Firefighter Apprenticeship in Iowa

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.

IA Median Salary
$55,190/yr
-7% vs. national
National Median
$59,530/yr
IA Employment
2,050
Firefighters employed
IA Sponsors
1
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 Iowa: Quick Facts

What apprenticeship means here

A registered firefighter apprenticeship in Iowa 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.

Iowa pay vs. national

Median firefighter wages in Iowa are $55,190/year, -7% below the national median of $59,530. Wages scale with experience — journey-level workers earn substantially more than apprentices.

Where to find programs

Iowa has 1 registered apprenticeship sponsor 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 — Iowa-specific outlook can vary from national figures.

Iowa Wage Spread

Annual wages for Firefighters in Iowa across all experience levels.

10th pct
$34,970
Median
$55,190
90th pct
$87,840
Middle 50% of workers earn $43,430$65,240

Current Firefighter Apprenticeship Openings in Iowa

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

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

Organization City County
Boone Fire and Rescue Boone
Search apprenticeship.gov for current Firefighter openings

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

Firefighter Apprenticeship in Iowa

With 1 trade-specific sponsor in our directory, Iowa'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 Iowa?
The median annual wage for Firefighters in Iowa is $55,190 as of May 2024. Wages range from $34,970 at the 10th percentile to $87,840 at the 90th percentile.
What is the length of a Firefighter apprenticeship program?
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?
The key difference: apprenticeships pay you during training while trade schools charge tuition. Many employers prefer apprenticeship-trained Firefighters, but trade school can give you a head start on the classroom requirements.
How do I find a Firefighter apprenticeship in Iowa?
Our directory surfaces 1 Firefighter-related registered sponsor in Iowa. Start with your local trade union hall, joint apprenticeship committee (JAC), or state apprenticeship agency. You can also search apprenticeship.gov by occupation and ZIP.
How much do Firefighter apprentices earn?
Apprentices are paid employees from the start. In Iowa, a first-year Firefighter apprentice might earn around $27,595/yr (roughly half the $55,190 journeyman median), with scheduled raises throughout the 2-year 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 Iowa-based programs to compare locally — see the national list and filter.

Firefighter in Other States

Other Apprenticeships in Iowa

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