Law & Government
First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers
Directly supervise and coordinate activities of workers engaged in firefighting and fire prevention and control.
Median salary (BLS)
$93,530
10th–90th percentile (BLS)
$53k – $140k
Job outlook
+3% (about average)
AI exposure
Early-career check: graduates of the matching programs below typically earn $105,000 ten years after starting college — an early-career figure, vs. the all-experience BLS median above. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard.
Plan a path to First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers
Education
Typical entry: Associate degree
Plan my path to this →How to qualify
EstimateLicense requiredCost to qualify
$8,200–$27,000
Time to qualify
2.5 yr
Renewal
—
- 1
Associate degree (community college)
DegreeTwo years at in-district rates — average published tuition & fees ≈ $4,050/yr, plus ~$1,200/yr books & supplies.
$8,000–$22,000 · 2 years source
- 2
Bar exam / state licensure / academy
LicenseLawyers: the state bar exam. Public-safety roles: a training academy plus state certification.
$200–$5,000 · 6 months · varies by state source
Estimated typical U.S. route for "First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers" — built from BLS education requirements and College Board 2024–25 average published prices (public, in-state tuition + fees + books). Not yet verified against a specific state's licensing rules — confirm with your state licensing board or program.
Typical progression
Junior First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers
Entry / Junior
$53,430
~2 yrs to advance
First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers
Established
$93,530
~3 yrs to advance
Senior First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers
Senior
$116,770
Key skills
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.
- •Assess nature and extent of fire, condition of building, danger to adjacent buildings, and water supply status to determine crew or company requirements.
- •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.
Fields of study
Any field
Top colleges for Law & Government
Explore all- Yale University5% admit · $105,000 grad pay
- Harvard University4% admit · $119,000 grad pay
- Stanford University4% admit · $122,000 grad pay
- Columbia University4% admit · $103,000 grad pay
- University of Chicago5% admit · $91,000 grad pay
Reputation-based selection; stats shown are outcome data per school.