ASAgent Santé#hospital ADSQAgent de sécurité QuébecThe security guard's notebook AAAgent Ambulancier#paramedic APAgent Policier#police
Firefighter at the City of Québec: $52,114 to $101,587 a year in 2026Lieutenant at the City of Québec: $111,744 in 2026Captain at the City of Québec: $121,903 in 2026Firefighter in Montreal: $50,808 to $88,367 a year (2023)Lieutenant in Montreal: $97,202 (2023)Captain in Montreal: $106,041 (2023)SOPFEU forest firefighter: $27.16 an hour in the first yearFirefighter in Quebec, median wage: $40.17 an hourPart-time firefighter in L'Assomption: $24.88 an hour (2025)Part-time firefighter in La Matapédia: $19.28 to $28.56 an hourFirefighter at the City of Québec: $52,114 to $101,587 a year in 2026Lieutenant at the City of Québec: $111,744 in 2026Captain at the City of Québec: $121,903 in 2026Firefighter in Montreal: $50,808 to $88,367 a year (2023)Lieutenant in Montreal: $97,202 (2023)Captain in Montreal: $106,041 (2023)SOPFEU forest firefighter: $27.16 an hour in the first yearFirefighter in Quebec, median wage: $40.17 an hourPart-time firefighter in L'Assomption: $24.88 an hour (2025)Part-time firefighter in La Matapédia: $19.28 to $28.56 an hour

Working as a firefighter in Quebec

For working as a firefighter in Quebec, five doors open: the fire department of a large city, that of a municipality that hires part time, SOPFEU (Quebec's forest fire protection agency), an airport and the Canadian Armed Forces. This page goes over the employers and links to the guide for each.

Checked on October 14, 2026.

The five firefighter employers

  1. Large cities, full time. Cities of more than 200,000 residents generally have full-time firefighters, hired through a competition. Firefighter jobs in Quebec: where to apply and how hiring works
  2. Municipalities, part time or on call. A part-time firefighter is paid for hours worked, a volunteer firefighter answers calls. Volunteer firefighter in Quebec: training, pay and tax credit
  3. SOPFEU, in the forest. A forest firefighter works mostly from April to September, out of one of the agency's bases. SOPFEU jobs: becoming a forest firefighter
  4. Airports. Standard 323 of the Canadian Aviation Regulations, published by Transport Canada, governs aircraft firefighting and requires an airport firefighter to retake the training at least once every three years.
  5. The Canadian Armed Forces. A military firefighter trains at Base Borden, after basic training, according to forces.ca.

What training do you need to work as a firefighter?

Section 3 of the Règlement sur les conditions pour exercer au sein d'un service de sécurité incendie municipal (the regulation on the qualifications of municipal firefighters) sets the training according to the population the fire department serves.

Population servedRequired training
Fewer than 25,000 peopleFirefighter I certificate from the École nationale des pompiers du Québec (Quebec's firefighter training school)
From 25,000 to 200,000 peopleFirefighter II certificate
More than 200,000 peopleDEP (Diploma of Vocational Studies) in Fire Safety Intervention, or its equivalent

The DEP is accepted everywhere. Under 200,000 people, a firefighter can be hired as an apprentice and obtain the certificate within the 48 consecutive months after hiring. The full path is in become a firefighter in Quebec, the DEP in the firefighter DEP and the certificates in the École nationale des pompiers.

How much does a firefighter earn?

At the City of Québec, the collective agreement scale ranges from $52,114 for a 7th class firefighter to $101,587 for a 1st class firefighter in 2026. Job Bank puts the median wage of Quebec firefighters at $40.17 an hour. At SOPFEU, a forest firefighter earns $27.16 an hour in the first year, according to its 2026 agreement. The Montreal scales, part-time work and premiums are in firefighter salary, and the shifts in a firefighter's schedule.

Working in fire prevention

A fire prevention officer does not put out fires: the officer analyzes fire risks and checks plans and specifications. Section 2 of the same regulation requires training in prevention, such as the attestation or the diploma of college studies in Prévention en sécurité incendie (Fire Safety Prevention), or the diploma of vocational studies in Prévention des incendies (Fire Prevention).

Frequently asked questions

How do you apply to be a firefighter?

In a large city, you apply while a competition is posted, on the city's careers page. The Service de sécurité incendie de Montréal (SIM), Montreal's fire department, describes six steps, including a two-part physical test. In a municipality that hires part time, the posting appears on the website of the municipality or the regional county municipality (MRC).

Do you need a diploma to work as a firefighter?

Not always. In a fire department that serves fewer than 25,000 people, the Firefighter I certificate is enough, and it can be obtained after hiring as an apprentice. Above 200,000 people, the DEP in Fire Safety Intervention is required.

What is a beginning firefighter's salary?

At the City of Québec, a 7th class firefighter earns $52,114 in 2026. This is the class at which a firefighter is generally hired, according to paragraph 13.02 of the collective agreement.

How many firefighters are there in Quebec?

Québec.ca counts 6,000 firefighters employed in Quebec in 2024. This number covers the firefighter group in the National Occupational Classification.

Sources