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Public Safety

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

Median wage

$102,580

Typical education

No additional formal education beyond what is needed to become a firefighter is expected.

Growth 2026–2032

+11%

Median wage source: Colorado BLS OEWS (2025).

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Career requirements

What does this career require?

Explore education, required qualifications, voluntary credentials and employer preferences for this role. Check the details to see which apply.

Typical education

No additional formal education beyond what is needed to become a firefighter is expected.

Credential requirement

Credential requirements not reported

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

  1. Assign firefighters to jobs at strategic locations to facilitate rescue of persons and maximize application of extinguishing agents.
  2. Provide emergency medical services as required, and perform light to heavy rescue functions at emergencies.
  3. Instruct and drill fire department personnel in assigned duties, including firefighting, medical care, hazardous materials response, fire prevention, and related subjects.
  4. Direct firefighters in station maintenance duties, and participate in these duties.
  5. Recommend personnel actions related to disciplinary procedures, performance, leaves of absence, and grievances.
  6. Evaluate the performance of assigned firefighting personnel.
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