Home / Federal careers / GS-0081
Fire Protection and Prevention
Federal firefighting position involving fire suppression, prevention, rescue operations, and emergency response at federal facilities, military installations, and national forests.
What GS-0081 pays
2025 base rates, before locality. Most federal employees add a locality adjustment on top.
| Grade | Step 1 | Step 2 | Step 3 | Step 4 | Step 5 | Step 6 | Step 7 | Step 8 | Step 9 | Step 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GS-5 | $34,454 | $35,603 | $36,752 | $37,901 | $39,050 | $40,199 | $41,348 | $42,497 | $43,646 | $44,786 |
| GS-7 | $42,679 | $44,102 | $45,525 | $46,948 | $48,371 | $49,794 | $51,217 | $52,640 | $54,063 | $55,486 |
| GS-9 | $52,205 | $53,945 | $55,685 | $57,425 | $59,165 | $60,905 | $62,645 | $64,385 | $66,125 | $67,865 |
| GS-11 | $63,163 | $65,268 | $67,373 | $69,478 | $71,583 | $73,688 | $75,793 | $77,898 | $80,003 | $82,108 |
| GS-12 | $75,706 | $78,229 | $80,752 | $83,275 | $85,798 | $88,321 | $90,844 | $93,367 | $95,890 | $98,422 |
| GS-13 | $90,025 | $93,026 | $96,027 | $99,028 | $102,029 | $105,030 | $108,031 | $111,032 | $114,033 | $117,034 |
| GS-14 | $106,382 | $109,928 | $113,474 | $117,020 | $120,566 | $124,112 | $127,658 | $131,204 | $134,750 | $138,296 |
| GS-15 | $125,133 | $129,304 | $133,475 | $137,646 | $141,817 | $145,988 | $150,159 | $154,330 | $158,501 | $162,672 |
Base pay only. Locality pay adds 15 to 40 percent or more depending on where the job sits. Source: OPM 2025 General Schedule.
Qualification requirements
OPM's standard for GS-0081, as written.
Fire Protection and Prevention Series Requirements
Education:
- GS-5: Bachelor's degree in fire science, fire protection engineering, fire administration, or related field
- GS-7: 1 full year of graduate-level education OR bachelor's with Superior Academic Achievement
- GS-9: Master's degree or 2 full years of progressively higher graduate education
OR
Experience:
- GS-5: 3 years of progressively responsible experience in fire protection/prevention
- GS-7 and above: 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level
Special Requirements:
- Must meet medical/physical standards for firefighting duties where applicable
- May require certifications in fire inspection, fire investigation, or fire officer training
- Some positions require completion of National Fire Academy courses
What this means if you served
- Write the duties, not the billet. OPM credits military experience on the work performed, and does not use rank or pay to judge specialized experience.
- Put the training and certifications you earned in service on the page. They count here.
- Claim your veterans preference on the application. It is not applied for you.
- No positive education requirement here, so qualifying experience can stand in for the education.
How to qualify for GS-0081
1Review Qualification Requirements
Read the OPM qualification standards above to understand the education and experience requirements for your target grade level.
2Find Your Grade Level
Grade follows the scope and complexity of the work you can document against the announcement, not the rank you held. OPM does not use military rank or pay when it evaluates specialized experience. Roughly: GS-5 entry, GS-7/9 junior, GS-11/12 journey, GS-13 and up senior.
3Gather Documentation
Collect your DD-214, SF-50 (if applicable), transcripts, certifications, and any training records that demonstrate your qualifications.
4Build Your Federal Resume
Two pages. USAJOBS has enforced that limit since 27 September 2025 and will not accept a longer resume from a Title 5 agency posting, so the space has to answer every qualification requirement. Include hours worked per week, supervisor contact details, and the accomplishments with numbers on them.
5Apply on USAJOBS
Search for open positions, carefully answer all assessment questions, and submit your application before the closing date.
Military jobs that map to this series
Fire Protection Specialist
Direct translation to fire protection roles. Highlight firefighting, crash rescue, and hazmat response.
