Firefighter Apprenticeship in Delaware

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.

DE Median Salary
$48,060/yr
-19% vs. national
National Median
$59,530/yr
DE Employment
450
Firefighters employed
DE Sponsors
0
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 Delaware: Quick Facts

What apprenticeship means here

A registered firefighter apprenticeship in Delaware 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.

Delaware pay vs. national

Median firefighter wages in Delaware are $48,060/year, -19% below the national median of $59,530. Wages scale with experience — journey-level workers earn substantially more than apprentices.

Where to find programs

Delaware has 0 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 — Delaware-specific outlook can vary from national figures.

Delaware Wage Spread

Annual wages for Firefighters in Delaware across all experience levels.

10th pct
$40,560
Median
$48,060
90th pct
$72,380
Middle 50% of workers earn $43,770$70,030

Current Firefighter Apprenticeship Openings in Delaware

No firefighter apprenticeship openings are currently listed on apprenticeship.gov for Delaware. That doesn't mean programs don't exist — smaller regional contractors often aren't included in the national directory. 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 Delaware

Our directory doesn't surface Firefighter-specific registered sponsors in Delaware. This usually reflects a smaller regional market where sponsors use generic company names rather than trade-specific branding — it doesn't mean programs don't exist. Direct search on apprenticeship.gov is the most reliable way to find current openings.

Search apprenticeship.gov for current Firefighter openings

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

Firefighter Apprenticeship in Delaware

Our directory doesn't list Firefighter-specific sponsors in Delaware. This typically reflects a smaller regional market where sponsors operate under generic company names rather than trade-specific branding. Nearby states often accept out-of-state apprentices — and apprenticeship.gov can identify current openings by occupation code and ZIP.

Frequently Asked Questions

What do Firefighters earn in Delaware?
The median annual wage for Firefighters in Delaware is $48,060 as of May 2024. Wages range from $40,560 at the 10th percentile to $72,380 at the 90th percentile.
How many years does it take to become a Firefighter through apprenticeship?
A typical Firefighter apprenticeship lasts approximately 2 years (4,000 hours of on-the-job training). The program combines paid work experience with related classroom instruction.
What's the difference between a Firefighter apprenticeship and trade school?
Apprenticeships offer paid training with no tuition, while trade school requires upfront costs but may be shorter. Many Firefighters combine both — starting with trade school basics before entering an apprenticeship.
How do I find a Firefighter apprenticeship in Delaware?
We don't have Firefighter-identified sponsors listed in Delaware, but that doesn't mean programs don't exist — small regional contractors often aren't identifiable by name. Start with apprenticeship.gov's job finder (filter by occupation and ZIP), then contact nearby-state IUEC/IBEW/UA/SMART locals if nothing shows up locally.
How much do Firefighter apprentices earn?
Yes. Apprentices earn wages from day one, typically starting at 40–60% of the journeyman rate (roughly $24,030/yr in Delaware). 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 Delaware-based programs to compare locally — see the national list and filter.

Firefighter in Other States

Other Apprenticeships in Delaware

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