The best high-effort side hustle for firefighters involves consulting businesses on fire safety.
The best low-effort side hustle for firefighters is to try paid gaming on sites like Freecash.
For something entirely new and fun, I recommend starting a social media channel based on life as a firefighter.
As a firefighter you have certain advantages when looking for a side hustle; people will assume you're physically fit, reliable and trustworthy (and I'm sure you are). With that in mind, here are 11 of the best side hustles for you in 2025, ranked by earning potential and ease of getting started.
Consult on Fire Safety for Businesses
We'll start with a high-effort, high-reward side hustle: Start your own business as a fire safety consultant.
You can offer half-day trainings for a whole business, where you go through emergency drills, explain what they can do as individuals, and check the office has working alarms and good access to fire escapes.
For you, a firefighter, the work will be laughably easy (explain the basics of fire safety to people who are just grateful to be doing something different for a day). And as these are corporate clients, they'll be prepared to pay very well.
Offer Handyman Services on Gig Apps
Now for something more flexible that can be started today. Use apps like TaskRabbit, Thumbtack, NextDoor, or local Facebook groups to find clients who need help with home repairs and maintenance.
It's simple, but it works, and as a firefighter prospective clients will be more likely to trust you over other individuals (unless they have construction experience).
You don't even need much know-how. You can take on small jobs like mounting TVs, fixing leaky faucets, or assembling furniture.
The pay varies between each job, but especially in metropolitan areas you can make good money.
Get Paid to Test Games on Freecash
If you enjoy gaming, Freecash pays users to test mobile games. Although the pay isn't as impressive as other side hustles, you can start right now, for free, and work as much or as little as you like.
All you need to do is create an account (or login instantly with Google or Facebook), pick a game that looks cool, and complete the tasks they set. Typically, you will be asked to reach a certain level within a month or two.
Become a Home Fire Safety Evaluator
Help families improve their fire safety by reviewing smoke detectors, exits, and home layouts. This is a rewarding side-hustle that allows you to help your community and earn a little bit on the side.
As this kind of work is more casual than business consultation, I would recommend keeping things low-key, and advertising locally on NextDoor.
For peace of mind alone, many neighbors will pay a reasonable price for a 30-minute consultation.
Manage Rental Properties for Owners
If you leased an apartment, but were going out of town, who would you trust to look after the tenants if anything happened? Exactly! Your friendly local firefighter.
People trust you, and that's really the only qualification you need to manage rental properties, so long as you can handle minor issues, inspections, and tenant calls.
But given you are only looking to do this as a side hustle, I would not use traditional job search sites, instead advertise locally to private landlords. The perfect customers for you will be older people with multiple properties that they are no longer physically capable of managing those properties.
Offer Mowing, Trimming or Snow Removal to Neighbors
Okay, I know this might seem silly, or even childish, but this is the kind of side hustle you can start right now. You'll be staying fit, helping your neighbors, and making a decent amount of money for your time.
In fact, if you have as many older ladies in your neighborhood as I do, a strapping firefighter like yourself will probably make a lot more than you expect...
You should start by simply knocking door-to-door and inquiring. If you find you enjoy the work, consider advertising locally on NextDoor.
Teach CPR & First Aid
I bet you've already considered this one, a lot of folks in the emergency services are doing something similar. And why not? You can earn good money teaching life-saving skills to schools, youth groups, and companies.
Certification may be required, but as a firefighter you almost certainly already check that box, at least for CPR and AED.
If starting your own business sounds like too much of a hassle, there are dozens of agencies in every city that hire instructors to teach on their behalf.
Complete Paid Surveys on Freecash
Okay, another quick online side hustle that I wanted to include for the firefighters who want a low-effort way to make money.Freecash offers paid surveys that require no special skills.
Simply answer questions online, typically about spending habits, and get paid. Game testing pays more for your time, but then it is also more involved (I answer surveys while watching TV)
You will always know how long a survey is expected to take and how much it pays before you start.
Do Roof and Gutter Cleaning
Firefighters are trained and comfortable working at heights, where a lot of others are terrified. Gutter and roof cleaning services are always in demand, especially in fall and spring, and can pay well per job.
As with lawn care, I recommend you simple knock and ask neighbors to get started, then if you enjoy the work try posting on NextDoor.
Become a Personal Trainer
If you’re passionate about fitness (and let's face it, as a firefighter you probably are), why not help others reach their health goals? You can train clients in person or online, when you have the time, and the pay is solid.
In terms of finding clients, I recommend using an app like Trainerize, and make sure to mention that you're a firefighter on your profile.
You may require certification depending on the platform you choose, but you can get certified online from as little as $900.
Start a Firefighter YouTube Channel
With just a phone, you can record videos, edit them in CapCut and upload to YouTube. And you have experience from a very interesting niche that I think a lot of people would be interested in.
You could provide a mix of entertaining content, like a typical day at the station, with genuinely helpful advice about fire safety. I know I'd watch.
Monetizing a YouTube channel takes a lot of hard work and dedication, but as a firefighter that probably doesn't scare you. However, I would realistically look at this (at least at first) as more of a creative outlet.
