First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers earn a median of $93,530 per year ($44.96/hr) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Employment is projected to grow 3.7% through 2035, with about 6,600 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: Postsecondary nondegree award.
- SOC 33-1021
- Protective Service
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
First-Line Supervisor of Firefighting and Prevention Workers in four numbers
- Median pay
- $93,530a year, or $44.96/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $53KTop 10% $140K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +3.7%About as fast as averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+3.7%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +3.7% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 6,600101,600 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 2025101.6K
- Projected 2035105.4K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 101.6K Projected 2035 105.4K - Typical education
- Certificateneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
Also advertised as: Battalion Chief, Engine Boss, Fire Battalion Chief, Fire Captain, Fire Chief, Fire Lieutenant.
Pay
How much do First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers make?
Every first-line supervisor of firefighting and prevention workers in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$93,530
Middle half earn $72,140 to $119,500
- 10th
- $53,430
- 25th
- $72,140
- 75th
- $119,500
- 90th
- $140,010
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $53,430 |
| 25th | $72,140 |
| Median | $93,530 |
| 75th | $119,500 |
| 90th | $140,010 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $93,530
- Median hourly wage
- $44.96/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $96,930
- People employed
- 99,140
Versus all US occupations
At $93,530, First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers earn 83% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $42,550 a year.
Versus protective service occupations
Inside the Protective Service group, where the middle occupation pays $74,060, this is 26% above the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $140,010 or more while the bottom 10% earn $53,430, a gap of 2.6×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 68% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Cost of living
New Jersey posts the highest raw median ($133,210), but once local prices are taken into account Illinois leads at $123,552 in national-average dollars.
Pay by state
Which states pay First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1New Jersey | $133,210 | $122,430 | 2,210 |
| 2New York | $132,520 | $122,794 | 4,100 |
| 3Washington | $129,350 | $120,873 | 3,350 |
| 4California | $127,630 | $115,273 | 8,170 |
| 5District of Columbia | $126,560 | $115,158 | 380 |
| 6Illinois | $123,500 | $123,552 | 3,240 |
| 7Maryland | $120,530 | $114,835 | 2,380 |
| 8Colorado | $102,580 | $99,542 | 1,900 |
| 9Pennsylvania | $101,050 | $103,565 | 1,340 |
| 10Utah | $100,380 | $101,533 | 770 |
Job outlook
Is First-Line Supervisor of Firefighting and Prevention Workers a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
About as fast as average. +3.7% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers | +3.7% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
About as fast as average
BLS projects employment of First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers to change 3.7% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 3,800 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 6,600 openings are projected each year, 6.5% of the 101,600 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Getting in
How to become a First-Line Supervisor of Firefighting and Prevention Workers
- 1
Typical entry-level education
Postsecondary nondegree award
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
Less than 5 years
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Some preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
The work
What does a First-Line Supervisor of Firefighting and Prevention Workers do?
Directly supervise and coordinate activities of workers engaged in firefighting and fire prevention and control.
Day-to-day tasks
- Communicate fire details to superiors, subordinates, or interagency dispatch centers, using two-way radios.
- Perform administrative duties, such as compiling and maintaining records, completing forms, preparing reports, or composing correspondence.
- Recommend personnel actions related to disciplinary procedures, performance, leaves of absence, and grievances.
- Maintain knowledge of fire laws and fire prevention techniques and tactics.
- Provide emergency medical services as required, and perform light to heavy rescue functions at emergencies.
- Evaluate size, location, and condition of fires.
- Evaluate the performance of assigned firefighting personnel.
- Maintain fire suppression equipment in good condition, checking equipment periodically to ensure that it is ready for use.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather
NeverEvery day
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantConstant contact with other people.
Face-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayFace-to-face discussions every day.
Dealing with the public
Not importantExtremely importantDealing with customers or the public is very important.
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayMeeting strict deadlines at least weekly.
Conflict situations
NeverEvery dayHandling conflict situations at least monthly.
Cost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely seriousMistakes carry very serious consequences.
