Fire Department · Career
City Of Dayton Fire Department
Dayton, OH · Montgomery County
“"The Toughest Job You'll Ever Love"”
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Department careers page ↗The City of Dayton Fire Department is a full-time career department protecting downtown Dayton and its surrounding neighborhoods in southwestern Ohio. Firefighters here run a broad mission that pairs traditional fire suppression with heavy emergency-medical work at both the EMT and paramedic level.
Beyond the basics, the department fields an unusually wide range of specialty teams: hazardous materials, high-angle and trench rescue, confined space, structural collapse, vehicle extrication, fast-water rescue, and a Rescue Task Force for active-threat response. That breadth means a Dayton firefighter can build a long, varied career without leaving the department.
Dayton operates on a civil-service model, so hiring and promotion run through competitive examination. Firefighters become eligible for promotion after five years of service, with a ladder that climbs from Lieutenant through District Chief.
Dayton hires through the city's civil-service process. Candidates apply through the JobAps portal, then move through a written test, background check, and the Firefighter Mile physical ability test before a contingent offer is made pending a medical exam. Expect the full timeline to run anywhere from six months to two years from application to academy start.
Entry requirements are accessible: applicants must be at least 16 at the time of the exam and 18 at appointment, hold a high school diploma or GED and a valid driver's license, and be no older than 41 by the time they finish the academy. The academy issues initial uniforms and safety gear, and paramedic training is supported through tuition reimbursement.
Requirements
- At least 16 years old at the time of the written exam and 18 at appointment
- No older than 41 by completion of the fire training academy
- High school diploma or GED at appointment
- Valid driver's license, maintained throughout employment
- Documentary evidence of Employment Authorization and Identity (U.S. citizenship not required)
- Good moral character with no disqualifying convictions and a good work and driving history
- Pass a medical exam and drug screen; vision at least 20/100 uncorrected and 20/40 corrected per eye; not colorblind
Hiring process
- Submit application through the JobAps portal
- Written test
- Background check
- Physical Ability Testing (the Firefighter Mile)
- Contingent offer upon passing the medical exam
- Fire academy start
Benefits
- Health, vision, dental, and life insurance
- 12 hours paid vacation and 15 hours sick leave accrued monthly
- 13 paid holidays
- $1,475/year uniform allowance
- Tuition reimbursement for paramedic training
- Educational incentive of $550–$1,350 and a seniority bonus up to 2% yearly
- Ohio Police & Fire Pension Plan with a D.R.O.P. option
The fire training academy provides initial uniforms and safety gear; applicants must complete it before age 41.
What are the age requirements to become a Dayton firefighter?
You must be at least 16 at the time of the written exam and 18 at appointment, and you cannot be older than 41 by the time you complete the fire training academy.
What does a Dayton firefighter earn?
Firefighter/EMTs earn $61,760–$81,817 and Firefighter/Paramedics earn $66,701–$88,362, plus an 8% incentive for 40-hour assignments and educational and seniority bonuses.
What is the hiring process?
You apply through the JobAps portal, then complete a written test, background check, and the Firefighter Mile physical ability test, followed by a contingent offer pending a medical exam before the academy start date.
How long does hiring take?
The process can take anywhere from six months to two years from application to being hired.
Do I need to be a paramedic or have a degree to apply?
No. You need a high school diploma or GED and a valid driver's license. The department supports paramedic training through tuition reimbursement after you're hired.
What are the vision requirements?
Vision must be at least 20/100 uncorrected and 20/40 corrected in each eye, and you cannot be colorblind.
Past postings, kept for reference. These are no longer accepting applications.