Best degree programs for First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers, ranked by enrollment
6 college programs and 405 schools train First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers. Compare graduates per year, cost and pay, $93,530 median wage, 99,140 U.S. jobs. Federal data.
6 college programs at 405 schools train first-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers, graduating 16,248 people a year (IPEDS completions). The largest is Fire Science/Fire-fighting. The job pays a median of $93,530 (BLS OEWS May 2025).
About first-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers
Directly supervise and coordinate activities of workers engaged in firefighting and fire prevention and control.
Fields of study that lead to this job
Grouped at the 4-digit CIP level, the tier our program pages are built on. Numbers are graduates per year.
6 degree programs that lead to this job
Ranked by graduates per year (IPEDS completions). Graduate earnings and debt are College Scorecard figures for people who finished the program, reported at the 4-digit CIP level, so specializations within one field share a figure. That is a different measurement from the occupation-wide wages further down this page.
| # | Program | Graduates / yr | Share of pipeline | Schools | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CIP 43.0203 | 10,359 | 63.8% | 275 | $48,952 | $12,750 |
| 2 | CIP 43.0201 | 3,558 | 21.9% | 140 | $48,952 | $12,750 |
| 3 | CIP 43.0202 | 2,008 | 12.4% | 46 | $48,952 | $12,750 |
| 4 | CIP 03.0208 | 222 | 1.4% | 21 | $37,946 | $24,125 |
| 5 | CIP 43.0299 | 54 | 0.3% | 7 | $48,952 | $12,750 |
| 6 | CIP 43.0205 | 47 | 0.3% | 5 | $48,952 | $12,750 |
Top 50 schools by graduates into this job
Counting every feeder program a school offers, not just its largest one.
What first-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers earn
What people already working in this job earn (BLS OEWS May 2025). Not graduate earnings.
Top-paying states
Top-paying metro areas
Job outlook
Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections, 2024 to 2034.
Where the jobs are, state by state
Pick a state for in-state pay, the schools there, and the programs they run.
| State | Median pay | Jobs | Concentration | Schools | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | $127,630 | 8,170 | 0.70× | 60 | 3,730 |
| Florida | $98,560 | 9,540 | 1.51× | 33 | 2,488 |
| Alabamamoderate | $73,320 | 1,440 | 1.07× | 3 | 2,044 |
| Texas | $81,710 | 8,660 | 0.97× | 31 | 1,773 |
| Ohio | $84,490 | 3,960 | 1.12× | 27 | 1,048 |
| Illinois | $123,500 | 3,240 | 0.83× | 21 | 658 |
| Colorado | $102,580 | 1,900 | 1.04× | 11 | 533 |
| Kentucky | $60,850 | 1,250 | 0.98× | 11 | 293 |
| North Carolina | $59,560 | 5,050 | 1.60× | 19 | 277 |
| Indianamoderate | $88,310 | 1,290 | 0.63× | 3 | 242 |
| Arizona | $96,470 | 2,670 | 1.29× | 11 | 228 |
| Oklahoma | $85,310 | 2,000 | 1.84× | 9 | 218 |
| Kansas | $78,880 | 1,450 | 1.58× | 7 | 216 |
| Massachusetts | $96,600 | 3,370 | 1.45× | 11 | 214 |
| Minnesota | $78,800 | 1,120 | 0.59× | 7 | 194 |
| Wisconsin | $83,310 | 1,330 | 0.71× | 12 | 192 |
| Iowa | $76,010 | 600 | 0.60× | 7 | 153 |
| Michigan | $77,550 | 1,830 | 0.65× | 9 | 131 |
| Utahmoderate | $100,380 | 770 | 0.70× | 4 | 120 |
| Oregon | $100,260 | 1,160 | 0.93× | 11 | 119 |
| West Virginialimited | $55,380 | 180 | 0.40× | 2 | 116 |
| Washington | $129,350 | 3,350 | 1.48× | 9 | 112 |
| Tennesseemoderate | $77,920 | 2,210 | 1.06× | 3 | 106 |
| Georgia | $67,200 | 3,730 | 1.20× | 9 | 102 |
| New Mexico | $58,430 | 820 | 1.47× | 6 | 88 |
| Nevadamoderate | $93,920 | 1,080 | 1.09× | 3 | 77 |
| Maine | $74,790 | 410 | 1.01× | 6 | 71 |
| Virginiamoderate | $97,780 | 3,300 | 1.26× | 4 | 65 |
| Missouri | $75,970 | 1,950 | 1.04× | 5 | 64 |
| New York | $132,520 | 4,100 | 0.66× | 5 | 62 |
| Arkansaslimited | $61,890 | 920 | 1.11× | 2 | 45 |
| Idahomoderate | $92,630 | 520 | 0.96× | 4 | 41 |
| Louisianamoderate | $59,750 | 1,810 | 1.47× | 3 | 41 |
| Nebraskalimited | $80,810 | 370 | 0.57× | 1 | 40 |
| Connecticutlimited | $98,500 | 1,310 | 1.21× | 2 | 38 |
| New Jersey | $133,210 | 2,210 | 0.81× | 6 | 38 |
| Wyominglimited | $80,260 | 150 | 0.86× | 2 | 34 |
| Mississippilimited | $48,250 | 1,550 | 2.09× | 1 | 25 |
| New Hampshirelimited | $93,720 | 450 | 1.03× | 2 | 25 |
| Alaskalimited | $92,760 | 310 | 1.49× | 2 | 24 |
| Pennsylvania | $101,050 | 1,340 | 0.35× | 5 | 20 |
| South Dakotalimited | $72,420 | 120 | 0.40× | 1 | 16 |
| Marylandmoderate | $120,530 | 2,380 | 1.35× | 4 | 10 |
| Montanalimited | $82,820 | 320 | 0.98× | 2 | 10 |
| Rhode Islandlimited | $85,170 | 770 | 2.40× | 1 | 8 |
| North Dakotalimited | $82,880 | 130 | 0.48× | 2 | 3 |
| South Carolinalimited | $65,160 | 1,450 | 0.99× | 2 | 2 |
Skills and tools
From O*NET, the U.S. Department of Labor's occupational database. Importance is a 1 to 5 scale.
