Firefighters vs Fire Supervisors
Median pay is about $34k higher for Fire Supervisors. Both usually start with the same education: postsecondary cert.
marks the higher pay or growth. Education, difficulty and the AI rows depend on what you want, so they are not marked.
| Measure | Firefighters | Fire Supervisors |
|---|---|---|
| Pay | ||
| Median pay | $59,280 | $93,530, higher |
| Entry pay 25th percentile | $44,490 | $72,140, higher |
| Experienced pay 75th percentile | $77,250 | $119,500, higher |
| Outlook, 2025 to 2035 | ||
| Projected growth | +3.7% Growing | +3.7% Growing |
| Openings a year | 26,800 | 6,600 |
| Getting in | ||
| Typical education | Postsecondary cert | Postsecondary cert |
| Difficulty modeled | 2.8 / 5 | 3 / 5 |
| AI | ||
| Displacement risk modeled | Low | Low |
| AI exposure modeled, percentile | 17th pct | 19th pct |
Where the skills differ
Only Firefighters
- Active Learning
Only Fire Supervisors
- Writing
Both lean on critical thinking, active listening, speaking, monitoring, reading comprehension.
More comparisons
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Pay and outlook: BLS (OEWS 2025, Employment Projections 2025-2035). Skills: O*NET 30.3. Difficulty, displacement risk and AI exposure are modeled estimates. How these numbers are made.