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Boston Career Explorer

Protective Service

First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers

Directly supervise and coordinate activities of workers engaged in firefighting and fire prevention and control.

Also called: Battalion Chief, Engine Boss, Fire Battalion Chief, Fire Captain, Fire Chief, Fire Lieutenant

Median pay in Greater Boston
$96,740
$46.51/hr
Jobs in Greater Boston
2,460
Massachusetts 2024–2034
+4.4%
220 openings a year
Typical U.S. entry requirement
Postsecondary nondegree award
plus Moderate-term on-the-job training; Less than 5 years of related work experience

Greater Boston: Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area, May 2025. Growth and openings: Massachusetts statewide projection.

Pay range in Greater Boston

Yearly pay in Greater Boston by percentile
10th25thMedian75th90th
$77,250$84,940$96,740$123,380$140,010

10% of workers earn less than the first figure and 10% earn more than the last.

What you’d do

  • Provide emergency medical services as required, and perform light to heavy rescue functions at emergencies.
  • Maintain fire suppression equipment in good condition, checking equipment periodically to ensure that it is ready for use.
  • Assign firefighters to jobs at strategic locations to facilitate rescue of persons and maximize application of extinguishing agents.
  • 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.
  • Evaluate size, location, and condition of fires.

AI and this job

AI exposure: how much of this job’s work AI tools can do or help with, based on national research. It is not a forecast of job loss.

Moderate exposure41 of 100

The index averages three national research measures, each shown as a percentile of all jobs:

  • AIOE 30
  • Language-model AIOE 29
  • GPTs-are-GPTs 65

Observed AI use today: Little or none (Anthropic Economic Index)

AI exposure is moderate, and observed AI use is little or none so far. AI tools might help with radio reports, crew assignments, and equipment records. Rescue work, emergency medical care, and leading a crew in danger depend on people.

Likely to change

  • Equipment check records and logs
  • Reports and incident communication

Still relies on people

  • Rescue and emergency medical care
  • Leading a crew under pressure

Written with AI from the data on this page. Check with a career coach before making a decision.

Next steps from here

Related jobs that build on what you already do.

  • Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters

    Knowing how to shut off water and handle equipment safely carries over. Pay is about the same ($96,760), and you learn the trade through an apprenticeship.

    Pay difference
    +$20 median
    AI exposure
    Lower
    MA growth
    +6.5%
    To get started
    High school diploma or equivalent

  • Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers

    Safety practices and regular equipment checks carry over. Pay is higher ($111,490), with 13.3% expected growth and long-term training.

    Pay difference
    +$14,750 median
    AI exposure
    Lower
    MA growth
    +13.3%
    To get started
    High school diploma or equivalent

  • Structural Iron and Steel Workers

    Teamwork, safety awareness, and careful checking carry over. Pay is higher ($120,840), and the path starts with an apprenticeship.

    Pay difference
    +$24,100 median
    AI exposure
    Lower
    MA growth
    +6.1%
    To get started
    High school diploma or equivalent

Training near Boston

College and school programs in the Boston metro area that lead to this job, with 2023-24 completions (IPEDS).

5 programs near Boston

Related occupations

Talk to a career coach

A coach at the Office of Workforce Development can help you plan your next step, and connect you with training, apprenticeships and City partner programs that are not listed here.

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