How much does a Fire Chief make

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Fire Chief

37 400 kr

Firefighters

29 800 - 41 300 kr / month

Women earn 93% of what men do.

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What will be the salary after tax?

Salary progression Fire Chief

Average salary 37 400 kr
Males 37 600 kr
Females 34 900 kr
1 Likes 0 Comments 15 Vacant jobs ->

What does a Fire Chief do? – Tasks and Work Environment

A Fire Chief works to lead and coordinate rescue efforts during accidents, fires, and other emergency situations. The role involves responsibility for a team of firefighters and making quick decisions under pressure. The Fire Chief plans and leads drills, ensures safety during operations, and often participates in the operational work themselves. The work environment is characterized by varied tasks, shift work, and sometimes risky situations requiring both physical and mental resilience.

Salary Development Over Time

The salary for a Fire Chief has increased steadily in recent years. In 2022, the average salary was 34 900 SEK per month, rising the following year to 36 200 SEK, and ultimately reaching 37 400 SEK in 2024. This represents a total increase of approximately 7.2% over three years. The salary development reflects both increased responsibilities in the role and a general trend where demand for leadership skills in emergency services has grown. Gender differences persist but have decreased somewhat in recent years, possibly due to targeted initiatives for equality and skill development within the profession. Overall, the market’s need for experienced leaders in safety and rescue has contributed to higher salary levels.

Fire Chief Salary – Complete Overview

  • Average salary: 37 400 SEK/month
  • Lowest salary: 29,800 SEK/month (female, public sector)
  • Highest salary: 41,300 SEK/month (male, private sector)
  • Hourly wage: 225 SEK
  • Gender pay gap: Women earn 93% of what men do (34 900 SEK vs. 37 600 SEK)
  • Regional differences: Data on regional variations is lacking, but differences may occur depending on employer and location.

Education and Qualifications

To work as a Fire Chief, both formal education and experience from rescue services are required. The profession is based on a fundamental firefighter training, followed by further education and leadership courses. Experience from emergency response is often a requirement, along with the ability to lead and make decisions under stress.

  • Basic training: Firefighting (SMO), 2 years
  • Further training: Leadership and supervisory courses within rescue services
  • Practical experience: Several years as a firefighter are required
  • Certifications: Courses in incident command and work environment
  • Prerequisites: Good physical ability and a driver’s license

Many Fire Chiefs also engage in community education efforts, such as conducting fire drills at schools and companies. This work helps increase public safety awareness and can be a pathway for those wanting to develop into more preventive roles within rescue services.

– statsskuld.se

Common Benefits and Compensation

Fire Chiefs are often covered by collective agreements that provide on-call allowances, holiday pay, and pension contributions. Other common benefits include wellness grants, opportunities for further training, and access to occupational health services. Compensation for standby and on-call duties is common, especially for work outside regular hours.

Competition and Challenges

The competition for positions as a Fire Chief is significant, especially in metropolitan areas and attractive municipalities. Since positions are often filled internally among experienced firefighters, extensive experience and leadership skills are required to be considered. Challenges in the role include stressful and sometimes dangerous tasks, high demands on physical and mental capacity, and the need for continuous skill development. Limited turnover in senior positions means career paths can be long-term.

Tips for Aspiring Fire Chiefs

To succeed as a Fire Chief, it’s beneficial to combine leadership skills with practical experience in rescue services. Developing good communication skills facilitates teamwork and public interactions. Strong physical fitness is crucial due to the demanding nature of the work, and the ability to make quick decisions is vital in emergencies. Showing initiative and pursuing further training can increase chances of obtaining a leadership role. Managing stress and inspiring others are also valuable, especially when leading teams through difficult operations. Finally, humility and a genuine safety mindset are essential for building trust both within and outside the team.

Key Facts about Fire Chiefs

  • Education level: At least 2-year SMO training and further leadership development
  • Work environment: Shift work and field operations under varying conditions
  • Typical employment: Permanent employment within municipal or state rescue services
  • Demand: 190 job openings within the profession
  • Special skills: Incident command, risk assessment, and training initiatives

Career Paths and Future Outlook

After several years of experience as a Fire Chief, there are opportunities to advance to higher supervisory roles, such as team leader, incident commander, or training manager within rescue services. Some choose to specialize further in areas like risk management, prevention, or education. Forecasts from the Employment Service indicate that there is not enough data for an exact outlook, but the profession reports about 190 job openings. This suggests stable demand for leadership skills, although competition for the most attractive positions can be high. Regional differences exist, and career development opportunities are often better in larger organizations or municipalities.

Frequently Asked Questions about Fire Chiefs

  • What does a Fire Chief earn?
    - The average salary is 37 400 SEK per month, with variation between 29,800 SEK and 41,300 SEK depending on experience and employer.
  • How does one become a Fire Chief?
    - By first training as a firefighter (SMO), gaining experience, and then furthering education in leadership and incident command.
  • Is there a difference between men's and women's salaries?
    - Yes, women earn on average 93% of what men do within the profession.
  • What are the working hours for a Fire Chief?
    - Shift work is common, including unsocial hours, on-call duty, and standby.
  • What are the future prospects?
    - There are 190 job openings within the profession, but no exact forecast for the future.
  • What are the most common benefits?
    - On-call allowances, wellness grants, occupational pension, and compensation for standby are common.
  • What are the physical requirements to become a Fire Chief?
    - Good physical condition and endurance are essential due to the demanding nature of the work.
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Richard Andersson

Richard Andersson - 2025-08-08 22:17:50

Occupation
Who has the highest salary?
The highest salary for a Fire Chief is 41300 kr. This salary belongs to a man working in the Privately employed workers with a data missing. The highest salary for a woman in this profession is 37000 kr.
Who has the lowest salary?
The lowest salary for a Fire Chief is 29800 kr. This salary belongs to a woman also working in the Public sector. The lowest salary for a man in this profession is 32100 kr.
Salary distributed by age and sector
Age Women's salary as a percentage of men's Base salary Monthly salary
18-24 30500 kr 32400 kr
25-34 97% 33800 kr 34700 kr
35-44 97% 36200 kr 37100 kr
45-54 37900 kr 39100 kr
55-64 39200 kr 40800 kr
Snitt 93% 36300 kr 37400 kr
* Empty columns indicate that the statistical data was insufficient to allow for a statistically significant conclusion.
Salary per sector
Salary based on education
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About the data

All information displayed on this page is based on data from the Swedish Central Bureau of Statistics (SCB), the Swedish Tax Agency and the Swedish employment agency. Learn more about our data and data sources here.

All figures are gross salaries, meaning salaries before tax. The average salary, or mean salary, is calculated by adding up the total salary for all individuals within the profession and dividing it by the number of individuals. For specific job categories, we have also considered various criteria such as experience and education.

Profession Fire Chief has the SSYK code 5411, which we use to match against the SCB database to obtain the latest salary statistics.

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