First-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $53,430 | $25.69 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $93,530 | $44.96 |
| Mean (average) | $96,930 | $46.60 |
| 90th percentile | $140,010 | $67.31 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
First-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 52 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $73,320 | $43,050 | $114,220 | 1,440 | 1.07 |
| Alaska | $92,760 | $49,250 | $121,640 | 310 | 1.49 |
| Arizona | $96,470 | $61,540 | $119,620 | 2,670 | 1.29 |
| Arkansas | $61,890 | $43,710 | $87,010 | 920 | 1.11 |
| California | $127,630 | $80,910 | $204,160 | 8,170 | 0.7 |
| Colorado | $102,580 | $73,320 | $141,390 | 1,900 | 1.04 |
| Connecticut | $98,500 | $83,030 | $125,120 | 1,310 | 1.21 |
| Delaware | $74,670 | $50,130 | $100,100 | ||
| District of Columbia | $126,560 | $112,460 | $147,960 | 380 | 0.85 |
| Florida | $98,560 | $62,520 | $133,450 | 9,540 | 1.51 |
| Georgia | $67,200 | $46,400 | $96,750 | 3,730 | 1.2 |
| Guam | $82,350 | $71,070 | $104,730 | 80 | 1.86 |
| Idaho | $92,630 | $49,010 | $129,650 | 520 | 0.96 |
| Illinois | $123,500 | $73,690 | $153,820 | 3,240 | 0.83 |
| Indiana | $88,310 | $56,940 | $120,820 | 1,290 | 0.63 |
| Iowa | $76,010 | $62,490 | $112,140 | 600 | 0.6 |
| Kansas | $78,880 | $46,470 | $127,340 | 1,450 | 1.58 |
| Kentucky | $60,850 | $41,470 | $105,630 | 1,250 | 0.98 |
| Louisiana | $59,750 | $35,730 | $89,000 | 1,810 | 1.47 |
| Maine | $74,790 | $50,120 | $98,910 | 410 | 1.01 |
| Maryland | $120,530 | $80,460 | $141,870 | 2,380 | 1.35 |
| Massachusetts | $96,600 | $75,550 | $140,010 | 3,370 | 1.45 |
| Michigan | $77,550 | $49,550 | $104,580 | 1,830 | 0.65 |
| Minnesota | $78,800 | $49,150 | $131,450 | 1,120 | 0.59 |
| Mississippi | $48,250 | $35,410 | $72,900 | 1,550 | 2.09 |
| Missouri | $75,970 | $45,210 | $125,940 | 1,950 | 1.04 |
| Montana | $82,820 | $64,560 | $107,000 | 320 | 0.98 |
| Nebraska | $80,810 | $66,390 | $101,760 | 370 | 0.57 |
| Nevada | $93,920 | $72,050 | $152,570 | 1,080 | 1.09 |
| New Hampshire | $93,720 | $59,950 | $119,250 | 450 | 1.03 |
| New Jersey | $133,210 | $105,990 | $164,610 | 2,210 | 0.81 |
| New Mexico | $58,430 | $46,600 | $98,300 | 820 | 1.47 |
| New York | $132,520 | $87,670 | $158,510 | 4,100 | 0.66 |
| North Carolina | $59,560 | $44,800 | $110,790 | 5,050 | 1.6 |
| North Dakota | $82,880 | $63,820 | $121,210 | 130 | 0.48 |
| Ohio | $84,490 | $55,340 | $123,630 | 3,960 | 1.12 |
| Oklahoma | $85,310 | $55,260 | $101,770 | 2,000 | 1.84 |
| Oregon | $100,260 | $75,350 | $127,660 | 1,160 | 0.93 |
| Pennsylvania | $101,050 | $70,510 | $121,800 | 1,340 | 0.35 |
| Puerto Rico | $48,640 | $33,290 | $56,900 | 230 | 0.38 |
| Rhode Island | $85,170 | $65,890 | $97,740 | 770 | 2.4 |
| South Carolina | $65,160 | $44,200 | $100,860 | 1,450 | 0.99 |
| South Dakota | $72,420 | $67,200 | $115,210 | 120 | 0.4 |
| Tennessee | $77,920 | $45,680 | $100,250 | 2,210 | 1.06 |
| Texas | $81,710 | $60,260 | $118,590 | 8,660 | 0.97 |
| Utah | $100,380 | $60,130 | $122,490 | 770 | 0.7 |
| Vermont | $83,250 | $42,320 | $129,050 | 90 | 0.48 |
| Virginia | $97,780 | $59,510 | $124,780 | 3,300 | 1.26 |
| Washington | $129,350 | $79,440 | $160,630 | 3,350 | 1.48 |
| West Virginia | $55,380 | $34,160 | $72,840 | 180 | 0.4 |
| Wisconsin | $83,310 | $55,060 | $119,230 | 1,330 | 0.71 |
| Wyoming | $80,260 | $61,670 | $120,630 | 150 | 0.86 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for first-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 6,600. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for first-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers
- Typical entry education
- Postsecondary nondegree award
- Related work experience
- Less than 5 years
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Environmental/Natural Resources Law Enforcement and Protective Services CIP 03.0208
- Fire Prevention and Safety Technology/Technician CIP 43.0201
- Fire Services Administration CIP 43.0202
- Fire Science/Fire-fighting CIP 43.0203
- Fire/Arson Investigation and Prevention CIP 43.0205
- Fire Protection, Other CIP 43.0299
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical 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.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Excel (in demand)
- Microsoft Office software (in demand)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (in demand)
- Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Affiliated Computer Services ACS FIREHOUSE
- BIO-key FireRMS
- BehavePlus
- Computer aided dispatch software
- Corel WordPerfect Office Suite
- ESRI ArcView
- Email software
- FARSITE
- Fire incident reporting systems
- FlamMap
Transferable skills for career changers: Management of Personnel Resources, Judgment and Decision Making, Social Perceptiveness, Coordination, Instructing, Complex Problem Solving.
Common job titles: Battalion Chief, Engine Boss, Fire Battalion Chief, Fire Captain, Fire Chief, Fire Lieutenant, Fire Marshal, Fire Suppression Captain, Forest Fire Specialist Supervisor, Section Forest Fire Warden.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do first-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers make?
The national median annual wage for first-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers was $93,530 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $53,430 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $140,010. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do first-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers need?
BLS lists postsecondary nondegree award as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with less than 5 years of related work experience and moderate-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is first-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers a growing career?
BLS projects employment of first-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers to change +3.7% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 6,600 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay first-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were New Jersey ($133,210), New York ($132,520), Washington ($129,350). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.