Career Overview
Directly supervise and coordinate activities of workers engaged in firefighting and fire prevention and control.
Also Known As
- Engine Boss
- Fire Battalion Chief
- Fire Captain
- Fire Chief
Alternate Job Titles
- Battalion Chief
- Captain
- Chief
- Crew Boss
- Crew Chief
- Damage Prevention Coordinator
- Deputy Fire Marshal
- District Fire Management Officer
- Division Chief
- Engine Boss
- Engine Captain
- Fire Battalion Chief
- Fire Captain
- Fire Chief
- Fire Coordinator
What You'll Do
In this role, your typical responsibilities include:
- 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.
- Instruct and drill fire department personnel in assigned duties, including firefighting, medical care, hazardous materials response, fire prevention, and related subjects.
- Maintain fire suppression equipment in good condition, checking equipment periodically to ensure that it is ready for use.
Emerging Responsibilities
As this field evolves, you may also:
- Deploy and monitor drones for aerial surveillance and assessment of fire situations.
Knowledge You'll Use
You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:
- Public Safety and Security
- Customer and Personal Service
- Education and Training
- Building and Construction
- Administration and Management
- English Language
- Mechanical
- Law and Government
Essential Skills
Success in this career requires strong skills in:
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Social Perceptiveness
- Reading Comprehension
- Speaking
- Monitoring
- Coordination
- Service Orientation
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Management of Personnel Resources
Key Abilities
This career requires key abilities in:
- Oral Expression
- Oral Comprehension
- Problem Sensitivity
- Near Vision
- Deductive Reasoning
- Inductive Reasoning
- Information Ordering
- Speech Recognition
- Written Comprehension
- Speech Clarity
Work Style
People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:
- Stress Tolerance
- Leadership Orientation
- Dependability
- Cooperation
- Self-Control
What Matters in This Career
This career tends to satisfy these work values:
- Independence
- Support
- Achievement
- Working Conditions
- Recognition
Education & Preparation
Typical Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
On-the-Job Training: Over 1 month, up to and including 3 months
Education Details: Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Experience Required: Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
Technology You'll Use
Popular Technologies & Software
- Microsoft Access
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Word
Tools & Equipment
- Aerial lifting apparatus
- Air bag lifting systems
- Air chisels
- Air purifying respirators
- All terrain vehicles ATV
- Aluminum ladders
- Ambu bags
- Automated external defibrillators AED
- Automatic blood pressure cuffs
- Backboards
- Backfiring fusees
- Backpack pumps
- Body harnesses
- Bolt cutters
- Bomb response vehicles
Work Environment
- Health and Safety of Other Workers
- Contact With Others
- Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results
Salary & Job Market
| Salary Percentile | Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Entry-Level (10th percentile) | $53,970 |
| Median | $92,430 |
| Top Earners (90th percentile) | $142,300 |
Workers Employed Nationally: 93,680
Related Careers
If you're interested in this career, you might also consider:
Firefighters
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $59,530
Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $52,380
Fire Inspectors and Investigators
Education: Post-Secondary Certificate - awarded for training completed after high school (for example, in agriculture or natural resources, computer services, personal or culinary services, engineering technologies, healthcare, construction trades, mechanic and repair technologies, or precision production)
Median Salary: $78,060
Fire-Prevention and Protection Engineers
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: $109,660
First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers
Education: Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)
Median Salary: $58,610
Is This Career Right for You?
Discover your perfect career match with our free comprehensive assessment! Get personalized recommendations based on your interests, skills, and values.
Take the Free Career Assessment →
Want Personalized Guidance?
For customized career recommendations, college selection strategies, and expert application support, explore the MehtA+ Admissions Consulting Program. We help students identify the right opportunities and navigate the path to achieving their academic and career goals.
Occupational data sourced from the O*NET OnLine database, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024.