Firefighter Apprenticeship in Maryland

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.

MD Median Salary
$70,580/yr
+19% vs. national
National Median
$59,530/yr
MD Employment
5,250
Firefighters employed
MD Sponsors
5
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 Maryland: Quick Facts

What apprenticeship means here

A registered firefighter apprenticeship in Maryland 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.

Maryland pay vs. national

Median firefighter wages in Maryland are $70,580/year, +19% above the national median of $59,530. Wages scale with experience — journey-level workers earn substantially more than apprentices.

Where to find programs

Maryland has 5 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 — Maryland-specific outlook can vary from national figures.

Maryland Wage Spread

Annual wages for Firefighters in Maryland across all experience levels.

10th pct
$45,450
Median
$70,580
90th pct
$99,940
Middle 50% of workers earn $53,710$89,590

Current Firefighter Apprenticeship Openings in Maryland

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

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

Organization City County
BALTIMORE CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT JOINT APPRENTICESHIP COMMITTEE Baltimore
PRINCE GEORGE'S CO. FIRE/EMS DEPT. Cheltenham
Prince George's County Fire/EMS Department Cheltenham Prince George'S County
Anne Arundel Fire Glen Burnie
ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY GOVERNMENT FIRE DEPARTMENT Millersville
Search apprenticeship.gov for current Firefighter openings

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

Firefighter Apprenticeship in Maryland

The 5 Firefighter-related registered sponsors in Maryland 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

What do Firefighters earn in Maryland?
The BLS reports a median wage of $70,580/yr for Firefighters in Maryland (May 2024 data). Experience, union membership, and specialization all affect where you fall in the range.
What is the length of a Firefighter apprenticeship program?
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.
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 Maryland?
Contact one of the 5 Firefighter-adjacent registered sponsors in Maryland (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 $35,290/yr in Maryland). 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 Maryland-based programs to compare locally — see the national list and filter.

Firefighter in Other States

Other Apprenticeships in Maryland

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