work, and the specific skills needed for a successful career.
Fire Marshals Overview & Description
Let's get started with the basics about fire marshals by taking a look at a simple description and popular job titles.
Fire Marshals directly supervise and coordinate activities of workers engaged in firefighting and fire prevention and control.
Popular Job Titles For Fire Marshals
Sample of Reported Job Titles
- Fire Chiefs
- Fire Marshals
- Fire Captains
- Deputy Fire Marshals
- Deputy Fire Chiefs
- Assistant Fire Chiefs
- Assistant Fire Marshals
- Deputy State Fire Marshals
- Fire Battalion Chiefs
- Crew Chiefs
- Division Chiefs
- Battalion Chiefs
Read on for insight into the industries where the highest concentration of jobs for fire marshals can be found.
Best Industries for Fire Marshals
Fire Marshals Jobs By Industry
- Local Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals: 91.9%
- Other Support Services: 3.4%
- State Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals: 2.1%
- Federal Government, Civilian: 2%
- Investigation and Security Services: 0.2%
- Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services: 0.1%
- Other: 0.29999999999999%
When it comes to jobs in the United States, the largest single category of fire marshals can be found working in the Local Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals sector. In 2023, about 91.9% of all jobs for fire marshals were found there.
Other top industries by percentage include Other Support Services (3.4%), State Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals (2.1%), Federal Government, Civilian (2%), Investigation and Security Services (0.2%) and Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (0.1%).
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Degree Options for Fire Marshals
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- Months To Complete: 14
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
- Class Type: 100% online
- Months To Complete: 14
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
What Do Fire Marshals Do on a Daily Basis?
So you have a high-level understanding of what fire marshals do and the types of industries in which they work - but what do they really do each day?
A great way to understand the type of work fire marshals do is to examine actual job postings and focus on the specific skills that employers are seeking. That will help paint a clearer picture of the tasks that fire marshals tackle each day.
Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for fire marshals, as well as common skills - interpersonal qualities and attributes - that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Fire Marshals
Based on 2,266 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Fire Marshals
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Fire Prevention | 1,022 | 45% |
| Firefighting | 1,021 | 45% |
| Fire Suppression Systems | 740 | 33% |
| Fire Service | 722 | 32% |
| Fire Science | 692 | 31% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Fire Marshals
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Operations | 1,184 | 52% |
| Management | 949 | 42% |
| Communication | 811 | 36% |
| Planning | 752 | 33% |
| Leadership | 594 | 26% |
Based on 2,266 job postings related to fire marshals, fire prevention was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 45% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for firefighting, fire suppression systems, fire service, fire science and emergency medical services were also highly sought.
As for common skills, operations was the most desired skill found in job postings for fire marshals, followed by management, communication, planning, leadership and investigation.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Fire Prevention | 1,022 | 45% |
| Firefighting | 1,021 | 45% |
| Fire Suppression Systems | 740 | 33% |
| Fire Service | 722 | 32% |
| Fire Science | 692 | 31% |
| Emergency Medical Services | 612 | 27% |
| Fire Protection | 595 | 26% |
| Fire Safety | 560 | 25% |
| Incident Command Systems | 550 | 24% |
| Fire Investigation | 500 | 22% |
| NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) Codes | 441 | 19% |
| Emergency Management | 430 | 19% |
| Emergency Response | 429 | 19% |
| Public Administration | 351 | 15% |
| Construction | 350 | 15% |
| Fire And Life Safety | 337 | 15% |
| National Incident Management Systems | 314 | 14% |
| Performance Appraisal | 257 | 11% |
| Fire Alarm Systems | 256 | 11% |
| Code Enforcement | 213 | 9% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Operations | 1,184 | 52% |
| Management | 949 | 42% |
| Communication | 811 | 36% |
| Planning | 752 | 33% |
| Leadership | 594 | 26% |
| Investigation | 523 | 23% |
| Coordinating | 464 | 20% |
| Writing | 400 | 18% |
| Customer Service | 375 | 17% |
| Budgeting | 288 | 13% |
| Presentations | 268 | 12% |
| Research | 256 | 11% |
| Good Driving Record | 242 | 11% |
| Supervision | 241 | 11% |
| Problem Solving | 234 | 10% |
| Administrative Functions | 218 | 10% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 195 | 9% |
| Report Writing | 185 | 8% |
| Verbal Communication Skills | 183 | 8% |
| Microsoft Excel | 179 | 8% |
Most In-Demand Jobs for Fire Marshals
Top 5 Posted Job Titles
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Fire Chiefs | 709 | 18.9% |
| Fire Marshals | 614 | 16.4% |
| Fire Captains | 569 | 15.2% |
| Deputy Fire Marshals | 330 | 8.8% |
| Deputy Fire Chiefs | 342 | 9.1% |
According to job postings that were published between September 2022 and August 2023, the top job sought by employers was fire chiefs, with 397 unique job postings. Fire marshals were second, with 217 postings, followed by fire captains, deputy fire marshals and deputy fire chiefs.
Expand the section below to see unique job postings for all occupations related to fire marshals.
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Fire Chiefs | 709 | 18.9% |
| Fire Marshals | 614 | 16.4% |
| Fire Captains | 569 | 15.2% |
| Deputy Fire Marshals | 330 | 8.8% |
| Deputy Fire Chiefs | 342 | 9.1% |
| Assistant Fire Chiefs | 216 | 5.8% |
| Assistant Fire Marshals | 202 | 5.4% |
| Deputy State Fire Marshals | 107 | 2.9% |
| Fire Battalion Chiefs | 150 | 4% |
| Crew Chiefs | 182 | 4.9% |
| Division Chiefs | 43 | 1.1% |
| Battalion Chiefs | 33 | 0.9% |
| Wildland Firefighters | 62 | 1.7% |
| Fire Specialists | 35 | 0.9% |
| Captains | 42 | 1.1% |
| Assistant Chiefs of Operations | 32 | 0.9% |
| Deputy Chiefs of Operations | 29 | 0.8% |
| Deputy Chiefs | 13 | 0.3% |
| Firefighters | 23 | 0.6% |
| Assistant Chiefs of Training | 18 | 0.5% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information for fire marshals? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for fire marshals.
How much do fire marshals make?
Fire Marshals: How do you become one?
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