Firefighter Apprenticeship in Maine

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.

ME Median Salary
$47,490/yr
-20% vs. national
National Median
$59,530/yr
ME Employment
2,390
Firefighters employed
ME 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 Maine: Quick Facts

What apprenticeship means here

A registered firefighter apprenticeship in Maine 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.

Maine pay vs. national

Median firefighter wages in Maine are $47,490/year, -20% below the national median of $59,530. Wages scale with experience — journey-level workers earn substantially more than apprentices.

Where to find programs

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

Maine Wage Spread

Annual wages for Firefighters in Maine across all experience levels.

10th pct
$33,900
Median
$47,490
90th pct
$63,040
Middle 50% of workers earn $39,530$58,690

Current Firefighter Apprenticeship Openings in Maine

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

Our directory doesn't surface Firefighter-specific registered sponsors in Maine. 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 ME for the most relevant results.

Firefighter Apprenticeship in Maine

Our directory doesn't list Firefighter-specific sponsors in Maine. 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 is the average Firefighter salary in Maine?
The BLS reports a median wage of $47,490/yr for Firefighters in Maine (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?
The standard Firefighter apprenticeship is 2 years of combined on-the-job training and classroom education. Some programs offer accelerated paths for candidates with prior experience.
What's the difference between a Firefighter apprenticeship and 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.
Where can I apply for a Firefighter apprenticeship in Maine?
We don't have Firefighter-identified sponsors listed in Maine, 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.
Do Firefighter apprentices get paid during training?
Yes. Apprentices earn wages from day one, typically starting at 40–60% of the journeyman rate (roughly $23,745/yr in Maine). 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 Maine-based programs to compare locally — see the national list and filter.

Firefighter in Other States

Other Apprenticeships in Maine

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