What they do day to 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.
- 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.
- Evaluate the performance of assigned firefighting personnel.
Skills
- Active Listening4.0
- Critical Thinking3.9
- Monitoring3.6
- Speaking3.6
- Reading Comprehension3.6
- Writing3.3
- Active Learning3.3
- Learning Strategies3.1
Knowledge areas
- Public Safety and Security4.7
- Customer and Personal Service4.4
- Education and Training4.1
- Building and Construction4.0
- Administration and Management4.0
- English Language4.0
Abilities
- Oral Expression4.3
- Problem Sensitivity4.1
- Oral Comprehension4.1
- Near Vision4.0
- Inductive Reasoning3.8
- Deductive Reasoning3.8
Core activities
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems4.6
- Assisting and Caring for Others4.6
- Performing for or Working Directly with the Public4.6
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials4.5
- Getting Information4.5
- Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment4.5
Tools and technology
hotmarks an O*NET hot technologyHow to get in
How to become a First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting
Job zone 3 of 5 · SVP 6.0 to < 7.0- Typical entry education
- Postsecondary nondegree award
- Work experience needed
- Less than 5 years
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
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.
Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
Every major mapped to this job
The official federal mapping behind the rankings above.
All 6 majors mapped to First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers6 of them graduated someone in the latest IPEDS year. NCES CIP 2020 → SOC 2018 crosswalk.+
- 03.0208Environmental/Natural Resources Law Enforcement and Protective Services
- 43.0201Fire Prevention and Safety Technology/Technician
- 43.0202Fire Services Administration
- 43.0203Fire Science/Fire-fighting
- 43.0205Fire/Arson Investigation and Prevention
- 43.0299Fire Protection, Other
Related careers
Jobs O*NET identifies as close to this one, with their own pay and outlook.
Common questions
What degree do you need to become a First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting?+
Postsecondary nondegree award is the typical entry-level education BLS reports for this occupation. The most common program people actually graduate from is Fire Science/Fire-fighting, which awarded 10,359 degrees in 2024-25, 63.8% of everyone graduating from a program that feeds this career.
Which college majors lead to becoming a First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting?+
The NCES CIP-to-SOC crosswalk maps 6 programs to this occupation. The largest are Fire Protection, Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy. Together they graduate about 16,248 people a year.
How much do first-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers earn?+
The median is $93,530 a year (BLS OEWS May 2025). The middle range runs from $53,430 at the 10th percentile to $140,010 at the 90th. This is pay for people already working in the occupation, not the same thing as graduate earnings one year after finishing a degree.
Is demand for first-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers growing?+
BLS projects a +3.4% change in employment between 2024 and 2034, about as fast as average, with roughly 6,500 openings a year nationally once retirements and job changes are counted.
How many schools offer programs for this career?+
405 institutions reported graduates from at least one of the 6 programs that feed this occupation in IPEDS 2024-25. Rankings on this page use graduates per year, because the federal data publishes no enrollment count by program.
What other job titles do first-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers work under?+
Employers advertise this work under many names. O*NET records Fire Chief, Engine Boss, Fire Captain, Fire Battalion Chief among the most commonly reported, all mapping to SOC 33-1021.
About the data on this page
Rankings use IPEDS completions 2024-25, degrees awarded per year. That is the closest federal measure of how many people a program puts into a career, because no federal dataset publishes enrollment by program. Wages and employment come from BLS OEWS May 2025, growth and openings from BLS Employment Projections 2024-34, and which majors lead to which jobs from the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk. Occupation descriptions, tasks, skills and tools are O*NET 30.3 (CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor/ETA).
BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics
May 2025Wages, employment counts, location quotients and metro breakdowns.
BLS Employment Projections
2024–34Projected growth, annual openings and typical entry-level education.
IPEDS Completions
2024-25 (provisional)Graduates per year by program and institution — the ranking metric.
College Scorecard, Field of Study
2020-21 cohortsMedian graduate earnings one year after completion, and median debt.
Census Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes
latest availableGraduate earnings 1/5/10 years out, where the state participates.
NCES CIP 2020 and the CIP-to-SOC 2018 crosswalk
CIP 2020 / SOC 2018Which college programs officially lead to this occupation.
O*NET Database 30.3
30.3Tasks, skills, knowledge, tools, job zone and alternate job titles.
Official source →CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor / ETA
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