First-Line Supervisor of Firefighting and Prevention Workers
Directly supervise and coordinate activities of workers engaged in firefighting and fire prevention and control.
Annual openings
154
BLS median wage
$102,580
Typical education
No additional formal education beyond what is needed to become a firefighter is expected.
10-year growth
+11%
Career requirements
What does this career require?
The education, credentials, and on-the-job competencies Colorado employers expect for this role.
Typical education
No additional formal education beyond what is needed to become a firefighter is expected.
Credential requirement
No specific credential listed yet
Credential detail
No additional credential beyond that needed as a firefighter is expected.
Work experience
2-5 years work experience in Firefighting is expected.
Employer competency information
Feedback from employers identifies the following competencies as being critical to support a successful move up to the Supervisor level
- Communication — Continue to elevate communication skills for use with a team, client, and boss.
- Teamwork — Consistently demonstrate the ability to work with, influence, and lead others.
- Planning & Organizing — Strong time management skills with the ability to plan and organize the successful completion of tasks and projects for a team, adapting the plan to changing circumstances.
- Instructing & Coaching — Move beyond being good at your job to being able to help other team members understand and develop the knowledge and skills needed to be successful at their jobs.
- Working with tools and technology — Effectively utilize the tools and technology specific to your team.
Is this work a fit?
What the work actually feels like
How people in this career tend to spend their time, the interests it draws on, and a look at a typical day.
Automation exposure
Low exposure
Tasks here lean on judgement and people skills that are hard to automate.
A typical day
- 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.
- Instruct and drill fire department personnel in assigned duties, including firefighting, medical care, hazardous materials response, fire prevention, and related subjects.
- Direct firefighters in station maintenance duties, and participate in these duties.
- Recommend personnel actions related to disciplinary procedures, performance, leaves of absence, and grievances.
- Evaluate the performance of assigned firefighting personnel.