First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers: Job Description
Directly supervise and coordinate activities of workers engaged in firefighting and fire prevention and control.
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What Tasks Do First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers Perform?
The core tasks performed by first-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers include:
- Assign firefighters to jobs at strategic locations to facilitate rescue of persons and maximize application of extinguishing agents.
- Provide emergency medical services as required, and perform light to heavy rescue functions at emergencies.
- Assess nature and extent of fire, condition of building, danger to adjacent buildings, and water supply status to determine crew or company requirements.
- Communicate fire details to superiors, subordinates, or interagency dispatch centers, using two-way radios.
- Serve as a working leader of an engine, hand, helicopter, or prescribed fire crew of three or more firefighters.
- Instruct and drill fire department personnel in assigned duties, including firefighting, medical care, hazardous materials response, fire prevention, and related subjects.
- Maintain fire suppression equipment in good condition, checking equipment periodically to ensure that it is ready for use.
- Evaluate the performance of assigned firefighting personnel.
Skills and Knowledge
Top first-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers combine a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Top Skills
The abilities most central to this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Core Knowledge
Other First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers Job Titles
People in this occupation may also be known by titles such as:
- Battalion Chief
- Captain
- Chief
- Crew Boss
- Crew Chief
- Damage Prevention Coordinator
- Deputy Fire Marshal
- District Fire Management Officer
Job Outlook
There are roughly 124,447 first-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers working in the United States today. Employment is projected to grow by +15.0% over the projection horizon.
How Much Do First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers Make?
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $63,677 |
| Hourly median | $30.61 |
| 10th percentile | $40,864 |
| 25th percentile | $52,270 |
| 75th percentile | $75,083 |
| 90th percentile | $86,489 |
Compensation varies based on experience, location, and industry.
First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers Salary by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| New Jersey | $137,650 |
| California | $133,580 |
| New York | $131,060 |
| District of Columbia | $126,560 |
| Washington | $125,640 |
| Maryland | $121,950 |
| Illinois | $113,730 |
| Colorado | $105,890 |
| Pennsylvania | $102,240 |
| Utah | $102,070 |
| Virginia | $98,940 |
| Oregon | $97,730 |
| Massachusetts | $97,520 |
| Connecticut | $97,460 |
| Florida | $97,380 |
| Indiana | $96,210 |
| Alaska | $95,020 |
| Oklahoma | $90,960 |
| New Hampshire | $87,810 |
| Nevada | $86,950 |
| Delaware | $86,710 |
| Wisconsin | $85,390 |
| Arizona | $84,840 |
| Guam | $84,410 |
| Montana | $84,310 |
| Rhode Island | $84,160 |
| Minnesota | $83,340 |
| Texas | $82,680 |
| Wyoming | $82,640 |
| Nebraska | $82,370 |
| Ohio | $80,360 |
| Michigan | $79,140 |
| Idaho | $79,070 |
| North Dakota | $77,490 |
| Vermont | $76,580 |
| Missouri | $76,500 |
| Kansas | $75,630 |
| Iowa | $75,140 |
| Maine | $74,610 |
| Tennessee | $74,290 |
| Alabama | $73,720 |
| South Carolina | $72,480 |
| South Dakota | $71,770 |
| Arkansas | $67,160 |
| Georgia | $66,180 |
| North Carolina | $63,840 |
| Kentucky | $62,700 |
| Louisiana | $60,460 |
| New Mexico | $59,020 |
| West Virginia | $57,300 |
| Mississippi | $47,540 |
| Puerto Rico | $47,170 |
Pay by U.S. Region
Compensation for first-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers differ across the country. The following regions pay the most:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Middle Atlantic | $125,803 | 10.7% | 0.84 |
| Far Western US | $124,325 | 14.6% | 1.03 |
| Rocky Mountains | $98,281 | 3.8% | 0.96 |
| New England | $93,496 | 6.6% | 1.49 |
| Great Lakes | $89,233 | 11.3% | 0.86 |
| Southwest | $82,686 | 15.1% | 1.22 |
| Southeast | $77,775 | 31.5% | 1.32 |
| Plains States | $77,543 | 6.1% | 1.09 |
Where the Jobs Cluster
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | CA | $188,500 | 190 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | CA | $171,390 | 2,220 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | CA | $167,080 | 650 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $161,700 | 850 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | CA | $144,520 | 60 |
| Napa, CA | CA | $142,270 | 50 |
| Vallejo, CA | CA | $139,120 | 110 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | CA | $133,600 | 160 |
Top Industries Employing First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers
Most first-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers are concentrated in the following sectors:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 3,010 | $61,400 |
| Manufacturing | 110 | $98,070 |
| Educational Services | 100 | $103,910 |
| Utilities | 40 | $134,080 |
First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers work in the following industries:
Software First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers Use
- Data base user interface and query software: Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
What the Workplace Is Like
Daily working conditions for first-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers reflects the following characteristics:
- Health and Safety of Other Workers
- Contact With Others
- Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results
Education and Training
Most first-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers positions require a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education. This occupation sits in Medium Preparation Needed (Job Zone 3), reflecting the level of preparation typically expected.
Similar Occupations
Similar Occupations
- Emergency Management Directors (Primary-Long)
- Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors (Supplemental)
- Fire-Prevention and Protection Engineers (Primary-Short)
- Occupational Health and Safety Specialists (Primary-Long)
- Occupational Health and Safety Technicians (Supplemental)
- First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives (Primary-Long)
- First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers (Primary-Short)
- Firefighters (Primary-Short)
Top Programs to Study For This Career
Aspiring first-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers commonly pursue programs in:
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services
5 programs across 1 majors
Natural Resources and Conservation
1 programs across 1 majors
References
Statistics shown above are sourced from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 33-1021.00 (First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers).
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