Firefighter Apprenticeship in Indiana

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.

IN Median Salary
$61,470/yr
+3% vs. national
National Median
$59,530/yr
IN Employment
8,550
Firefighters employed
IN 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 Indiana: Quick Facts

What apprenticeship means here

A registered firefighter apprenticeship in Indiana 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.

Indiana pay vs. national

Median firefighter wages in Indiana are $61,470/year, +3% above the national median of $59,530. Wages scale with experience — journey-level workers earn substantially more than apprentices.

Where to find programs

Indiana 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 — Indiana-specific outlook can vary from national figures.

Indiana Wage Spread

Annual wages for Firefighters in Indiana across all experience levels.

10th pct
$36,940
Median
$61,470
90th pct
$88,940
Middle 50% of workers earn $47,470$75,510

Current Firefighter Apprenticeship Openings in Indiana

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

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

Organization City County
FORT WAYNE FIREFIGHTERS JAC Fort Wayne Allen County
Search apprenticeship.gov for current Firefighter openings

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

Firefighter Apprenticeship in Indiana

Indiana has only 1 Firefighter-adjacent registered sponsors in our directory — program slots may be competitive and early applications give the best shot at placement. Direct outreach to union halls in the state's largest cities often matters more than formal application windows.

Frequently Asked Questions

What do Firefighters earn in Indiana?
The BLS reports a median wage of $61,470/yr for Firefighters in Indiana (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.
Is an apprenticeship better than trade school for Firefighters?
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 Indiana?
Our directory surfaces 1 Firefighter-related registered sponsor in Indiana. 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 Indiana, a first-year Firefighter apprentice might earn around $30,735/yr (roughly half the $61,470 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 Indiana-based programs to compare locally — see the national list and filter.

Firefighter in Other States

Other Apprenticeships in Indiana

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