Career, paid-on-call, part-time and volunteer openings from fire departments across Minnesota, all in one place. Every listing links to the department's own posting.
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How this board works
An automated search runs every day. It checks city job pages, the League of Minnesota Cities, government job boards and fire department websites, then adds new openings and removes ones that have closed. "Continuous" means the department accepts applications year-round. "Recruiting" means the department has publicly said it needs members but has no formal posting, so contact it directly.
Always confirm details on the department's posting before applying. Listings are summaries, not the official announcement.
Most of Minnesota's fire departments are staffed by paid-on-call and volunteer firefighters, and many of them are short on members. If you've thought about joining, there has rarely been a better time. This guide covers the main paths, what training you need, and how hiring works.
Three ways to serve
Volunteer and paid-on-call
You keep your regular job and respond to calls from home or work when you're available. Paid-on-call members earn an hourly rate for calls and training; volunteer departments may pay a small stipend. Many departments also offer a pension through a relief association. Most small-town and rural departments work this way.
Usually needed to apply: age 18+, a driver's license, and living or working close enough to reach the station quickly. No experience required. The department trains you.
Part-time and duty crew
Common in growing suburbs. You work scheduled shifts at the station instead of (or in addition to) responding from home. It's a good way to build experience while working toward a career job.
Usually needed to apply: same as paid-on-call. Some departments prefer or require Firefighter I and an EMT or EMR certification.
Career (full-time)
A full-time salaried position, usually on 24-hour shifts. Minnesota career departments are mostly in larger cities and suburbs. Salaries listed on this board commonly run from about $70,000 to over $110,000.
Usually needed to apply: Firefighter I and II, Hazmat Operations, and EMT or paramedic certification. Some departments hire candidates who will finish certifications after hire, and some run cadet programs.
Requirements vary by department, but nearly all ask for the following:
At least 18 years old
High school diploma or GED
A valid driver's license and a driving record that meets the city's insurance rules
A background check, and usually a medical exam and drug test before you start
For paid-on-call and volunteer roles, living or working within a set response time of the station (often 5 to 10 minutes, sometimes more in rural areas)
Minnesota firefighter certification follows the national standard, NFPA 1001. The MFSCB is a nonprofit, internationally accredited certification body that gives the exams, each with a written test and a hands-on skills test. The core certifications are:
Firefighter I: the foundation: fire behavior, protective gear and SCBA, hose and ladders, search and rescue, and basic fire attack.
Firefighter II: builds on FF I with more advanced skills and leadership on the fireground.
Hazardous Materials Operations: how to recognize and safely respond to hazmat incidents.
EMR or EMT: medical calls are a large share of every department's work, so most departments require at least Emergency Medical Responder, and career departments usually require EMT.
Who pays for training? If you join a paid-on-call or volunteer department, the department usually puts you through training at little or no cost to you. The Minnesota Board of Firefighter Training and Education (MBFTE) reimburses departments for basic Firefighter I, Firefighter II and Hazmat Operations training and the certification tests.
Who can take the exams? Under state law, you're eligible after completing an approved firefighter course (through a college, training provider, or a department's approved apprenticeship or cadet program) along with a hands-on basic training course. People with certain fire-related college degrees can also qualify. Your instructor or training coordinator usually schedules the MFSCB exams at the end of the course.
Getting certified on your own. If you're aiming for a career job, you can also earn certifications before you're hired. Several Minnesota State colleges offer fire programs that bundle FF I, FF II, Hazmat Operations and EMT, and regional training providers hold firefighter classes at fire departments around the state.
The Minnesota firefighter license
Minnesota licenses firefighters through the MBFTE, not the MFSCB. A few things to know:
Full-time firefighters must be licensed. For paid-on-call, part-time and volunteer firefighters, the license is optional.
You need a department. You can only get a license while you're affiliated with a Minnesota fire department, so you apply after you're hired, not before.
Cost and renewal: the license is $75 and lasts three years. To renew, you need 72 hours of approved continuing education in those three years, verified by your chief.
Coming from another state or the military? Minnesota has a path for out-of-state certified firefighters and for veterans with military firefighting experience. Check with the MBFTE for details.
