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Firefighter (Bomba)

Stable

Public Sector

Responds to fires, rescues and emergencies under Jabatan Bomba dan Penyelamat Malaysia. Entry-level grade is SPM-accessible; pay rises with rank plus hazard and shift allowances.

You can enter this career straight after SPM. A degree is optional, not required.

Public Safety & DefenceGeneral

What you'd do all day

The tasks that matter most in this job, most important first.

  1. 1Rescue survivors from burning buildings, accident sites, and water hazards.
  2. 2Dress with equipment such as fire-resistant clothing and breathing apparatus.
  3. 3Assess fires and situations and report conditions to superiors to receive instructions, using two-way radios.
  4. 4Move toward the source of a fire, using knowledge of types of fires, construction design, building materials, and physical layout of properties.
  5. 5Respond to fire alarms and other calls for assistance, such as automobile and industrial accidents.
  6. 6Create openings in buildings for ventilation or entrance, using axes, chisels, crowbars, electric saws, or core cutters.
  7. 7Drive and operate fire fighting vehicles and equipment.
  8. 8Inspect fire sites after flames have been extinguished to ensure that there is no further danger.
  9. 9Position and climb ladders to gain access to upper levels of buildings, or to rescue individuals from burning structures.
  10. 10Select and attach hose nozzles, depending on fire type, and direct streams of water or chemicals onto fires.
  11. 11Operate pumps connected to high-pressure hoses.
  12. 12Maintain contact with fire dispatchers at all times to notify them of the need for additional firefighters and supplies, or to detail any difficulties encountered.
  13. 13Collaborate with other firefighters as a member of a firefighting crew.
  14. 14Patrol burned areas after fires to locate and eliminate hot spots that may restart fires.
  15. 15Collaborate with police to respond to accidents, disasters, and arson investigation calls.
  16. 16Participate in fire drills and demonstrations of fire fighting techniques.
  17. 17Maintain knowledge of current firefighting practices by participating in drills and by attending seminars, conventions, and conferences.
  18. 18Prepare written reports that detail specifics of fire incidents.
  19. 19Participate in physical training activities to maintain a high level of physical fitness.
  20. 20Protect property from water and smoke, using waterproof salvage covers, smoke ejectors, and deodorants.
  21. 21Inform and educate the public on fire prevention.
  22. 22Salvage property by removing broken glass, pumping out water, and ventilating buildings to remove smoke.
  23. 23Orient self in relation to fire, using compass and map, and collect supplies and equipment dropped by parachute.
  24. 24Clean and maintain fire stations and fire fighting equipment and apparatus.
  25. 25Inspect buildings for fire hazards and compliance with fire prevention ordinances, testing and checking smoke alarms and fire suppression equipment as necessary.
  26. 26Take action to contain any hazardous chemicals that could catch fire, leak, or spill.
  27. 27Extinguish flames and embers to suppress fires, using shovels or engine- or hand-driven water or chemical pumps.

Also known as

What this job is called on JobStreet, LinkedIn and in job ads. Search these too.

  • Fireman
  • Plugman
  • Hot Shot
  • Fire Tech
  • Ladderman
  • Fire Medic
  • Tiller Man
  • Firefighter
  • Smoke Eater
  • Fire Fighter

How far is this from you?

Roughly how much preparation this job usually takes. In Malaysia your UPU route and the programme's syarat still decide entry, so treat this as a guide, not a gate.

  1. 1

    Entry straight after SPM

  2. 2

    SPM + sijil / short TVET course

  3. Typical entry

    Diploma / TVET (sijil–diploma)

  4. 4

    Degree (ijazah sarjana muda)

  5. 5

    Postgrad (sarjana / PhD) or professional route

Typical educationHigh school diploma

Subjects that matter here

The SPM subjects worth your effort for this career, with the reason for each.

Civil Engineering StudiesDraws directly on Building and Construction — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).
Engineering DrawingDraws directly on Building and Construction — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).
Design & Technology (RBT)Draws directly on Building and Construction — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).
EnglishDraws directly on English Language — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).
Mechanical Engineering StudiesDraws directly on Mechanical — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).

What you'd need to know

The subject areas this job leans on most, and the SPM subjects that build them.

  • Public Safety and Security91%
  • Customer and Personal Service84%
  • Education and Training83%
  • Building and Construction81%

    Civil Engineering StudiesEngineering DrawingDesign & Technology (RBT)

  • English Language78%

    English

  • Mechanical76%

    Mechanical Engineering StudiesPhysicsDesign & Technology (RBT)

Skills to build

DisciplineIntegrityCommunication

Tools you'd use

Software and equipment that show up in this job, worth learning early.

Where to learn these, free

Scholarships & funding

What the work feels like

Day-to-day working conditions, so you can tell whether the job suits how you like to work.

  • Face-to-face discussionsEvery day
  • Contact with other peopleConstant contact
  • Dealing with customers or the publicVery high
  • Leading or coordinating othersVery high
  • Indoors, air-conditionedEvery day
  • Outdoors, in all weatherEvery day
  • Noisy environmentEvery day
  • Time spent sittingA little

AI and demand for this job

A few real, dated data points — not a single score. AI making some tasks faster usually means a job changes, not that it disappears.

7%

Share of everyday tasks today's AI can already help with (2023)

This estimate is from 2023 — already out of date, since AI moves fast. Treat it as a rough, aging starting point, not the current picture.

Pay in the private market

Monthly pay from fresh grad to mid-career, from the salary guide cited on this page.

Entry

Private
RM1,700 – RM2,400

Mid-career

Private
RM2,800 – RM4,200

Government pay isn't shown: we haven't yet sourced the SSPA civil-service salary tables, and we won't estimate them.

Job demand outlook

Stable

Steady, reliable demand: a consistent number of openings.

Your readiness

How your current SPM subjects line up with this career.

Add your SPM grades to see how ready you are for this career.

Add my grades

Check what you may qualify for

Enter your SPM grades and see which routes and programmes you may qualify for. An estimate to plan with, not an offer.

Check my eligibility Not sure yet? Take the quiz

How to get here

Post-SPM pathways with programmes in this career's fields. Tap one to see real programmes and entry requirements.

TVET

Hands-on trades with strong employability: ILP, ADTEC, kolej vokasional, GiatMARA.

1–3 years

Asasi / Foundation

One-year runway into a specific university: public via UPU or private direct entry.

12 months

International Pre-U

A-Levels, AUSMAT, IB and more. The flexible premium route, local or overseas.

1–2 years

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About this information

This describes what the job involves. Pay, demand and entry routes differ in Malaysia, so check the Pathways and Programmes pages for local requirements.

O*NET occupation: Firefighters

Source: JBPM / SSPA Salary Guide · as of Aug 2025

Check the salary figures yourself:JPA (SSPA schedule)SPAJBPM

Job responsibilities, knowledge areas and work context from O*NET 30.3, US Department of Labor, used under CC BY 4.0. onetcenter.org

Programmes that lead here

Programmes from the official UPU (KPT) and MQA catalogues whose field of study typically leads to this career. Matched by field, not a job guarantee.

Public universities (UPU)

Private institutions (MQA-accredited)

Search the programme catalogue