A first-line supervisor of firefighting and prevention workers leads firefighting teams, makes critical decisions on the job, and ensures public safety. You start with a high school education and move up through hands-on experience and training.
Pathly builds you a free, personalized roadmap and helps your counselor champion you along the way.
You oversee firefighting crews and prevention workers, making decisions that keep people safe and operations running smoothly. Your day involves inspecting equipment and structures, assisting those in need, and working directly with the public. You operate vehicles and equipment, get the information you need to act fast, and guide your team through emergencies and prevention work. Leadership means staying calm under pressure and making sure every person on your crew knows what to do.
Core work activities
Career video courtesy of CareerOneStop.
First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers earn a median of $93,530 a year, based on 2025 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and location.
The outlook is steady. Employment is projected to grow 3 percent from 2024 to 2034, about as fast as average for all occupations, with about 6,500 openings a year.
Top skills
Knowledge areas
Start with a high school diploma or equivalent. Most people in this role come up through firefighting positions, gaining hands-on experience and learning public safety and security from the ground up. You will build skills in active listening, critical thinking, and speaking as you work with your team. Training in education and administration helps you move into supervision. Many supervisors complete additional certifications and training programs specific to firefighting leadership and prevention work.
Most supervisors advance from firefighter roles, so your path depends on where you want to work and how quickly you want to move up. If you are exploring the steps from entry-level firefighter to supervisor, Pathly can map the first-line supervisor of firefighting and prevention workers path that fits you and work through it with your counselor to find the timeline that fits your goals.
You do not need a license to work as a first-line supervisor of firefighting and prevention workers, but professional certifications can strengthen your resume.
Common certifications
You like taking charge, solving problems, and making decisions that matter. You work well with people and thrive in roles where you lead teams and manage operations.
Reading about a career is the easy part. Turning it into a plan is where most students get stuck. Pathly takes you from curious to a clear next step, and gives your counselor the insight to champion you along the way.
Start with a quick quiz and assessments that surface your personality, your EQ, and what really motivates you, so your next steps are built around who you actually are.
Your free AI guide weighs this career against your strengths and goals, and surfaces the colleges, trades, and scholarships that match, so you know if it truly fits before you commit.
Get a personalized, step-by-step plan to reach this career, with the training, coursework, and credentials tracked in one place. Link your school or IEC and your counselor in the loop.
Last updated July 1, 2026.
Data sources. Career details from the O*NET 30.3 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under CC BY 4.0. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. Salary and outlook figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025 wages; 2024–2034 projections), delivered via the CareerOneStop API. Certification, licensing, wage, and outlook data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by USDOL/ETA and the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED).