Firefighter Apprenticeship in North Dakota

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.

ND Median Salary
$53,660/yr
-10% vs. national
National Median
$59,530/yr
ND Employment
750
Firefighters employed
ND 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 North Dakota: Quick Facts

What apprenticeship means here

A registered firefighter apprenticeship in North Dakota 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.

North Dakota pay vs. national

Median firefighter wages in North Dakota are $53,660/year, -10% below the national median of $59,530. Wages scale with experience — journey-level workers earn substantially more than apprentices.

Where to find programs

North Dakota 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 — North Dakota-specific outlook can vary from national figures.

North Dakota Wage Spread

Annual wages for Firefighters in North Dakota across all experience levels.

10th pct
$37,950
Median
$53,660
90th pct
$74,610
Middle 50% of workers earn $46,920$64,460

Current Firefighter Apprenticeship Openings in North Dakota

No firefighter apprenticeship openings are currently listed on apprenticeship.gov for North Dakota. 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 North Dakota

Our directory doesn't surface Firefighter-specific registered sponsors in North Dakota. 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 ND for the most relevant results.

Firefighter Apprenticeship in North Dakota

Firefighter apprenticeship opportunities in North Dakota are best found through direct outreach: contact the relevant national union's closest local chapter, search apprenticeship.gov for current programs, or reach out to your state apprenticeship agency. Our directory reflects what sponsors self-identify by name, which can understate coverage in smaller markets.

Frequently Asked Questions

What do Firefighters earn in North Dakota?
The BLS reports a median wage of $53,660/yr for Firefighters in North Dakota (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.
Is an apprenticeship better than trade school for Firefighters?
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 North Dakota?
We don't have Firefighter-identified sponsors listed in North Dakota, 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.
How much do Firefighter apprentices earn?
Yes. Apprentices earn wages from day one, typically starting at 40–60% of the journeyman rate (roughly $26,830/yr in North Dakota). 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 North Dakota-based programs to compare locally — see the national list and filter.

Firefighter in Other States

Other Apprenticeships in North Dakota

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