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Active Listening4.0
- Speaking3.9
- Critical Thinking3.9
- Reading Comprehension3.8
- Monitoring3.8
- Writing3.3
- Active Learning3.3
- Learning Strategies3.3
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Active Listening | 4.0 |
| Speaking | 3.9 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.9 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.8 |
| Monitoring | 3.8 |
| Writing | 3.3 |
| Active Learning | 3.3 |
| Learning Strategies | 3.3 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Management of Personnel Resources3.9
- Judgment and Decision Making3.8
- Social Perceptiveness3.6
- Coordination3.6
- Instructing3.6
- Complex Problem Solving3.6
- Time Management3.6
- Service Orientation3.5
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Management of Personnel Resources | 3.9 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.8 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.6 |
| Coordination | 3.6 |
| Instructing | 3.6 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.6 |
| Time Management | 3.6 |
| Service Orientation | 3.5 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Data base user interface and query software · in demand
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Presentation software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Analytical or scientific software
- Geographic information system
- Helpdesk or call center software
- Internet browser software
- Map creation software
- Project management software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a First-Line Supervisor of Firefighting and Prevention Workers?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | First-Line Supervisor of Firefighting and Prevention Workers |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 5 |
| Investigative | 2 |
| Artistic | 1 |
| Social | 4 |
| Enterprising | 6 |
| Conventional | 5 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around leading, persuading, selling and making decisions, combined with hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors.
- Enterprising6.2
- Realistic5.1
- Conventional4.7
- Social3.7
- Investigative2.3
- Artistic1.0
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to First-Line Supervisor of Firefighting and Prevention Workers
O*NET related occupations
- Protective Service
- Protective Service
Forest Fire Inspector and Prevention Specialist
$56,870median a year
Most earn $35K to $105K
+13.1%High school - Protective Service
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First-Line Supervisor of Police and Detectives
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Most earn $63K to $165K
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More protective service careers
Median annual pay, with first-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers highlighted
- Detective and Criminal Investigator$93,790
- Intelligence Analyst$93,790
- First-Line Supervisor of Firefighting and Prevention Workers$93,530
- Police Officer$76,210
- Custom and Border Protection Officer$76,210
- Firefighter$59,280
- Correctional Officer and Jailer$58,940
- Private Detective and Investigator$51,220
- Security Guard$38,020
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Detective and Criminal Investigator | $93,790 |
| Intelligence Analyst | $93,790 |
| First-Line Supervisor of Firefighting and Prevention Workers | $93,530 |
| Police Officer | $76,210 |
| Custom and Border Protection Officer | $76,210 |
| Firefighter | $59,280 |
| Correctional Officer and Jailer | $58,940 |
| Private Detective and Investigator | $51,220 |
| Security Guard | $38,020 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists First-Line Supervisor of Firefighting and Prevention Workers appears on
Questions
First-Line Supervisor of Firefighting and Prevention Workers: frequently asked questions
How much do First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers make?
First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers earn a median of $93,530 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). That is 83% above the $50,980 median for all US occupations. That works out at $44.96/hr. The middle half earn between $72,140 and $119,500. The top 10% earn $140,010 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a First-Line Supervisor of Firefighting and Prevention Workers?
Not a degree, but you do need credentialed training: BLS lists a postsecondary non-degree award (a certificate or license program) as the typical entry route for First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers. BLS also lists moderate-term on-the-job training as typical on-the-job training. Employers typically expect less than 5 years of related work experience first.
Is First-Line Supervisor of Firefighting and Prevention Workers a growing career?
It is stable rather than fast-growing: employment is projected to change 3.7% over 2025–2035, about the same as the 3.5% projected across all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 6,600 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a First-Line Supervisor of Firefighting and Prevention Workers do?
Directly supervise and coordinate activities of workers engaged in firefighting and fire prevention and control. A core O*NET task: communicate fire details to superiors, subordinates, or interagency dispatch centers, using two-way radios. Employers most often ask for Data base user interface and query software, Electronic mail software, Office suite software.
Which states pay First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers the most?
The highest state medians for First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers are New Jersey ($133,210), New York ($132,520), Washington ($129,350) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Adjusted for local prices using BEA Regional Price Parities, Illinois moves to the top at $123,552.
What personality type suits a First-Line Supervisor of Firefighting and Prevention Workers?
O*NET scores First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers highest on the Enterprising, Realistic and Conventional interest areas, so the work mixes leading, persuading, selling and making decisions with hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with ESTJ personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.