First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers
Protective Service
At a fire or rescue, sizes up the building, nearby risks, and water supply, then places firefighters where they can reach people and put out the fire. Serves as a working leader of an engine, hand, helicopter, or prescribed-fire crew, gives updates by radio, and may provide emergency medical care or do light to heavy rescue. Also drills the crew in firefighting, medical care, hazardous materials, and prevention, checks that suppression equipment is ready, and evaluates how assigned firefighters perform. Suits people who like on-the-spot decisions, physical rescue work, and leading a small crew under pressure.
Typical education: High School Diploma or GED
Annual Median Wage in Field (2025)
$93'530
Median Wage Market Position
$93'530
What you might do
- Assign firefighters to positions for rescue and firefighting
- Assess the fire, building, and water supply
- Lead a crew during fires and rescues
- Give emergency medical care at the scene
- Radio updates to crews and dispatch centers
- Drill crews in firefighting and medical care
Skills that matter
- Crew placement for rescue and extinguishing
- Judging fire size, buildings, and water supply
- Two-way radio reports to command and dispatch
- Serving as working leader of a crew
- Drills in firefighting and hazardous materials
- Equipment checks and firefighter evaluations
AI & the future of this role
Scene command and crew safety depend on physical presence, split-second judgment, and responsibility for lives at risk. Planning tools might ease logistics, yet frontline supervision of emergency crews is likely to remain firmly human-led.
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Includes O*NET® 30.3 Database information by USDOL/ETA under CC BY 4.0; modified by LostInCareer. Wage/outlook from BLS. Attribution details