Firefighter Apprenticeship in Nebraska

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.

NE Median Salary
$61,760/yr
+4% vs. national
National Median
$59,530/yr
NE Employment
1,060
Firefighters employed
NE 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 Nebraska: Quick Facts

What apprenticeship means here

A registered firefighter apprenticeship in Nebraska 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.

Nebraska pay vs. national

Median firefighter wages in Nebraska are $61,760/year, +4% above the national median of $59,530. Wages scale with experience — journey-level workers earn substantially more than apprentices.

Where to find programs

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

Nebraska Wage Spread

Annual wages for Firefighters in Nebraska across all experience levels.

10th pct
$45,120
Median
$61,760
90th pct
$69,400
Middle 50% of workers earn $50,420$66,220

Current Firefighter Apprenticeship Openings in Nebraska

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

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

Organization City County
OMAHA FIRE DEPARTMENT Omaha Douglas County
Search apprenticeship.gov for current Firefighter openings

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

Firefighter Apprenticeship in Nebraska

With 1 trade-specific sponsor in our directory, Nebraska's Firefighter apprenticeship landscape is limited. Candidates should also consider nearby states or contact national union offices for referrals.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average Firefighter salary in Nebraska?
The median annual wage for Firefighters in Nebraska is $61,760 as of May 2024. Wages range from $45,120 at the 10th percentile to $69,400 at the 90th percentile.
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.
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 Nebraska?
Contact one of the 1 Firefighter-adjacent registered sponsor in Nebraska (listed below), or search apprenticeship.gov for current openings. Local union halls, community colleges, and the state apprenticeship agency are good first stops.
How much do Firefighter apprentices earn?
Apprentices are paid employees from the start. In Nebraska, a first-year Firefighter apprentice might earn around $30,880/yr (roughly half the $61,760 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 Nebraska-based programs to compare locally — see the national list and filter.

Firefighter in Other States

Other Apprenticeships in Nebraska

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