Firefighter Apprenticeship in Alabama

Wages, programs & career outlook

Firefighters respond to fires, medical emergencies, vehicle accidents, and hazardous material calls. Most work 24- or 48-hour shifts out of a station, alternating between active calls, equipment maintenance, training drills, and public education.

AL Median Salary
$47,490/yr
-20% vs. national
National Median
$59,530/yr
AL Employment
6,930
Firefighters employed
AL Sponsors
2
Registered programs
Training Term
2.0 yrs
Hybrid
Job Growth
3.4%
2024–2034 projected
Annual Openings
27,100
Nationally, per yr

Firefighter Apprenticeship in Alabama: Quick Facts

What apprenticeship means here

A registered firefighter apprenticeship in Alabama combines paid on-the-job training with classroom instruction. Programs typically run 2.0 years and follow a hybrid structure. You earn wages from day one — apprentices are employees, not students.

Alabama pay vs. national

Median firefighter wages in Alabama are $47,490/year, -20% below the national median of $59,530. Wages scale with experience — journey-level workers earn substantially more than apprentices.

Where to find programs

Alabama has 2 registered apprenticeship sponsors for firefighter listed in the U.S. Department of Labor's apprenticeship.gov directory. The sponsor list further down includes joint labor-management programs (JATCs), individual employers, and contractor associations.

Job-market outlook

The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 3.4% job growth for firefighters nationally between 2024 and 2034, with approximately 27,100 annual openings each year (replacement plus growth combined). Apprenticeship demand tends to track local construction and infrastructure spending — Alabama-specific outlook can vary from national figures.

Alabama Wage Spread

Annual wages for Firefighters in Alabama across all experience levels.

10th pct
$30,880
Median
$47,490
90th pct
$73,360
Middle 50% of workers earn $37,950$59,540

Current Firefighter Apprenticeship Openings in Alabama

No firefighter apprenticeship openings are currently listed on apprenticeship.gov for Alabama. The sponsors listed below accept applications on a rolling basis — contact them directly. Consider setting up an alert on apprenticeship.gov to be notified when new listings are posted.

Listings aggregated from apprenticeship.gov (US Dept. of Labor). Data refreshed daily.

Firefighter Apprenticeship Sponsors in Alabama

2 firefighter-related registered sponsors identified in the DOL ApprenticeshipUSA directory for Alabama. Directory lists sponsor names only — contact each organization directly to confirm current firefighter apprenticeship openings.

Organization City County
Demopolis Fire Rescue Demopolis Marengo County
Smiths Station Fire Protection District Smiths Station Lee County
Search apprenticeship.gov for current Firefighter openings

Filter by occupation code 33-2011 and state AL for the most relevant results.

Firefighter Apprenticeship in Alabama

The 2 Firefighter-related registered sponsors in Alabama mean apprenticeship programs exist but aren't abundant. Building relationships with local contractors and trade unions is often more effective than waiting for formal application windows.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do Firefighters make in Alabama?
The BLS reports a median wage of $47,490/yr for Firefighters in Alabama (May 2024 data). Experience, union membership, and specialization all affect where you fall in the range.
How long is a Firefighter apprenticeship?
Most Firefighter apprenticeships run 2 years. Apprentices work under a journeyman while attending classes, typically earning wages from day one with scheduled increases.
Should I do a Firefighter apprenticeship or go to trade school?
An apprenticeship lets you earn while you learn over 2 years with no tuition cost. Trade school is faster (6–24 months) but costs money upfront. Both can lead to the same journeyman credential.
How do I find a Firefighter apprenticeship in Alabama?
Contact one of the 2 Firefighter-adjacent registered sponsors in Alabama (listed below), or search apprenticeship.gov for current openings. Local union halls, community colleges, and the state apprenticeship agency are good first stops.
How much do Firefighter apprentices earn?
Yes. Apprentices earn wages from day one, typically starting at 40–60% of the journeyman rate (roughly $23,745/yr in Alabama). Wages increase at regular intervals — usually every 6 months — as you progress through the program.

Prefer Trade School Instead?

Apprenticeships pay from day one, but the classroom-first path may fit better for some. Firefighters also train through trade school programs — shorter timeline, more upfront cost.

Compare 36 Fire Protection programs nationwide →
Too few Alabama-based programs to compare locally — see the national list and filter.

Firefighter in Other States

Other Apprenticeships in Alabama

Data: Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS May 2024, DOL RAPIDS Registered Apprenticeship database, ApprenticeshipUSA Sponsor Directory.