Firefighter Apprenticeship in Florida

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.

FL Median Salary
$58,360/yr
-2% vs. national
National Median
$59,530/yr
FL Employment
21,470
Firefighters employed
FL Sponsors
6
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 Florida: Quick Facts

What apprenticeship means here

A registered firefighter apprenticeship in Florida 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.

Florida pay vs. national

Median firefighter wages in Florida are $58,360/year, -2% below the national median of $59,530. Wages scale with experience — journey-level workers earn substantially more than apprentices.

Where to find programs

Florida has 6 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 — Florida-specific outlook can vary from national figures.

Florida Wage Spread

Annual wages for Firefighters in Florida across all experience levels.

10th pct
$37,330
Median
$58,360
90th pct
$90,010
Middle 50% of workers earn $46,060$76,010

Current Firefighter Apprenticeship Openings in Florida

No firefighter apprenticeship openings are currently listed on apprenticeship.gov for Florida. 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 Florida

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

Organization City County
Englewood Area Fire Control District IJ Englewood Sarasota County
MIAMI FDC Miami
North Port Fire Rescue District IJ North Port Sarasota County
ST. PETERSBURG FIRE & RESCUE IJ Saint Petersburg Pinellas County
SARASOTA COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT IJ Sarasota Sarasota County
CITY OF VENICE FIRE DEPARTMENT IJ Venice Sarasota County
Search apprenticeship.gov for current Firefighter openings

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

Firefighter Apprenticeship in Florida

With 6 trade-specific sponsors in our directory, Florida's Firefighter apprenticeship landscape is limited. Candidates should also consider nearby states or contact national union offices for referrals.

Frequently Asked Questions

What do Firefighters earn in Florida?
The BLS reports a median wage of $58,360/yr for Firefighters in Florida (May 2024 data). Experience, union membership, and specialization all affect where you fall in the range.
How many years does it take to become a Firefighter through apprenticeship?
Most Firefighter apprenticeships run 2 years. Apprentices work under a journeyman while attending classes, typically earning wages from day one with scheduled increases.
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.
Where can I apply for a Firefighter apprenticeship in Florida?
Contact one of the 6 Firefighter-adjacent registered sponsors in Florida (listed below), or search apprenticeship.gov for current openings. Local union halls, community colleges, and the state apprenticeship agency are good first stops.
Do Firefighter apprentices get paid during training?
Yes. Apprentices earn wages from day one, typically starting at 40–60% of the journeyman rate (roughly $29,180/yr in Florida). 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 Fire Protection programs in Florida →
Or see all 36 programs nationwide.

Firefighter in Other States

Other Apprenticeships in Florida

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