Firefighter Apprenticeship in New York

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.

NY Median Salary
$88,380/yr
+48% vs. national
National Median
$59,530/yr
NY Employment
14,730
Firefighters employed
NY Sponsors
4
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 New York: Quick Facts

What apprenticeship means here

A registered firefighter apprenticeship in New York 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.

New York pay vs. national

Median firefighter wages in New York are $88,380/year, +48% above the national median of $59,530. Wages scale with experience — journey-level workers earn substantially more than apprentices.

Where to find programs

New York has 4 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 — New York-specific outlook can vary from national figures.

New York Wage Spread

Annual wages for Firefighters in New York across all experience levels.

10th pct
$56,220
Median
$88,380
90th pct
$105,270
Middle 50% of workers earn $71,600$105,260

Current Firefighter Apprenticeship Openings in New York

No firefighter apprenticeship openings are currently listed on apprenticeship.gov for New York. 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 New York

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

Organization City County
City Of Auburn Fire Department Auburn
City Of Buffalo Fire Department Buffalo
City Of Elmira Fire Department Elmira
City Of Rome Fire Department Rome
Search apprenticeship.gov for current Firefighter openings

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

Firefighter Apprenticeship in New York

With 4 trade-specific sponsors in our directory, New York's Firefighter apprenticeship landscape is limited. Candidates should also consider nearby states or contact national union offices for referrals.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do Firefighters make in New York?
The BLS reports a median wage of $88,380/yr for Firefighters in New York (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.
Should I do a Firefighter apprenticeship or go to trade school?
Apprenticeships offer paid training with no tuition, while trade school requires upfront costs but may be shorter. Many Firefighters combine both — starting with trade school basics before entering an apprenticeship.
How do I find a Firefighter apprenticeship in New York?
Contact one of the 4 Firefighter-adjacent registered sponsors in New York (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 $44,190/yr in New York). 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 New York-based programs to compare locally — see the national list and filter.

Firefighter in Other States

Other Apprenticeships in New York

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