Entry level fire fighter associates degrees, bachelors fire science degrees, and masters in fire science and occupational safety or public safety degrees are all hot and available online. More and more firefighters and employers are realizing the need for further education in fire science. Climbing the fire service career ladder will require formal education programs that can be obtained online.

According to the US Bureau of Labor the need for firefighter will increase into at least 2014. Entry-level firefighters with associates degrees generally earn $46,000. Fire Chiefs and officers in large cities often earn up to $80,000. A person with a bachelors or masters degree may work in the private sector for large corporations making even more.

An associates degree will provide the student with the knowledge base similar to that obtained in a fire academy. Fire behavior, fire suppression, scene preservation, fire prevention, pump operations, and search and rescue operations are included in the curriculum.

Bachelors and masters fire science programs include fire inspection, fire investigation, strategic management, internal processes, public safety and administration classes. Often students can focus on chemistry, engineering, or occupational safety for positions in the private sector.

Fire fighting positions generally include significant benefits such as retirement accounts, medical insurance, liability insurance, generous vacation and sick time, and shift or overtime differential.

Fire fighting education has become more formalized and specialized requiring those who want to advance up the career ladder to obtain more advanced careers. An online program is ideal for the firefighter who has work obligations because it allows the student to work on class work anytime. The flexibility of an online program is a perfect match for the aspiring or employed firefighter.