Skills that carry over: Firefighting, Crash Rescue, Hazmat Response, Emergency Response, Fire Prevention.
Usually opens at: GS-5, GS-7, GS-9, GS-11.
EOD Technician
EOD specialist.
Skills that carry over: EOD Operations, Explosive Safety.
Usually opens at: GS-11, GS-12, GS-13.
Pararescue
Federal fire departments on military installations run fire-based EMS. PJ dual fire-medical readiness fits structured-firefighter and fire-medic billets.
Skills that carry over: Fire-based EMS, Hazardous-environment response, Physical fitness standard, Emergency medical care.
Usually opens at: GS-5, GS-7, GS-8.
Your record can qualify you even when your code is not on this list. The crosswalk is a starting point, not the gate.
Typical duties
- Respond to fire emergencies
- Operate firefighting equipment
- Conduct fire prevention inspections
- Perform rescue operations
- Maintain firefighting equipment
- Conduct fire safety training
- Investigate fire causes
- Develop fire prevention plans
- Respond to hazmat incidents
- Provide emergency medical care
Key competencies
Fire Suppression
controlling or extinguishing fires as a member of an organized military, industrial, volunteer, or governmental fire department or brigade
Rescue Operations
rescue operations
Fire Hazard Mitigation
detection, reduction, or elimination of potential fire hazards
Fire Communications
operation of fire communications equipment
Hazmat Response
controlling hazardous materials incidents
Training Delivery
developing, implementing, or providing training in fire protection and prevention
Motor Vehicle Operation
possess and maintain a valid State motor vehicle operator's license of the appropriate classification or kind
Equipment Operation
operation of specialized firefighting pumping equipment, mounted pressurized systems, dispensing devices, and/or rescue tools
Physical Fitness
satisfactory performance of the minimum physical abilities necessary to perform safely and efficiently the essential tasks of a particular position
Words the announcement will use
Use the ones your record actually supports. A rater is matching your experience against the specialized experience statement, and a keyword with nothing behind it does not survive that.
Questions about GS-0081
What is a Federal Firefighter?
A GS-0081 Fire Protection and Prevention Specialist performs firefighting, fire prevention, rescue operations, and emergency response at federal facilities. Federal firefighters serve at military installations, national forests, VA hospitals, and other government properties, protecting lives and property.
How much does a federal Firefighter make?
Federal Firefighters earn between $34,454 (GS-5 Step 1) and $67,865 (GS-9 Step 10) under the 2025 GS pay scale. Fire chiefs and senior positions reach GS-11/12. Firefighters also receive overtime, hazard pay, and special pay differentials that can significantly increase total compensation.
What are the requirements for GS-0081 positions?
Entry-level GS-5 positions require firefighting experience or relevant education/training. Candidates must meet physical fitness standards, pass medical exams, and often need EMT certification. Higher grades require progressively more specialized experience in fire suppression, prevention, or command.
Can military experience substitute for education in GS-0081?
Yes, military firefighting experience is directly applicable. Air Force and Navy firefighters, Army firefighters, and crash rescue specialists have immediately transferable skills. Military fire training meets federal requirements, and veterans often enter at GS-5 or higher based on experience. Physical fitness from military service is an advantage.
What is the career progression for Fire Protection and Prevention?
Federal firefighters follow one-grade intervals from GS-5 to GS-9 for firefighters, with officers and chiefs reaching GS-10/11/12. Career paths include fire prevention, training, hazmat, and command positions. The DoD and Forest Service have the largest federal firefighting workforces.
How do I apply for GS-0081 jobs on USAJOBS?
Search USAJOBS.gov for 'Firefighter' or '0081' series. Major employers include military installations, Forest Service, and VA. Your federal resume should highlight certifications (EMT, Firefighter I/II), specialized training, and experience with specific apparatus. Pass the CPAT or agency-specific physical tests before applying.
Ready to apply for GS-0081?
A rater matches your record against the announcement's specialized experience statement, inside two pages. BMR writes that shape from your own experience: competency headers, real scope, hours per week, and the supervisor detail the rater checks.