The hiring process
For paid-on-call and volunteer positions, it's often simple: an application, an interview with the chief or officers, a background check and a medical exam. Some departments hold an open house first. Stopping by the station or asking about one is a great way to start.
Career hiring is more competitive and usually includes some or all of these steps:
Application, with copies of your certifications
Written exam
Physical ability test (such as the CPAT or the department's own test)
Panel interview, and often a chief's interview
Background investigation
Conditional offer, then medical exam, drug screen and often a psychological evaluation
A fire academy or orientation period, then probation
Career departments often hire in batches and keep an eligibility list. If a department you're interested in isn't hiring now, ask to be notified of the next testing process.
Common questions
Do I need experience to become a paid-on-call or volunteer firefighter?
No. Most departments hire people with no experience and pay for their training. What they look for is commitment: showing up to training and responding to calls.
How much time does a paid-on-call or volunteer firefighter spend?
Expect regular training (often a few evenings a month), plus calls. Many departments ask members to respond to a minimum share of calls. Initial training for FF I, FF II and Hazmat Operations usually takes several months of evenings and weekends.
Do I have to be an EMT?
Not always for paid-on-call and volunteer roles, where Emergency Medical Responder is common and the department often provides the training. Most career departments require EMT, and many prefer or require paramedic.
Can I get licensed before I'm hired?
No. A Minnesota firefighter license requires being affiliated with a Minnesota fire department. You can, however, earn your certifications (FF I, FF II, Hazmat Operations, EMT) before being hired.
Is there a pension for volunteer firefighters?
Many Minnesota departments have a firefighters' relief association that pays a service pension, often as a lump sum, after a set number of years. Amounts and vesting rules vary by department, so ask during the hiring process.
Where do I find openings?
Right here. This board collects career, paid-on-call, part-time and volunteer openings from departments across Minnesota and is updated daily. Many departments also accept applications year-round, so it never hurts to contact your local station.
Ready to start? Browse openings across Minnesota, or contact the fire department where you live.
Minnesota Fire Jobs is one place to find every kind of fire service opening in the state: career, paid-on-call, part-time and volunteer.
Why this site exists
Minnesota has over 700 fire departments, and most of them depend on paid-on-call and volunteer firefighters. When those departments need members, their openings end up scattered across city websites, job boards, Facebook posts and signs at the station. Someone who wants to serve has no single place to look, and departments have a hard time reaching the people who would make great firefighters.
This site brings those openings together, so anyone in Minnesota can find a department that needs them.
Who runs it
Johann Sonnenberg
Fire Chief, Oronoco Fire Department
Minnesota Fire Jobs was created by Johann Sonnenberg, Fire Chief of the Oronoco Fire Department in Olmsted County, as a free resource for Minnesota's fire service.
How it works
Updated every day. An automated search checks city job pages, government job boards, fire service organizations and department websites for new openings, and removes listings once they close.
Departments can post for free. Any Minnesota fire department can submit a link to its posting. Every submission is reviewed before it goes live.
Always the original. Each listing links to the department's own posting. Apply with the department directly, not through this site.
Contact
Questions, a listing that needs correcting, or a position that's been filled? Get in touch:
Minnesota Fire Jobs is an independent site. It is not affiliated with the State of Minnesota, the MBFTE, the MFSCB or any fire service association. Listings are summaries; always confirm details with the hiring department.
Post a job
Hiring firefighters, officers or volunteers? Send us the link to your posting and we'll add it to the board. It's free for every Minnesota fire department.
1
Paste your link. Use the link to your posting on your city or department website, a job site, or a PDF.
2
Add a contact email. Required, so we can confirm the posting is from your department. An official city or department address speeds this up.
3
We do the rest. We read the posting, pull out the title, pay and closing date, and review it. Most postings go live within a day.
Thanks! We've got it.
We'll review your posting and add it to the board, usually within a day. If we have questions, we'll reach out at the email you gave.
One more step
Your browser blocked the direct submission. Click below to finish on our Google Form. Your answers are already filled in, so just press Submit there.
Postings come down automatically on their closing date. If yours has no closing date ("always recruiting"), we'll check with you every 90 days to keep it current.
Facebook posts and scanned flyers can't always be read automatically. If we can't read your link, we'll fill in the details by hand or contact you.
We only list fire, rescue and EMS positions with Minnesota fire departments and agencies.