What Do Incident Commanders Do?
Wondering what the job is really like for incident commanders?
You've come to the right place.
Keep reading to find detailed information about what incident commanders do, including the type of work they are tasked with on a daily basis, industries in which they work, and the specific skills needed for a successful career.
Incident Commanders Overview & Description
Let's get started with the basics about incident commanders by taking a look at a simple description and popular job titles.
Incident Commanders directly supervise and coordinate activities of workers engaged in firefighting and fire prevention and control.
Popular Job Titles For Incident Commanders
Sample of Reported Job Titles
- Fire Chiefs
- Fire Marshals
- Fire Captains
- Deputy Fire Marshals
- Deputy Fire Chiefs
- Assistant Fire Chiefs
- Assistant Fire Marshals
- Deputy State Fire Marshals
- Fire Battalion Chiefs
- Crew Chiefs
- Division Chiefs
- Battalion Chiefs
Read on for insight into the industries where the highest concentration of jobs for incident commanders can be found.
Best Industries for Incident Commanders
Incident Commanders Jobs By Industry
- Local Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals: 91.9%
- Other Support Services: 3.4%
- State Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals: 2.1%
- Federal Government, Civilian: 2%
- Investigation and Security Services: 0.2%
- Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services: 0.1%
- Other: 0.29999999999999%
When it comes to jobs in the United States, the largest single category of incident commanders can be found working in the Local Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals sector. In 2023, about 91.9% of all jobs for incident commanders were found there.
Other top industries by percentage include Other Support Services (3.4%), State Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals (2.1%), Federal Government, Civilian (2%), Investigation and Security Services (0.2%) and Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (0.1%).
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Degree Options for Incident Commanders
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
Launch an exciting career as a police officer, corrections officer, or investigator by learning the ins and outs of the U.S. criminal justice system and all its interconnected components, including law enforcement, corrections, and the courts.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
Maintain social order and earn credentials for a leadership role in police, corrections, security, or court administration.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
Earn college credit for your public safety experience and get promoted to a leadership rank with this degree-completion major.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
Acquire specialized knowledge while developing a holistic view of the criminal justice system.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Months To Complete: 6
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
Tackle critical issues facing individuals and communities with advanced leadership and management skills ideally suited for a complex criminal justice system.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Months To Complete: 14
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
- Class Type: 100% online
- Months To Complete: 14
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
What Do Incident Commanders Do on a Daily Basis?
So you have a high-level understanding of what incident commanders do and the types of industries in which they work - but what do they really do each day?
A great way to understand the type of work incident commanders do is to examine actual job postings and focus on the specific skills that employers are seeking. That will help paint a clearer picture of the tasks that incident commanders tackle each day.
Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for incident commanders, as well as common skills - interpersonal qualities and attributes - that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Incident Commanders
Based on 2,266 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Incident Commanders
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Fire Prevention | 1,022 | 45% |
| Firefighting | 1,021 | 45% |
| Fire Suppression Systems | 740 | 33% |
| Fire Service | 722 | 32% |
| Fire Science | 692 | 31% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Incident Commanders
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Operations | 1,184 | 52% |
| Management | 949 | 42% |
| Communication | 811 | 36% |
| Planning | 752 | 33% |
| Leadership | 594 | 26% |
Based on 2,266 job postings related to incident commanders, fire prevention was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 45% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for firefighting, fire suppression systems, fire service, fire science and emergency medical services were also highly sought.
As for common skills, operations was the most desired skill found in job postings for incident commanders, followed by management, communication, planning, leadership and investigation.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Fire Prevention | 1,022 | 45% |
| Firefighting | 1,021 | 45% |
| Fire Suppression Systems | 740 | 33% |
| Fire Service | 722 | 32% |
| Fire Science | 692 | 31% |
| Emergency Medical Services | 612 | 27% |
| Fire Protection | 595 | 26% |
| Fire Safety | 560 | 25% |
| Incident Command Systems | 550 | 24% |
| Fire Investigation | 500 | 22% |
| NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) Codes | 441 | 19% |
| Emergency Management | 430 | 19% |
| Emergency Response | 429 | 19% |
| Public Administration | 351 | 15% |
| Construction | 350 | 15% |
| Fire And Life Safety | 337 | 15% |
| National Incident Management Systems | 314 | 14% |
| Performance Appraisal | 257 | 11% |
| Fire Alarm Systems | 256 | 11% |
| Code Enforcement | 213 | 9% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Operations | 1,184 | 52% |
| Management | 949 | 42% |
| Communication | 811 | 36% |
| Planning | 752 | 33% |
| Leadership | 594 | 26% |
| Investigation | 523 | 23% |
| Coordinating | 464 | 20% |
| Writing | 400 | 18% |
| Customer Service | 375 | 17% |
| Budgeting | 288 | 13% |
| Presentations | 268 | 12% |
| Research | 256 | 11% |
| Good Driving Record | 242 | 11% |
| Supervision | 241 | 11% |
| Problem Solving | 234 | 10% |
| Administrative Functions | 218 | 10% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 195 | 9% |
| Report Writing | 185 | 8% |
| Verbal Communication Skills | 183 | 8% |
| Microsoft Excel | 179 | 8% |
Most In-Demand Jobs for Incident Commanders
Top 5 Posted Job Titles
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Fire Chiefs | 709 | 18.9% |
| Fire Marshals | 614 | 16.4% |
| Fire Captains | 569 | 15.2% |
| Deputy Fire Marshals | 330 | 8.8% |
| Deputy Fire Chiefs | 342 | 9.1% |
According to job postings that were published between September 2022 and August 2023, the top job sought by employers was fire chiefs, with 397 unique job postings. Fire marshals were second, with 217 postings, followed by fire captains, deputy fire marshals and deputy fire chiefs.
Expand the section below to see unique job postings for all occupations related to incident commanders.
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Fire Chiefs | 709 | 18.9% |
| Fire Marshals | 614 | 16.4% |
| Fire Captains | 569 | 15.2% |
| Deputy Fire Marshals | 330 | 8.8% |
| Deputy Fire Chiefs | 342 | 9.1% |
| Assistant Fire Chiefs | 216 | 5.8% |
| Assistant Fire Marshals | 202 | 5.4% |
| Deputy State Fire Marshals | 107 | 2.9% |
| Fire Battalion Chiefs | 150 | 4% |
| Crew Chiefs | 182 | 4.9% |
| Division Chiefs | 43 | 1.1% |
| Battalion Chiefs | 33 | 0.9% |
| Wildland Firefighters | 62 | 1.7% |
| Fire Specialists | 35 | 0.9% |
| Captains | 42 | 1.1% |
| Assistant Chiefs of Operations | 32 | 0.9% |
| Deputy Chiefs of Operations | 29 | 0.8% |
| Deputy Chiefs | 13 | 0.3% |
| Firefighters | 23 | 0.6% |
| Assistant Chiefs of Training | 18 | 0.5% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information for incident commanders? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for incident commanders.
How much do incident commanders make?
Incident Commanders: How do you become one?
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The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has compiled data for dozens of in-demand jobs. Explore our full catalog of occupation data by visiting the link below.