Firefighter Apprenticeship in South Carolina

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.

SC Median Salary
$45,960/yr
-23% vs. national
National Median
$59,530/yr
SC Employment
7,570
Firefighters employed
SC Sponsors
10
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 South Carolina: Quick Facts

What apprenticeship means here

A registered firefighter apprenticeship in South Carolina 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.

South Carolina pay vs. national

Median firefighter wages in South Carolina are $45,960/year, -23% below the national median of $59,530. Wages scale with experience — journey-level workers earn substantially more than apprentices.

Where to find programs

South Carolina has 10 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 — South Carolina-specific outlook can vary from national figures.

South Carolina Wage Spread

Annual wages for Firefighters in South Carolina across all experience levels.

10th pct
$29,220
Median
$45,960
90th pct
$64,010
Middle 50% of workers earn $35,480$51,430

Current Firefighter Apprenticeship Openings in South Carolina

No firefighter apprenticeship openings are currently listed on apprenticeship.gov for South Carolina. 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 South Carolina

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

Organization City County
St. Andrews Fire Department Charleston Charleston County
Horry County Fire Rescue Conway Horry County
Flint Hill Fire Department Fort Mill York County
St. John's Fire District Johns Island Charleston County
Lugoff Fire District of Kershaw County Logoff Kershaw County
Mount Pleasant Fire Department Mount Pleasant Charleston County
Eagle Fire, Inc N. Charleston Charleston County
North Charleston Fire Department North Charleston Charleston County
Westview-Fairforest Fire Department Spartanburg Spartanburg County
Tega Cay Fire Department Tega Cay York County
Search apprenticeship.gov for current Firefighter openings

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

Firefighter Apprenticeship in South Carolina

Program availability in South Carolina is moderate: 10 Firefighter-related sponsors in our directory. Candidates in major cities will find multiple options; those in smaller markets may need to commute or relocate within the state.

Frequently Asked Questions

What do Firefighters earn in South Carolina?
Firefighters in South Carolina earn a median salary of $45,960/yr according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2024). This is below the national median of $59,530 for the trade.
How long is a Firefighter apprenticeship?
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?
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 South Carolina?
Our directory surfaces 10 Firefighter-related registered sponsors in South Carolina. Start with your local trade union hall, joint apprenticeship committee (JAC), or state apprenticeship agency. You can also search apprenticeship.gov by occupation and ZIP.
How much do Firefighter apprentices earn?
Yes. Apprentices earn wages from day one, typically starting at 40–60% of the journeyman rate (roughly $22,980/yr in South Carolina). 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 South Carolina-based programs to compare locally — see the national list and filter.

Firefighter in Other States

Other Apprenticeships in South Carolina

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