First-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers

Pay

Getting in

Typical entry education

Postsecondary nondegree award

On-the-job training

Moderate-term on-the-job training

Prior experience

Less than 5 years

Calculate your switch to first-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers

What the work is like

Core tasks

• Provide emergency medical services as required, and perform light to heavy rescue functions at emergencies.
• Maintain fire suppression equipment in good condition, checking equipment periodically to ensure that it is ready for use.
• Assign firefighters to jobs at strategic locations to facilitate rescue of persons and maximize application of extinguishing agents.
• 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.
• Evaluate size, location, and condition of fires.
• Instruct and drill fire department personnel in assigned duties, including firefighting, medical care, hazardous materials response, fire prevention, and related subjects.
• Recruit or hire firefighting personnel.

Also called: Battalion Chief · Engine Boss · Fire Battalion Chief · Fire Captain · Fire Chief · Fire Lieutenant · Fire Marshal · Fire Suppression Captain

Outlook and AI

First-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers held 101,600 jobs in 2025. BLS projects 105,400 by 2035 (+4%, about as fast as average; all jobs: +3.5%).

Compare with

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